To think that families of 5 are ripped off when booking holidays

[Budgiegirlbob]

I've been trying to book a summer holiday with my sister , she has a family of 4, I have a family of 5.

We originally tried to book an AI holiday to Turkey, she had a quote of £4000 for 2 weeks, all 4 of them in one room. I got a quote, but as we needed 2 rooms to accommodate 5 of us, our quote was £7000. An extra £3000 for one extra child! Of course I expected it to be more than my sister, but not getting on for double. It included under occupancy charges as there would only be one adult in each room.

So we scrapped that idea, and got a quote for a cruise in a large ship, which specifically markets itself to families. Dsis quote was £3000 for four sharing a cabin. No cabins for 5 though, even on a family ship, so the cost for us was £5000. Aaargh !

I know we are lucky to be able to go on holiday at all, but AIBU to be cross that the cost for one extra child is so high just because we don't fit into the nice little holiday ideal of 2 adults, 2 kids?

[Budgiegirlbob]

In the past we have always self catered due to the issues with 5 of us (although we did eat out a lot). It's just that this time I fancied being pampered a bit, I love staying in hotels, and having someone else make the beds, pour the drinks etc! Also the children have got to an age where they want something more than sitting by the pool/beach, and hotels seem to provide better activities for them than apartments do.

However, I don't really blame the hotels in a way, they are there to make money, and they are bound by regulations. But that doesn't mean I have to like it! It's frustrating !

[EverythingCounts]

Anyone who doesn't go in the neat package of 2 adults, 2 children is disadvantaged. So I sympathise but it happens to quite a few other groups too. Some good tips here. Maybe more niche operators / websites should start up.

[SoonToBeSix]

No only self catering.

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

Also on Travel Republic I have often seen apartments that offer different board basis, such as the choice of self catering, half board, all inclusive etc so a bit more flexibility than a lot of the holidays Thomson/First Choice offer.
If the price for 2 weeks is to high we book 10 nights and fly midweek. We find we look forward to the holiday just as much but it can save 1000s.

[Custardo]

oh and lira exchange rate is amazing at the mo

[Custardo]

odd numbers when booking package type holidays always get shafted

we are a family of 5 and went on ONE package holiday - it was so expensive - we went on keycamp holidays every year after that.

BTW, i have just booked holiday to turkey £200pp self catering

i think AI is fucking hiddeous anyway - but that aside, if you go on travel republic or similar - choose your flight then choose an apartment i can't see it coming anywhere near that price

and turkey is so cheap - eating out doesn't cost much, boat trips are 10-20 quid pp, doing it yourself you save literally thousands.

[yorkie84]

Sorry big family

[yorkie84]

Gosh. Didn't realise a family of 3 was such a large family.

[NigellasDealer]

was just going to say, why not just rent a villa?
save some money by doing self catering too....

[Annunziata]

I hope you are not turning up for breakfast with a child you haven't paid for, soontobesix!

You could get yourself in a lot of hot water, especially with fire regulations and H&S.

We are 9 and it's horrendous We always just rent a villa, hotels are impossible!

[SoonToBeSix]

I would and have just taken an extra child and put two kids in a bed. Can you not do that?

[MidniteScribbler]

It's not always the hotel owners that make the rules though. A friend of mine owns an accommodation complex in an island location and the rules are very strict. Even to add another bed has to go through their legislative assembly.

[JohnCusacksWife]

Eurocamp, or similar, is your friend. Costs you the same whether there's three of you 6 of you.

[ProlificPenguin]

www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/europe/spain/majorca/sa-coma/apartments/hipotel-aparthotel-coma-gran.html

One of many hotels that offer apartments to sleep upto six. Self catering, half board or All inclusive. it took me less than a minute to find this online.

The are loads of these, if you pick a hotel that doesn't have accommodation big enough to sleep your family in one unit then of course you will be charged more, sometimes nearly double of you have two rooms. How is this "ripping you off".

YABU and if you have time why not pop into a high street travel agent who could very quickly get you a list of holiday options.

[LucilleBluth]

You have to stop doing hotel based holidays, it's as simple as that. We did Eurocamp last year and Center Parcs in the Netherlands this year. It is a pain but there are ways of doing it cheaply.

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

I have 3 DC but the eldest doesn't come on holiday with us any more, we still book 2 rooms or cabins as I can't sleep with my DC who are teens in the room and we would all be on too of each other. When the 5 of us used to go on holiday we often booked package holidays, got 2 rooms, paid as if there were 4 adults but then got a free child price. I just thought of it as part of having a fairly big family.

[RufusTheReindeer]

Oh that is so sweet jack

Bless your little heart

As I said not a big deal and wouldn't it be boring if people couldn't whinge about those small irritations in life

[Clutterbugsmum]

Have you tried Room for 5 website dedicated to hotels who cater for larger families.

[jellybeans]

We are a family of 7 and you can do it you just have to look out for places with large 2 bed (sleeping 6-8) apartments or cheap villa type houses.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

We went to Lykia World in Olu Deniz in Turkey when we were a family of 5. Family room with two bedrooms. Perfect, great pools and fabulous food.

My own solution may be a it drastic for you, though. Get divorced and suddenly become a family of four! Oldest DS has to pay adult price anyway so no under occupancy!

[QwertyBird]

Misty that does seem low. Are they including married couples without children? Or maybe age gaps play a part, e.g. only counting children under 16 so if you have some older, they wouldn't count in the survey

Budgiegirlbob try investigating flights and separate accommodation? It might help. Keep an eye on child ages as you look through. Some airlines / hotels have differing child ages, from 11 - 16 usually. Try using HUKD as they have a resident holiday expert?

[JackShit]

My heart bleeds

[RufusTheReindeer]

If I wanted 2 rooms I wouldn't mind being charged for 2 rooms but I don't

I want one room that we can get into, mine are more than happy on the floor. Wouldn't do it for long but it is irritating when all you want is a night or two

And the phrase "family room" really annoys me. They mean a room that sleeps 4 or less...just need to break it to one of the children that they are no longer family

It's not the end of the world, we are on holiday this year, one week in ONE hotel room and two weeks in a villa and we normally go to a villa and just eat out (a lot)

And no it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but it is a pain when you are quite happy squeezing in. I take the point about occupancy and would be interested in seeing the reasons for that, when you can quite often get 2 adults, 2 children and a 2 year old in a cot but not a 3 year old

[MistyB]

I googled out of interest and 15% of UK families have three or more children. I was surprised it was as low as that.

It is a pain, I agree and wish hotels would find creative solutions, sometimes speaking to them directly can help, we have managed to convince a UK hotel to allow us to have our family of five in a room for four.