Struggling with hotel rooms for a family of 4 with 2 teenagers.

[Claymorekick]

So, looking for hotels for a city break to London and all the options seem to be either 3 people in 1 big bed and the 4th in a single sofa bed or 2 seperate rooms. With a 15 year old and an almost 13 year old, neither seem practical or appropriate

Is this just the way it is and if so, what option is best? Me and DH don't really want to sleep in separate rooms (each with a child) when we are on holiday.

@HermioneWeasley which hotel was that?

What about an air bnb? I now use them rather than hotels and more often than not they are far cheaper than a hotel and you get all the facilities you need with them. I find them much better to relax in than a hotel with their really uncomfortable chairs or having to sit on the bed.

On the booking there has to be an adult in each room but in reality 99% of people would put the teens together.

We rent a whole property on Airbnb. We started doing it to save money vs 2 hotel rooms but found we also prefer it. There's usually a cafe around for a decent breakfast, or add up when you save by doing your own breakfasts and spend it on another treat.

Airbnb or kids sleep in the separate room - who is going to be looking at who sleeps where !

There's a section on Tripadvisor that lists interconnecting London hotel rooms. Some (newer) Premier Inns have interconnecting rooms, but you have to call to book as opposed to on line. We've stayed in Novotel's before in interconnecting rooms, they do their Family and Co offer, where second room is half price. I've found speaking or emailing the hotel directly for confirmation that the rooms will be together is a good idea. Other Accor brands do the same offer. Was there a particular area you were looking to stay in or is it flexible?

once theyre teenagers, unless its just one night, then you should probably just get two rooms. Not much of a break otherwise

I'd definitely book two rooms, either ask for connecting or on same floor closeby, putting an adult as the lead name for each room, as long as you trust your DC - most get to the age they don't want to share with parents unless they really have to, and you really can't be that far off that.

The teens were 16...but over 13 is classed as an adult by Premier Inn.

@Brollywasntneededafterall

The teens were 16...but over 13 is classed as an adult by Premier Inn.

Not by premier Inn, other chains they are (possibly Ibis) but we stopped at PI a couple of weeks ago and it is under 16, the same as Travelodge.

We have two young teens and I am always amazed at how there is very little for us without interconnecting rooms which doubles the price!

We use holiday Inns, they often have family rooms with a king size and two singles or a triple bunk bed

In some of the London ones we’ve booked interconnected rooms with a king in one and twins in the other, this worked really well when they were younger teens as we had 2 bathrooms and two Tv’s

We did the Premier Inn family room with ds on the sofa bed up until about the age of 13 . Then when dd turned 16 she had her own room. The Premier Inn at Kensington Earls Court is usually good value and ideally located for the tube.

You definately get a free child's bed (and free breakfast) up until the age of 16 at Premier Inn.

@Claymorekick it was the Ampersand. Highly recommend their science afternoon tea as well!

Have you considered a youth hostel

You can get private family rooms and are in lots of central locations.

Booking.com is absolutely crap for this. The only way to figure it out is to contact hotels directly. Ditto for rooms with disabled facilities. Absolutely poorly served by the booking platforms.

@WouldBeGood

Doesn’t matter, just register you and dh separately to each room then make your own arrangements

Agree with this.

I'd just book the 2 rooms with one adult in each and then let the kids share. The hotel won't ask or know.

PS. I often stay in Premier Inn family rooms with my DP and SCs and we always get 1 double and 2 singles.

Wouldn't want to do that with older kids tbh, I'd book the separate room, but they do offer it.

We stayed at Hyde Park Apartments, a short walk from Paddington. Two bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen.

Premier Inns accept kids up to 17 but I think the pull out bed is only recommended for up to 12 year olds

Well, I have spoken to their Central Bookings several times, to ask if adult DD with epilepsy and learning disabilities can sleep on the sofa bed in our room and they have always said yes. They have never said its only recommended for up to 12 year olds. She has always been fine on it. After all, two adults could sit on it, when its a sofa, so its not a problem with the weight bearing capacity.

@Intercity225

Premier Inns accept kids up to 17 but I think the pull out bed is only recommended for up to 12 year olds

Well, I have spoken to their Central Bookings several times, to ask if adult DD with epilepsy and learning disabilities can sleep on the sofa bed in our room and they have always said yes. They have never said its only recommended for up to 12 year olds. She has always been fine on it. After all, two adults could sit on it, when its a sofa, so its not a problem with the weight bearing capacity.

The sofa bed is fine for an adult. I book rooms for work and they have been used by men. What Intercity probably means is the third bed in some family rooms. You have the main double bed, the sofa bed, then a smaller sofa/pull out bed. We stopped using those around the age of 13/14.

I have never been advised of an age limit on the bed. The booking just asks how many under 15.

My 15 year old was in it a few weeks back (the 9 year old bagsed the other bed first) She was fine, other than the fact that she is really tall and her feet hung over the end.

We always book 2 rooms or a suite.