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?

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.

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

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!

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

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

Sorry big family

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.

oh and lira exchange rate is amazing at the mo

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.

No only self catering.

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.

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 !