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

. I wonder whether the two systems link up?

Absolutely no way. A border agency isn't going to have some sort of data share with random private businesses.

Spain had a reputation for "manana", laid-back, casual.

It's not been like that for a long time. Red-tape is for bad for their own citizens, horrendous for EU citizens, & unbelievable for others - e.g. Brits.

The CFers are likely to get caught out.

It wouldn't be the priority, but once they're back home they might play the victim and leave a bad review out of spite. There really are people out there who do that sort of thing, sadly. I know people whose small business have ended up with bad reviews over situations that were 100% the customer's fault.

@Msmumm can you not see they'd not have to rummage in a room to see bodies?

Do you think they'd say hang on..... there is supposed to be a two year old in here, but this one is at least 16, let's throw it back?

Don't be ridiculous.

Hotels normally take your passports in and record the details. Also they definitely get scanned and I presume that a record is made at passport control when you enter. I wonder whether the two systems link up?

There's no way we would have a good night's sleep if we were 6 in a 4 beds situation. But then,that's us. I tend to prioritise our sleep when booking a holiday as otherwise everyone is grumpy and not really enjoying themselves. Each to their own though! And your friend's attitude is quite cheeky tbh.

In my experience, the hotel's attitude here is "if you don't make it impossible for us not to notice, we'll make sure we don't."

Also, as a rule of thumb - the posher the hotel, the less they care.

I'm not 100% sure and happy to be corrected by someone in the know, in the industry, but I would say the hotel insurance wouldn't cover them as they weren't guests and I don't think their holiday insurance would cover it either as they were in a place they were not allowed to be. Insurance companies find ways not to pay out. I suspect this would be an easy one for them to get out of.

If one of the teenagers slipped in the pool or something and seriously hurt himself, would insurance cover it? Just curious.

I work in a hotel and yup, we'll tell you it's because of fire regulations and insurance and at least in the UK that's partly why.

For the insurance I believe, though might be wrong, that it doesn't invalidate the insurance as such but it does mean those not officially on the booking are not insured so if anything does happen they've got no redress.

And for the fire, it's not for at the time, no the fire brigade won't take my word for it who's there, staff could be in any room, people get snuck in, people go out and don't come back until the early hours or later hours! Yes we have a list (and have to have by law with contact details) but people give false information or wrong information etc, but it's more to have a starting point to contact people if they then aren't accounted for, or should they find someone unable to identify themselves, a starting point to identify them.

I've done a full evacuation before and people on the list not accounted for - the police then took over trying to contact them - the fire service still searched every area, that's why you have building plans with every area on, so they can. Helpful if you can say you know if someone is definitely in a room, but they don't just take your word for it, that could be disastrous.

More important is getting out when you hear the fire alarm, because yes 9/10 it's a false alarm, but I've had the 1/10 time and it's genuinely scary when people just decide without knowing, that it's a false alarm and don't leave, as annoying as those 9/10 times are, that 1/10 could cost you your life.

But as someone who works in hospitality and relies upon the income the hotel makes, people not paying the right amount can cost people like me hours and maybe even a job if things get bad enough - what's the first thing you think a hotel will cut back on when revenues are down? Staff. Or put up the price to everyone.

Extra people are extra water, electricity, bedding that needs to be washed etc - one or two are expected and sustainable but a lot becomes an issue. It never seems to be seen as a big deal if the hotel loses out, negligible, nothing to worry about - only when the guests are expected to pay for the service they're actually using is suddenly the same amount an issue.

People think it's victimless and a bit of a lark - it's not when you're on the other side of it.

Spain's drought is not caused by these two children. Lack of rain and many tourists have created a difficult situation for local people in some parts of Spain.

The decision to keep hotels open would be based on people paying for hotel space and that payment would be used towards water and all other facilities.
If too many people start using resources and not paying for them, it becomes unsustainable and maybe then they would have to close.

Is there a reason why you think OP's friend should be entitled to use facilities and not pay for them?

Given the number of posters who think it is OK to do this, I wonder if hotels will begin to cop on (here and abroad).

If I knew someone who did this I would silently judge them.
If you can't afford more than the number of children a family room would hold don't have them.

And if there's not only 2? Maybe there are many people there who have squeezed a couple of extra bodies in their room thinking the rules don't apply to them. When does it become unacceptable?

Are you the OP's friend?

They might end up paying more in bribes than what two rooms would have cost. 😂

@mrsdineen2 keep well away from Spain.😎

If they can't accommodate two children without suffering, they need to close their hotels full stop.

Tight-arsed thieves.

Rubbish! You've no idea how many people are in each room, so had OPs friend booked two rooms and the whole family happened at to be on one room, the fire brigade would stop counting at four people (or the staff as a PP claimed, the hotel staff running round burning building)!

Rubbish!

6 people in one hotel room sounds like hell! Why would anyone choose to do this 🤦

True, if they start tipping well enough that their secret is kept they might as well have just paid for appropriate accommodation.

Yeah I doubt they will be tipping anyone 😂

I have felt bad enough saying DS was younger than he is so we can get a family room at a Premier Inn. He's very small so doesn't look his age and has SN so doesn't always behave it either.

We never have breakfast there so he's not taking advantage of the free kids breakfast.

The fact that you've taken time out of your day to post about your friend's holiday accommodation arrangements that don't impact you sounds like you're too invested in your friend's life.

Wish her well and get on with minding your business.

Because, so what if someone says they'll be caught. Then what? Do you think your friend hasn't already considered this?