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Original poster

'Sneaking' two extra children into hotel room booked for two adults and two children

692 replies

AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:04

AIBU in thinking this may have implications regarding insurance etc?

Friend is off on holiday later today to a large hotel abroad with her DH and four DC aged between 4 and 16. Not a package, no meals included and flights were booked separately.

The room has a small bedroom, bathroom and living area with a sofa bed. It sleeps 4. They've booked it for two adults and two children. That's the maximum number of people allowed.

She wants to check in with DH, their two youngest boys and all their luggage, and have the two oldest boys wait outside until they're 'sneaked' in a little while later.

I think that whilst this is logistically possible, it will have implications but not sure what these implications might be. Friend thinks there's no problem with this and nobody will bat an eyelid.

AIBU in saying it's not a good idea?

OP posts:
LarkspurLane · 09/08/2024 14:58

There are issues with drought in parts of Spain, so if they are showering, washing hands, even flushing the toilet, they are using a resource that is not freely available.
I am in the "one night one extra person in a travelodge" section of society (not done it personally but can see why people do) but not a whole holiday!

BuildingAShepherdsHut · 09/08/2024 14:56

yeah- if they get caught out its their own fault and they can take the consequences. Personally I think they are lying thieving grifters. Let the cards fall as they may.

MissMoneyFairy · 09/08/2024 14:52

Let them get on with it and if it all goes tits up tough. I wouldn't respond to any messages, texts or photos of their holiday, I can't imagine 4 kids sleeping in one room would be that great with 2 on cheap blow up lilo but each to their own. Let's hope they don't get travel tummies with one bathroom.

cannellonies · 09/08/2024 14:44

LadyGrinningSoul8517 · 09/08/2024 14:40

There's always one that absolutely LIVES for berating those with more than two kids.

Either have more kids yourself if you're so bitter, or learn to move past it.

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I think you are missing the point.

betterangels · 09/08/2024 14:44

LadyGrinningSoul8517 · 09/08/2024 14:40

There's always one that absolutely LIVES for berating those with more than two kids.

Either have more kids yourself if you're so bitter, or learn to move past it.

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It's true though. I don't give a fuck how many children people have, but it's both grifting and entitled as all hell not to pay for enough rooms for them if you decide to take them on holiday.

BlackStrayCat · 09/08/2024 14:43

LadyGrinningSoul8517 · 09/08/2024 14:40

There's always one that absolutely LIVES for berating those with more than two kids.

Either have more kids yourself if you're so bitter, or learn to move past it.

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Odd response.

Original poster
AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 14:42

Sunsetbeachhouse · 09/08/2024 14:13

Why do you want to understand implications of over occupancy from the perspective of the hotel and how that might affect their stay?

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If the implicationswere insignificant, then I'd accept I was being unreasonable.

OP posts:
LadyGrinningSoul8517 · 09/08/2024 14:40

WhingeInTheWillows · 09/08/2024 09:15

Cheapskate people with more children than they can afford.

There's always one that absolutely LIVES for berating those with more than two kids.

Either have more kids yourself if you're so bitter, or learn to move past it.

BlackStrayCat · 09/08/2024 14:39

VotesForWomen · 09/08/2024 14:32

For children?

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Anyone over 14.
Or, the parents ID.

You would not get away with this.

expatorimmigrant · 09/08/2024 14:36

Honestly it will likely be fine. I wouldn't do it but I have the money to pay for all 4 of my kids. The anxiety would drive me mad.

VotesForWomen · 09/08/2024 14:32

BlackStrayCat · 09/08/2024 14:26

They categorically will not get away with it.

You need photo ID for absolutely everything now (and it is an absolute pain)

For children?

VotesForWomen · 09/08/2024 14:31

Logistically I'd have one older and one younger kid wait with one adult, and take one older and one younger in to begin with - that way when a parent comes back with the other two kids it stands a better chance of looking like the same two kids to a casual observer.

I've never done it and I'm too goody two shoes to try - I'm curious how they get on!

BlackStrayCat · 09/08/2024 14:26

They categorically will not get away with it.

You need photo ID for absolutely everything now (and it is an absolute pain)

AlwaysGinPlease · 09/08/2024 14:26

I feel sorry for the children having to sneak about. Awful thing to do. Cheapskates!

cannellonies · 09/08/2024 14:20

TheLastTimeEver · 09/08/2024 14:15

Surely you will always need at least 2 rooms as a family of 7?? Maybe 3 by the time they are teens etc? Who would want to stay in one room with 7 people in it anyway? Unless it’s some kind of dormitory.

Its odd that some people with bigger families seem oddly indignant about the very foreseeable consequences of these additional kids eg - family rooms in hotels, cars etc tend to cater for the 2-3 kid “norm”.

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They seem to think they are entitled to pay the same as a family with one or two children would for some odd reason. We often stay in two rooms or two adjoining rooms. Or pay for a suit if we really want to stay together.

Babyboomtastic · 09/08/2024 14:18

I'd do it (and I think have done it) in a couple of situations, but it really depends on the setup. What's described here - no chance.

An extra small child who bedshares, I have no issue with.
A single night in a Travelodge, again no issue.

Airbnb's for group holidays. I've snuck a couple of extra small ones in, where there is genuinely enough space. Only where is independent check in, no housekeeping and it's not ban annex though.

I've done it with toddlers who are quite happy to sleep in with parents. I would have done it for a couple of young ones (under 5's) where there was a spare lounge. It's not trying to fit 6 people in a 1 bed apartment, more 14 in a 6 bed with 12 beds and half of those are small kids. The holiday fell through though.

Edited to add: obviously I'd not do it anywhere there was food included.

TheLastTimeEver · 09/08/2024 14:15

wingingit1987 · 09/08/2024 12:21

I’ll add- we are a family of 7 now. Booking hotel rooms is a pain- we often need two rooms. I’m always too scared to chance it plus it just wouldn’t be comfortable. If she is planning on using the onsite restaurant, if breakfast is included for example, surely they will notice the extra children then? As much as it’s the cheaper option, I feel like it would be more stressful. We have just paid for 2 rooms, onsite, at Disneyland Paris so I completely get that it’s a lot more expensive to have more than 2 kids. But then that’s sort of the fallout from being blessed with a large family.

Surely you will always need at least 2 rooms as a family of 7?? Maybe 3 by the time they are teens etc? Who would want to stay in one room with 7 people in it anyway? Unless it’s some kind of dormitory.

Its odd that some people with bigger families seem oddly indignant about the very foreseeable consequences of these additional kids eg - family rooms in hotels, cars etc tend to cater for the 2-3 kid “norm”.

Sunsetbeachhouse · 09/08/2024 14:13

AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:12

It obviously doesn't impact me directly, I'm not going with them, but was just trying to understand the implications of over occupancy from the perspective of the hotel and how that might affect their stay.

They're going to Spain.

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Why do you want to understand implications of over occupancy from the perspective of the hotel and how that might affect their stay?

SaintHonoria · 09/08/2024 14:08

Sorry, I meant the OPS friend.

It's a very stupid thing to do .

Kitkat1523 · 09/08/2024 14:08

SeatonCarew · 09/08/2024 14:03

If you booked a package I expect the travel company passed on the information

Edit - sorry, I've quoted the wrong post, but yes, you may theoretically be asked at the airport, also to show you have the money to support yourself during your trip.

Edited
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Well yeh theoretically…..I mean, border control can ask anything…..but the reality is they don’t…..I’m 59….been travelling all over the world for years….only ever been asked if I have accommodation once …that was in Amsterdam….and when I said yes they didn’t ask further

SaintHonoria · 09/08/2024 14:07

Macandcheeese · 09/08/2024 09:09

I work in a hotel. If someone did this and we had a fire we would only be looking for the people booked into the room.

That's exactly why the op shouldn't do it.

cannellonies · 09/08/2024 14:06

Anotherparkingthread · 09/08/2024 13:52

Moral code? Oh do give over lol. It's not hurting anybody. It's not taking anything either. The room still exists and can be let out on different to other guests just like it always will be. They're just squeezing an extra person in, it makes no odds to anything. Ridiculous attitude. Unclench darling.

Having an electric key is absolutely no gautentee of who is in a room. If I go out and my partner is in the room how is they know? If a large group go out but one person feels unwell how do they know if 5 people are trapped in the ridiculous hypothetical or 1?

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If anything they are taking up two extra, unpaid for, chairs by the pool. If you can pay for a day pass to the pool, those chairs is loss of income for the hotel.

I assume there is also a limit of people in the pool area, so yes, they are stealing.

If you were the owner of a hotel you’d think differently I’m sure. Because then it would affect you, darling.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 09/08/2024 14:05

Most modern hotels have key cards so you know if people are in their rooms or not.

That would only be useful if you used your card to leave the room as well as enter, and if there was a turnstile type arrangement on the room door so every occupant beeps in and out.

SeatonCarew · 09/08/2024 14:03

Kitkat1523 · 09/08/2024 13:40

I been to Spain loads of times …,last time was in June this year….no one at the airport has ever ever asked where I’m staying …..they did once in Amsterdam ..,,but that was years ago

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If you booked a package I expect the travel company passed on the information

Edit - sorry, I've quoted the wrong post, but yes, you may theoretically be asked at the airport, also to show you have the money to support yourself during your trip.

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