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!?

[sanfairyanne]

gosh it took ages til the 'fireman with his list of occupants unable to save the extra child' risk was raised

well done mumsnet

[StarlightMcKenzee]

Anmum, because we'll be leaving late and need to be where we're heading by 8am the following day.

[ohtheholidays]

OP,all the premier Inns we stayed in knew that we had 3 children (so 5 of us)in one room.They have all been fine about it,we've stayed in one in Cornwall (Cornwall was one night)another one in Birmingham,the one in Birmingham was 4 nights.

Mention that you have a child that is autistic,a lot of places are getting a lot better at realizing that when you have a child that is autistic you often have to jig things about to make life a bit more bearable for your child.

And make sure you go for the Breakfast if you can afford it,you pay for the adults and the children get they're breakfast for free and the breakfast is always brilliant.

[Ausflug]

If you're problem is with the logistics of two rooms rather than necessarily price, then book a family room for 4 plus an extra single/double/whatever is cheapest room.

Don't actually use the extra room.

[Penfold007]

Your biggest problem is finding a vacancy on a Friday night

[Bunbaker]

You need to be at a campsite by 8 am? That is unusual. What kind of holiday set up is that?

Is it worth the hassle of booking a room that you will only require for a few hours?

[NannyR]

Rather than breaking up a journey at 4am to check in to a hotel for a couple of hours would it not make sense to pack the car up the night before, everyone get an early night, then leave at 3ish the next morning and drive straight through to arrive at 8am, based on 300 miles taking 5hours or so as the PP said.

[GoofyIsACow]

We have this aexact problem, if you ring premier inn they will advise as not all of their hotels have family/imterconnecting rooms. We managed to get a lovely huge family room in a HOliday inn last time, they can help you on the phone though, they were very helpful and can search via the map.

It is doable without sneaking and lying. (Also to add, we arrived at that hotel at 2.30am and left at 8 for a chunnel crossing)

[forago]

ahhh the fireman issue! of course, when the premier inn we're in is burning down (a massive risk of course based on the er zero that have burnt down so far). instead of getting up and grabbing my 3 nearby children in the same room and following the evàcuation procedures (open door, walk out to carpark in the one we stay in), we will sit there, or possibly all be instantly overcome with smoke and when the firefighter comes to rescue us they will perform their room sweep based entirely on the hotel manifest which they managed to obtain from reception before it burnt down and before they entered any areas that were likely to have lots of people in them. They will therefore be completely unable to see the third child sleeping in a readybed/bloody great travel cot, even when they trip over them to get to the 2 single beds that they know are occupied.

OP do you really want to go on this trip? you seem to be inventing more and more elaborate ways to turn it into an undoable nightmare.

[BishopBrennansArse]

Do those telling the OP that she's making things more logistically difficult than necessary actually have experience of making holiday plans with autistic children in tow?

[Birnamwood]

Just book 2 a 2 c and a cot. When you get to the room, fold the cot up and put it in in the corner...

[lizabeth0607]

I book the maximum and take them all anyway, no one has ever noticed and there's always plenty of room, only ever stay a night anyway.

[raawwhh]

Forago - your ignorance of the dangers of fires in hotels and how often they can occur is astounding and your lack of understanding how quickly smoke can knock somone unconsious dangerous in the context of tour post. But what would I know I have only had many hours of certified hotel fire safety training, have read the case studies and understand everything completely not to mentiondd been responsible for the welfareof hundreds of hotel guests.

FWIW I have experience of travelling with heavily disabled relatives and have to have an adapted room with additional ammenities. You book well in advance to get the room you want, make do with what you can get or not got. It wiuld apoear the OP will have to go with one of the latter 2.

[UrethraFranklin1]

If you're properly trained in hotel fire safety you'll know that you could never rely on a hotel manifest, even if you could get one in the middle of an actual fire. You wouldn't assume that its correct, and you wouldn't assume that everyone is where they are supposed to be. That would be a terrible fire safety plan!

[sanfairyanne]

we sometimes get posts from firemen/women on these threads pissing themselves laughing at the idea that is how they do their job

[forago]

exactly - why would you ever ignore the evidence of your own senses and just rely on a manifest!

[Alibabsandthe40Musketeers]

Someone I know checks in very late, and leaves very early when they use these for stop overs - 5 people in a 4 person room.

[BoredAdminGirl]

Can't you sleep in seperate rooms then all go into one to get ready?!

[mejon]

We stayed in a Premier Inn last year - 2 adult and 2 children. I inadvertently clicked the 'yes' to a cot button and when we arrived, there were two single beds made up as well as the big bed and a travel cot so they were clearly expecting 5 in the room. Could you do this and just put 2 children in one bed - or one in with you as you've mentioned yourself?

[SeenSheen]

You could book all the kids with one adult. 2 bs adult can just amble in with a group looking like they own the place. An adult is less likely to draw attention to themselves.

[SeenSheen]

2nd