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]

So rawhh the fire safe solution is to book a cot, to signify a 3rd child, regardless of his/her age?

If the website had 3 in the child list then surely that would be the proper fire solution. If a room can cope with 3 kids, then how come it can't once one is no longer using a cot?

I understood that the number of families with 3 kids has risen quite substantially in recent times though.

[mygrandchildrenrock]

A friend of mine, with 3 DC, always stays in premier inns, she books online one family room, then always phones up to say she's bringing 3 children and an air bed and they are always alright about it. She says it has never been a problem.

[Viviennemary]

I completely agree with you raawwhh. Thank goodness for the voice of common sense on this thread. Can't believe all this sneaking in of kids and nothing is thought to be wrong with that. Hotels must know how many guests they have in what rooms. What if there was a fire.

[Fiddlerontheroof]

The Dragon hotel in Swansea will according to booking.com ...but it's not cheap! X

[wooldonor]

Is a ready bed the same thing as a blow up bed? If you're going camping would you have one with you anyway?

I'm sure you don't need to be told how to get away on time but I'm just thinking that if you can get up, have your breakfast and leave bquickly the next morning could you apply the same tactics on the day you leave?

Pack the car the night before, make your last meal fun like the hotel breakfast and then all jump in thecar and off you go

[StarlightMcKenzee]

Although surely if sneaking kids in is the norm, they'll be other kids there that will be counted instead of mine and putting mine at risk anyway!?

Nowt wrong with charging more for additional kids but fgs let the family share a room.

If these hotels charged extra for the additional child, people would more likely see it as fraud and admit to it instead of feeling that they had no choice but to lie to get their needs met.

[saintlyjimjams]

We've always done 2 rooms. Ds1 & me in one, the younger two in with dh.

Not possible now as ds1 needs 2:1, so we're leaving the younger two with my parents while taking ds1 to tick 'holiday' off his list.

[StarlightMcKenzee]

woold The problem isn't the space or bedding. All 5 of us can easily fit into a Premier Inn bed (we fit in our smaller one at home frequently).

We don't need anything provided at all.

[MayPolist]

Airbed and don'tall go in at the same time.That's what everyone else does

[StarlightMcKenzee]

woold We just get up, get dressed, eat a brioche whilst doing it and leave. It takes about 5 minutes. We barely unpack (And kids often in pjs when we arrive anyway or sleep naked) so nothing to pack.

That Dragon Hotel is almost the price for 1 night as the entire 3 week camping trip that follows.

[Athenaviolet]

Just drive through the night.

[Bejeena]

Three children and one adult in one room, other adult has single room and can leave room whenever as not got children to look after.

Seems simple to me

[womaninthewildsofwales]

We sneak them in :-/ check in with 2 kids, DP empties the car with kid 3, hopefully somewhere along the way the baby gets bored and fractious and thus the receptionist can't wait to get rid of you. Chaos usually works in our favour and 2 adults and 4 kids in one room :-D

[BikeRunSki]

Friend of mine carried in her youngest-but-over-2 child in in a holdall, when the unmanned reception turned out to be manned.

[Lucked]

I would book two rooms but all get ready for bed in one and then one adult and one child go in their pyjamas to bed in the other room then come back as soon as they wake up to get ready. Although two bathrooms might be useful.

After booking I would phone and ask for rooms close to each other, if you can see the door from the other room popping back if necessary won't be a problem.

[EastMidsMummy]

We can't pack separate bags because the kids share most things (toothpaste, Ipad, Cbeebies magazine) and stuff needs to be used flexibly and often creatively to accommodate child with ASD's needs, plus either ASD child or youngest will no doubt have a screaming fit at some point about wanting to see the other parent/other children.

Er, buy another tube of toothpaste and magazine??

[StarlightMcKenzee]

I couldn't leave one of them, even for a minute. Perhaps the 6yr old (not ASD) but the other two would not be safe. And the other two would go bananas without the 6yr old probably and our son with ASD would be unlikely to ever go to sleep (a common problem if something isn't 'right').

All 3 of them share the top bunk at home , if they're not in with us.

Ah, look Travelodge and Premier Inn!!! :Look at the trouble you've caused.

I'll figure it out. If we can get two rooms we will (though all sleep in one). If not we'll probably just drive through the night/sleep for a couple of hours in a service station car park. It's what I did growing up after all. There were 4 of us kids in a Cortina with a full boot. Happy days!

[raawwhh]

StarlightMcKenzee Hotel room risk assesments are completed usually based on 1 occupant per bed. An infant will be counted seperate and therefore is not transferable.You could do your suggestion and Im sure the fire brigade will love it when they find out they have sent their officers in risking lives to reacue and infant thay never existed.

3 child families may be on the rise however there clearly isnt the business requirement for the rooms i.e the cost involved in making 5 pax rooms will recoupourated fast enough - otherwisw there would already be more of them.

[Caboodle]

But when we stayed at the Premier Inn for a week staff knew there were 5 of us in one room and were fine about it; no sneaking involved. Why can't OP be allowed to let 2 of her DCs share a bed if they wish?

[Caboodle]

And I'm sure people in hotel rooms have 'moved about' in the night before....

[MrsBigginsPieShop]

Book two rooms.
Buy another tube of toothpaste and magazine.
Pack two bags.
Don't sneak your children in to hotels.

[AnMum]

I have no experience of ASD so apologies if the answer is obvious but why do you need to stop overnight on a 300mile trip?? It's really not that far. We do this with a 4 and 1 years old and it takes about 5 hours with a 30/40 min stop...

[VioletPenguin]

Er, buy another tube of toothpaste and magazine??

Can't believe it took until p4 for someone to suggest this! Talk about throwing up unnecessary obstacles!

OP, I would suggest you try more independent places. Cottages, holiday homes etc. Youth hostels are a good suggestion, I have traveled extensively using them and never had any issues with late check ins.

If also suggest roughly planning out weekend breaks in advance. Not booking, just looking into places you want to go and making a list of suitable accommodation, then when you have to book last minute you already know where to book.

[Cheeseandhamtoast]

If you are going on a 3 week camping holiday, why the rush to leave so late in the day that you may arrive at a hotel very late, even 4am!! My DCs do not have ASD but I know this would really put them out. Why not pack the car that night instead, and leave some time the next morning. Then you won't need a late check in.

If you don't need overnight luggage, then it's easy to split into 2 rooms, either you or your DP with your DS alone, and if your DS is being difficult then you can take him to sleep in the other room later at night.