Travelodge/premier Inn with 3 kids - how?

[StarlightMcKenzee]

AIBU to think there should be a way to get 3 kids and 2 adults into a room. We're not exactly a 'large' family.

For various logistical reasons, (ages of the kids mainly - all little/one with ASD) it would not work if we booked 2 rooms (quite apart from the additional expense) as one adult could not leave their charge, and would not leave them alone, even if sleeping, to keep running back to other room to get whatever items might be needed etc. as we pack as one family.

It just seems to me to be so bonkers that I'm wondering if there is like an unwritten rule that means that the websites don't actually reflect reality and most people with 3 kids do actually all share a room!?

[StarlightMcKenzee]

I've never stayed in a YH that allows very late night/eat morning check in.

I'll have a look at Weatherspoons, thanks. Didn't even know they did rooms. Do they have night check-ins?

[LaLyra]

Although you can't book ahead couldn't you ring round the TL's and PI's and find out who has interconnecting rooms and/or who allows 3 children. Then when you get a last minute chance to go away you know which ones are an option?

[OurDearLeader]

Can you take/buy a couple of blow up beds so it's a bit comfier for you in the one room?

The problem is, you're looking for something quite specific and they are probably only going to have two or three rooms that they could accommodate you in at most. If you're leaving it until a few days before these are likely to be booked up and they can't turf out someone with a long standing booking just because you want the same room.

I think perhaps it might be time to recognise that making plans on the hoof does not really work for you practically and planning a head a bit so you can avoid situations like this.

[forago]

we always get a family room. Us in double bed. older two in single beds provided. Youngest in travel cot or ready bed that we bring with us in the middle.

I don't really see the issue. I guess at some point we will be forced too book a double and a twin for the older two when they are teenagers but one family room has done us for the last 10 years.

[muminhants1]

I only have one ds but it's surprising how many hotels have a policy that once children are 12, they can't share with their parents. Or, they make you have an expensive huge bedroom (ostensibly for "safety" reasons, but probably to try to make some of the money back they're not getting because you're not having two rooms).

I looked for hotels in Berlin for ages that would accommodate 2 adults and 1 12 year old in one room but ultimately found the Mercure hotel chain, which have two-room suites for a reasonable price.

Do hotel owners really think 12 year olds should be on their own in a room in a foreign city? I think I was 14 when I first had a room of my own, and that was in a B&B in this country. I guess you'd have to have one parent on their own and one parent sharing with the child.

I feel your pain OP and hope you can sort it out.

[GnomeDePlume]

Three DCs here. We have frequently done the 'book two, use one' thing. It took me a little while to get it into my thick skull to book a family room and the cheapest possible other room. The other room (normally a twin) would then get cannibalised for bedding, towels etc. It also meant that we then had another shower to use in the morning.

[Viviennemary]

I don't think I'd risk taking an extra child because the hotel could well turn you away because of fire regulations. It's not worth the risk.

[DIYandEatCake]

Have you tried phoning and speaking with/emailing the manager? I stayed in a budget hotel recently with more children than the online form accommodated, emailed to check beforehand and it was no problem at all (I kept a copy of the email back from them just in case). I think there might be some rules to do with fire regs etc but it seems they can be flexible.

[fiorentina]

The restrictions are due to fire safety in smaller rooms. That is why they may turn you away if they realise the room is over capacity..

[FanSpamTastic]

Have you tried any youth hostels (YHA). We have stayed in some lovely en suite family rooms with them with our 3 kids. One even had a double bed and then 2 sets of bunks.

Otherwise we have used family rooms in Marriott.

[Bunbaker]

Is your husband not even allowed to book holiday ahead? Or is he self employed?
Why do you need to check in really late?

[Lion12]

I haven't read the whole thread but couldn't you book one family room, put the 3 year old in a cot and the other 2 share a bed of its only for one night. Just send one adult to check in with one kid then once they are in the room the other adult could follow in with the other kids?

[StarlightMcKenzee]

Husband is allowed to book his holidays ahead. But if he can get his work done superfast, by working weekends, he can sometimes get additional days at the last minute, which is what this is (and what lots of our weekends etc are).

I don't know why we get places late. We just do. Over-ambitious about what we can achieve with 3 small children perhaps. Unpredictable leaving times plus, traffic, plus stops. I don't know what that has to do with it though. Travelodge and premier inn have late check-in which is why we have always gone with them before.

[StarlightMcKenzee]

'I don't think I'd risk taking an extra child because the hotel could well turn you away because of fire regulations.'

We have always previously booked 2 adults, 2 kids and 1 cot for baby, and that was always accepted.

I'm not sure why a cot with a toddler in it is less of a fire risk than a fully mobile 3yr old.

[LilyTucker]

We've always done it until the twins turned 10.

It's easy.

Send dp in to check in with 2 kids which he then leaves in the room to come back and tell you which room it is. He goes back. You then go in some time later with your other child and air bed folded up in a travel bag.

Never ever had a problem even at breakfast with 3 kids the next morning.

< runs before the MN dogooders pile in and flame>

[StarlightMcKenzee]

We don't do breakfast anyway. Brioche, milk/water we already have with us, and straight on the road.

Thanks

[Teach3]

We stayed at a 2 bed cottage for a wedding recently. It was actually much cheaper than the holiday inn across the road (2/3 the price of one room in the hotel). The keys were in a pin-locked safe near the door so we could arrive when we wanted and leave when we wanted. I found it on tripadvisor properties. Might be worth a look.

[mumeeee]

As I have said youth hostels now do family rooms and you have your own key. What time do you want to book in?

[Tryharder]

We used to do this all the time. We would book for 2 adults and 2 children as per the website restrictions and then turn up with 3 children.

No questions were ever asked. The beds are large enough to fit 3 children in so there was no problem there.

[StarlightMcKenzee]

Not certain mumee It depends when DH can get away, but we've booked in as late as 4am before now. Difficult to hide extra kids at that time, though usually night porter/staff member doesn't care.

[sweetkitty]

A friend with 3 books in 2 and takes a ready bed

We have 4 DC and do 2 rooms 1 adult and 2 DC per room, or interconnecting rooms.

To be honest we always get two together so it's never been a problem we tend to all camp out in the one room until bedtime anyway.

[Scholes34]

We did two rooms in a Wetherspoons hotel in Salisbury. Children are a bit older that yours, OP, but the hotel staff were lovely. I booked it over the phone and was given a reduced rate for the second room with three beds, as it wasn't my "fault for having three children"

[ohtheholidays]

We manage to use Premier Inn with 5 children and 2 of our children are asd and youngest child is physically disabled on top of the asd and I'm now seriously ill and disabled.

We book 2 rooms 1 for myself,DH and 3 youngest DC,2 of whom are disabled and another room for 2 oldest DC.

Just take one of those little ready beds with you and stick it in your room.We've never had any problems,been questioned about who's staying where and we've used them a few times now in different areas.

[Caboodle]

We lived in a Premier Inn for a week when moving house; DCs were 9,7 and 4. We asked for a travel cot. Staff didn't care that DC was too old for the cot (staff were lovely actually); bit of a squeeze for us but perfectly do-able.

[raawwhh]

As an ex hotel duty manager these posts about sneaking kids into hotel rooms made my heart race. A hotel needs to know a full list of all occupants in case of a fire - especially minors. If there is a fire the fire officers will be given a room by room occupancy list. Lets say you book 2 adults and 2 kids in the room but sneak and extra in - one kid hides and the rest of you have passed out - fire officers take 2 adults and 2 kids out of the room and leave the child hiding because they had no idea there was an extra child - the child isn't rescued. It sounds horrific but those are the sorts of case studies I had to read on fire safety courses.

Unfortunately for you OP it is rarer than you think (percentage wise of overall room sales) for there to be a family with 3 kids hence the lack of family rooms in most hotels. Have you looked at smaller local hotels as they tend to do the big family rooms. As others have said some chains will have interlocking rooms.