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Original poster

How would you split the cost of this trip?

361 replies

GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 09:44

Surprise birthday trip for the parent of adult children.

Attending:
The other parent.
One adult child with a spouse and teen.
One single childless adult child.

OP posts:
Original poster
GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 10:36

SirBasil · 01/10/2025 10:33

then it gets split 5 ways.

Are you the single adult no child?

Show quote history

So you mean including the teen as one of the five?

OP posts:
Original poster
GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 10:35

One Single parent bringing a child.

There is no single parent with a child. Not sure where you got that from.

OP posts:
SirBasil · 01/10/2025 10:33

GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 10:24

There are five adults, with one not paying.

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then it gets split 5 ways.

Are you the single adult no child?

Whyjustwhy83 · 01/10/2025 10:31

Split 5 ways couple with teenager paying 3/5

middleagedandinarage · 01/10/2025 10:31

There are 6 people (a teen counts as an adult in my eyes) but birthday adult isn't paying so cost is split between 5 and everyone else is due that.

childofthe607080s · 01/10/2025 10:29

if You cant agree I would drop out

Stoneblock · 01/10/2025 10:28

I think if it needs more than a passing discussion, it's a bad idea to go on holiday together.

If I was the married sibling, I'd say split the cost by the number of rooms and each pays for those they occupy (plus half of parents). If I was the single sibling, I'd say the present is a trip to get all those people together and it should be split 50/50.

Complet · 01/10/2025 10:28

As it’s a present to a parent, I would split three ways (spouse of parent 1/3, adult child 1/3, adult child 1/3) for accommodation. I would probably split food between everyone depending on how much the teenager eats. If you drink, I would split wine costs between those who are drinking.

DaisyChain505 · 01/10/2025 10:28

No33 · 01/10/2025 09:58

I'd split between families I think. So in 3?

But this isn’t a fair split.

You have one solo adult.

One Single parent bringing a child.

Two adults in a couple bringing one child.

The couple have two incomes to cover their share yet the other two parties don’t.

It should be split per person and then the adults bringing children cover their share.

Birthday guests cost is covered by their husband and two children.

JellyBellies · 01/10/2025 10:27

In my family, in this situation, we would split 4 ways. Other parent and single person pay 1/4 and family pay 2/4

Feels fair, family not penalised too much but single person not having to pay as much as family

LadyoftheMercians · 01/10/2025 10:26

GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 10:24

There are five adults, with one not paying.

Show quote history

Oh I see, I was confused by the op. How much extra is the teen?

Original poster
GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 10:24

LadyoftheMercians · 01/10/2025 10:21

There are 4 adults, one is not paying.

Is there a big cost to pay extra for the teen?

Show quote history

There are five adults, with one not paying.

OP posts:
Cindyyyy · 01/10/2025 10:22

Other parent pays for flights and accommodation, everyone covers their own food and entertainment (parents of teen pay for teen).

LadyoftheMercians · 01/10/2025 10:21

GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 10:17

If all adult children are working adults with salaries then you split the accommodation and present three ways and everyone pays for their own travel expenses.

Why only three?

There are 4 adults, one is not paying.

Is there a big cost to pay extra for the teen?

BuckChuckets · 01/10/2025 10:20

Split by bedroom, everyone pays their own travel expenses.

Original poster
GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 10:17

If all adult children are working adults with salaries then you split the accommodation and present three ways and everyone pays for their own travel expenses.

Why only three?

OP posts:
Freshstartyear25 · 01/10/2025 10:15

As it’s an Airbnb, I think the split should be based on the rooms.
For example, If there are 3 rooms and the split is couple 1 (birthday parent and their partner share) , second couple 2 and their child share and the single adult has a room then the split should be 3 equal split as everyone has a room.
However when we did something like this, the cost was split equally between the 4 adult children and their parents (the birthday adult and his wife) didn’t pay.

Zempy · 01/10/2025 10:15

If I were the non birthday parent organising this, I would expect to pay for the whole accommodation. Spending money would be down to individuals.

LoveWine123 · 01/10/2025 10:14

If all adult children are working adults with salaries then you split the accommodation and present three ways and everyone pays for their own travel expenses. If one of the children is a just turned 18 or 19 year old and not a full time earning adult then I wouldn't expect them to cover their own way fully. If the non-birthday parent is feeling generous and can afford it, they can cover the accommodation.

susiedaisy1912 · 01/10/2025 10:13

AphroditesSeashell · 01/10/2025 09:47

Everyone pays for themself.
Parent of teen pays for their child.
Three adults split the cost of the birthday parent.

This

R0ckandHardPlace · 01/10/2025 10:11

Presumably there are 4 bedrooms. Everyone pays for the room they’re in. Adult parent pays for one, single child pays for one, married child pays for two.

Lougle · 01/10/2025 10:08

GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 09:57

Parents don't pay (surprise - they didn't choose to go).

It’s only a surprise for the birthday parent.

What do you think is fair? Has there been a suggestion you don't agree with?

Toomanywaterbottles · 01/10/2025 10:06

We did something similar, but birthday parent (my mum, and dad) paid for the whole thing. But they have more money than everyone else.

childofthe607080s · 01/10/2025 10:02

GetBendyWithWendy · 01/10/2025 09:57

Parents don't pay (surprise - they didn't choose to go).

It’s only a surprise for the birthday parent.

Who planned it? Suggested it?

unless it was the spouse of the birthday person you would be basically be expecting their family finances to pay for their own birthday without them having a say

Algen · 01/10/2025 10:01

Do the “children” want to go or is this being presented to them as a non-optional activity?

I’d split the accommodation per bedroom if everyone is on board, so the middle family pays half if they need 2 bedrooms but otherwise split 1/3 to each.

Everyone pays for their own transport and food split between the number of people.