AIBU to think that it's disgusting that companies don't sell cheap holidays to single parent families?

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I am not a single parent. But I am thinking about taking both the kids (DS2, DD6) on my own on holiday for a week next summer to give my DW a well-earned break without them. She doesn't want to go away - would rather take it easy for a week putting feet up with a book, than get on a plane to some hot foreign country (she hates the heat and travelling!).

So I go to Expedia, ZERO package holidays for 1 adult + 2 children, but plenty for 2+2. Go to Thomson, and "children go free", unless only 1 adult travels (seems for a £560 per person holiday, I would be paying £1800, despite the "kids go free" advertisement all over the website).

Am I being unreasonable in thinking this isn't on?

Try going to Kinderhotels in the Alps. They have better deals.

Phone them and ask, often the web site can't deal with stuff like that.

YABU Travel companies are businesses. They don't make decisions about pricing dependent on who may "deserve" a good deal. They make pricing decisions based on their costs and what they can charge.

And when it comes to accommodation you will get the same size accommodation usually for 2 adults and 2 children as you will get for 1 adult and 2 children. So it doesn't make sense for them to offer deals.

I think the point the OP was making was that they are charging extra for fewer adults to occupy the same apartment and to take up one less seat on the flight, unless I have misunderstood it .... which is indeed a bit silly and discriminatory.

A few friends have found it cheaper to pay for 2 adults 1 child instead of 1 adult 2 children

Thing is, the under occupancy charge isn't just to level the cost of the accommodation. It's to make up for one less adult drinking in the bar, eating at the restaurant etc. It stinks but that's the way it is.

These companies sell on flights and hotel rooms, and what they charge depends on what they have to pay. It's as simple as that.

Why should single parents pay less? Why should they be subsidised?

YABU.

Why would a company (a business whose aim is to make money) give you something for less when they can sell it to someone else for more?

I'm sure I have read on here before that you can pay adult price for one DC and then get the other at the kids price.

You know it might be more helpful to go to the holidays section and ask "how can I get a good package holiday with only one adult?".

i do not go on package holidays so costs out of season were ok for ds and i

but it is a rip off the companies that aim holidays at single parents i would nto bother booking through these

Catgirl is absolutely right. Book the elements separately - either a hotel or villa and you will find it very much cheaper and probably a whole lot nicer.

YABU but YANBU at the same time.

A few weeks back, I priced up a holiday for myself and DS, then an identical holiday for DB, DSil and DNiece and DNephew. There's came to just under £100 more.

It is all profit related, eg; the hotels have x rooms and by renting the rooms out to 1 adult as opposed to 2 (maybe even 3), they're losing money. But then, this is the reason I think there should be a number of rooms put aside for single parents or single people travelling, and rooms should be priced per room per night, not per person per night. Just sucks a little that I'd have to save twice as hard for an identical holiday to DB, when there's half as many people going, so I understand your sentiment completely.

YANBU. I am a LP with 1 child. I looked into holidays knowing I would have to pay 2 adults for a twin room. So I looked at cheap accomadation. I was then told it would be more as 1ad and 1 ch and would pay under occupancy. Couldn't just pay 2 ad price. MADNESS I tell you. Funny thing was it was AI so they wanted to charge under occupancy for a child who wouldn't wat as much as the adult in the original price.

They didn't get a penny in the end.

last year we went to italy in july, low cost airline, small resort, and hotel right on the beach (didn't have a pool or any entertainment which suits me) and it costs less than £800 for the week including eating out and the food was fantastic. i enjoyed it far more than the all inclusive we went to in olu deniz earlier that year, that cost about the same

you do need to research to find some bargains but they are out there particularly if you do not want a family entertainment type holiday, ds was very very happy playing on the beach and made some friends even if he did not understand them and they him they still managed to play happily together all day

MindtheGapp I assume that when you go to restaurants you order adult portions for your dcs? No? Well that is what you are asking single parents to do. I would be happy with a single room and a pull out bed for ds but find me a hotel that does that. Instead ds has been charged as an adult since we started going away when he was aged 2.

camping is the way I did it as most campsites in europe charged for the pitch and that included two adults and I just paid for an extra small child. The dc ran free on campsite and lots of other children to play with, often a pool to swim in and that meant cheap no day trips. Eat out if I didn't want to cook and eat in if I wanted to cook.

YABU - they are a business. It is not disgusting - a bit annoying, maybe even sad - not disgusting.

DontCallMeFrothyDragon do you actually understand the concept of running a business to make a profit?

Yes, Andrew... please point out where I said otherwise?

I have 3 dcs and have traveled all over the world with them for the last ten years. We do not go on package holidays for this exact reason. If you search online you can find thousands of places that are let by the owners.

When the children were little I always rented an apartment. Transfers are often included or available and most places have food so I didn't have to cook (well I was on holiday too!). The prices are per apartment rather than per person so you can fill it as much as you like, or not!

DontCallMeFrothyDragon When you suggest that rooms should be set aside for single parents or singletons generally. Two adults spend more than one on food and drink. No hotelier is going to refuse a room to a couple because it is set aside for the single visitor who might or might not come. You are being unrealistic.

Book the flights and hotel seperatly but look for a hotel that charges per room and not per person, or a B&B. It is shit, it's the reason why I've never taken ds on holiday. You need to avoid packages, their target family is 2 adults and 2 children. Pathetic really.