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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:
dontstopmenowimhavingagoodtime · 09/08/2024 17:59

TinselAngel · 09/08/2024 09:36

Tell her to get each smaller child to sit on a larger child's shoulders and then wear two long trench coats.

No no no.... the best option is a Trojan horse.

Georgyporky · 09/08/2024 17:59

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 17:52

They’ll have to tip well!

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But they're tight-arsed thieves !

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 17:52

NotARealWookiie · 09/08/2024 17:47

I imagine the maids will notice the air beds…

They’ll have to tip well!

Hunglikeapolevaulter · 09/08/2024 17:50

You do have to give your holiday address on arrival at passport control. We were asked just a couple of weeks ago when we went to Portugal..

I've never been asked for an address going into Europe, but admittedly it's always via ferry or Eurotunnel and we're driving our home.

NotARealWookiie · 09/08/2024 17:47

I imagine the maids will notice the air beds…

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 17:47

cannellonies · 09/08/2024 17:35

What if something happened, like a wildfire, or something so that you had to leave quickly. I travel a lot, I would never give them my passport. It’s common sense, not paranoia.

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I mean, if a wildfire started would anyone’s passports be safe? They’re not less flammable in your hotel room than in the reception office. Do you go back from the beach and get them during this fire? Or are they duct taped to your body at all times?

Quite unlikely in 22 degree weather on the Spanish coast in the hour or so between checking in and popping back to the reception to get them back, get additional hotel info, menus, etc.

dontstopmenowimhavingagoodtime · 09/08/2024 17:38

KimberleyClark · 09/08/2024 09:53

If there was a fire alarm on the night and they had to evacuate, would she pretend the two extra people with her were nothing to do with her?

Do you think anyone would be paying that much attention?

EyeHalveAySpelingChequer · 09/08/2024 17:36

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at OP's request.

Charlize43 · 09/08/2024 17:35

Purplebunnie · 09/08/2024 09:27

And people wonder why the Spanish hate British tourists. Is it any wonder when visitors they won't pay the full price

Edited

^ Yes this. In a way it impacts on all of us.

Barcelona & Mallorca are already thinking of introducing additional tourist taxes & levies, which is a shame because it means that only wealthy people will be able to afford to visit these places.

pocketaces · 09/08/2024 17:35

It's not a good idea and as a good friend you should mention it and advise her against it, which you have , but if she continues to press ahead then it's not really any of your business. When it all goes wrong you'll be able to say I told you so.

cannellonies · 09/08/2024 17:35

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 17:31

Because it’s normal in Spanish resorts, what on earth do you think they’re going to do? They give them back. We all get home fine every time, passports present and in tact.

Amazed by the paranoia - has no one here used a hotel safe either?!

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What if something happened, like a wildfire, or something so that you had to leave quickly. I travel a lot, I would never give them my passport. It’s common sense, not paranoia.

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 17:33

Kitkat1523 · 09/08/2024 17:08

You don’t hand your passport over to anyone and let them keep it…..they can get whatever details they need with you still in sight of your passport…..exactly….if a little hotel in Croatia has access to a passport scanner then a big fuck off jet2 hotel should easily be able to do this…..you don’t leave your passports with hotel staff….period 🙄

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Well we’ve survived so far. In very large hotel chains in Spain. What do you think they’re going to do?

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 17:31

cannellonies · 09/08/2024 17:20

Why did you let them do this!?

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Because it’s normal in Spanish resorts, what on earth do you think they’re going to do? They give them back. We all get home fine every time, passports present and in tact.

Amazed by the paranoia - has no one here used a hotel safe either?!

Charlize43 · 09/08/2024 17:28

This is such a dumb, stupid idea! Has your friend never heard of CCTV?

I once did a stint as a night receptionist and the hotel I worked in, had covert cameras in all the corridors precisely to stop this type of thing! We even watched drunken guests initiating sex before they got to their rooms from reception and we'd soon radio and send the porters around to that particular floor to disrupt...

How on earth does she think two extra children will remain undetected? They also risk being kicked out, as well as charged for the extra guests. We always used to take card details BEFORE the stay.

cannellonies · 09/08/2024 17:20

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 16:48

Every time I have stayed in a Spanish hotel they have taken the whole family’s passports to scan and then returned them to us later that day. Also always been required to wear wristbands.

Why did you let them do this!?

Underlig · 09/08/2024 17:16

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

You do have to give your holiday address on arrival at passport control. We were asked just a couple of weeks ago when we went to Portugal..

Kitkat1523 · 09/08/2024 17:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Agree completely…never hand your passport over for hotel staff to keep …..you see the advice time and time again but still idiots doing it🙄

BlackStrayCat · 09/08/2024 17:13

You HAVE to give details of your passport on check in. If you "abandon" a minor (teen) you will risk really serious consequences. This is not a toddler for one night in your home country in a Travelodge.

Different country and different rules folks. Here: ID is king. YOU MUST have ID.

LarkspurLane · 09/08/2024 17:11

mrsdineen2 · 09/08/2024 15:49

Fucking daftest thing I've read on here.

If two extra children are going to throw a while region into drought, there should be a state of emergency and close the full hotel.

Go and wise up.

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How are you suggesting I "wise up"?

Do you not think that Spain is suffering from drought right now?

BlackStrayCat · 09/08/2024 17:10

Nothing has happened. Just the news, tourists (mainly British) behaving and disrespecting Spain.

It is gross and embarrassing and for some reason people seem entitled to do it. I can guarantee you everyone is on high alert for British bad behaviour and will get arrested. It offends me so much as I have to live here.

Kitkat1523 · 09/08/2024 17:08

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 17:03

It’s not dodgy at all it’s protocol as other posters have already explained 🤦🏻‍♀️

Edited
Show quote history

You don’t hand your passport over to anyone and let them keep it…..they can get whatever details they need with you still in sight of your passport…..exactly….if a little hotel in Croatia has access to a passport scanner then a big fuck off jet2 hotel should easily be able to do this…..you don’t leave your passports with hotel staff….period 🙄

Sahara123 · 09/08/2024 17:06

BlackStrayCat · 09/08/2024 16:40

Happy holiday to them, hope they havent seen the Spanish news today.

What’s happened?!

Sahara123 · 09/08/2024 17:05

Bigboysmademedoit · 09/08/2024 09:46

We met a family on holiday one year who had this down to a fine art! They had 3 teenage kids - 2 boys and 1 girl. At Check In they dressed the boys identically and made a display of running back and forward to their car getting bags etc. Hotel staff never twigged it was 2 different boys as they were not seen together. They reckoned they’d saved a fortune over the years!

That is a disgrace and not something to be proud of in my mind.
I understand it wasn’t you !

macaroniandcheeze · 09/08/2024 17:03

Kitkat1523 · 09/08/2024 16:58

That sounds very dodgy ….absolutely no reason for a passport to leave your hands ….I stayed at a family run very small hotel in the back beyond of Croatia last month and even there they had one of those scanners that just zaps the information from your passport whilst you were holding it ( doesn’t photocopy as that’s dodgy too)…..you want to be more careful with the hotels you choose PP ….you should never ever let your passport out of your sight….very basic travel advice

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It’s not dodgy at all it’s protocol as other posters have already explained 🤦🏻‍♀️

dontstopmenowimhavingagoodtime · 09/08/2024 17:00

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Exactly!

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