Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this discriminates against lone parent families

25 replies

ballstoit · 10/06/2016 21:23

Trying to book a holiday for October half term with some friends. They've recently been to a hotel in Turkey that they loved and we thought we would book to go there. They have 2 adults and 2 children going, I want to book for me and my 3 dc. We couldn't book online as our party is too big. Rang Thomson who said they could book for 8, but not at this hotel as policy is that there must be 2 adults per room. I explained I was happy to pay the extra that an adult would cost but was advised no, the contract states minimum 2 adults per room as it is a 'family hotel'. I explained we are a family, just that only one of us is an adult but was told the contract with this hotel group required 2 adults per room with either 1 or 2 children.
AIBU to think that this contract discriminates against lone parent families?

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 10/06/2016 21:25

Cant one of your children count as an adult?

cannotlogin · 10/06/2016 21:26

Yes, it does. I am not sure there is anything to be done. You can't force a hotel to take your booking.

Have you tried the single parent companies like Single with Kids or Mango?

ChippyMinton · 10/06/2016 21:27

Try an independent travel agent. We had similar problem with kids ages so I couldn't book online, but an agent managed it ok.

Original poster
ballstoit · 10/06/2016 21:33

RedHelen I suggested that but they couldn't as need to put date of birth on airline booking.
I'm sure we can find somewhere else, just disappointed as I'd rather go somewhere personally recommended that I know will suit both families.

OP posts:
Lurkedforever1 · 10/06/2016 21:33

Yanbu. Maybe their main source of info on single parents is the daily mail, and assume you'll turn up pissed, host drunken parties, get questionable tatoos and leave your 37 dc from 37 fathers running riot and generally lower the tone with your low morals.

Seriously though I'd ask the travel agency for a copy of the policy which states lone parent families don't class as families, or the hotels policy which states lone parents aren't allowed, and why.

chocshortbread · 10/06/2016 21:38

Shock that's awful. YANBU

Original poster
ballstoit · 10/06/2016 21:39

Chance to get pissed and host drunken parties would be nice Grin

I've asked them to send me something in writing explaining exactly why we can't book the rooms as the operator I spoke to got flustered when I asked him to explain what was preventing him booking it.

OP posts:
Highlandfling80 · 10/06/2016 21:48

Yanbu

EveryoneElsie · 10/06/2016 21:51

YANBU.

bakingaddict · 10/06/2016 21:54

I would go direct to the hotel website and see what their terms and conditions state regarding rooms and occupants. It sounds like Thomson rep is trying to sell only to a certain clientele

bakingaddict · 10/06/2016 21:56

I thought most hotels class over 12's as an adult occupancy

Hillfarmer · 10/06/2016 22:01

Who are you booking with? I booked a family holiday online for me and 2 kids under 10 no problem, with Thomson. But it was Crete... does Turkey have a problem?

SparklesandBangs · 10/06/2016 22:03

Sounds like a case of 'computer says no' and complete inflexibility from the travel company.
How old is your eldest DC?

megletthesecond · 10/06/2016 22:05

Yanbu.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 10/06/2016 22:06

You need to find out if it is the holiday company, the country or the hotel that objects to your family.

And then choose a different holiday company, country or hotel to give your money to.

RebelRogue · 10/06/2016 22:09

Yanbu it's absolutely ridiculous,and can't quite believe it's the hotel policy.any way you can check that? We've been to turkey and at out hotel there were a few single parent families,one of them a lady with 3 children just like you.

Alternatively , can you check on loveholidays if you can find the hotel and are allowed to book if so,then you can use them,or take it further with thomson? (That's who we used)

clarrrp · 10/06/2016 22:22

I do think it's reasonable to be annoyed, I know we are always annoyed because all the great deals seem to be for 2 adults and 2 children and there are 2 adults and five in our house

You didn't say how old your kids were, but from you post it sounds like your kids would be in their own room? Sorry, I get a bit uncomfortable with kids having their own hotel rooms - and before anyone says it, NO, it's NOT the same as having their own room in their own home - I've heard that so many times and sorry, but I just don't agree with it.

Many hotels have 'family' rooms - designed usually to sleep 5 or 6 with a combination of double and single beds - you could look around and see if you can get one like that?

Original poster
ballstoit · 11/06/2016 10:55

My DC will be 11, 9 and 7 when we go. I want us to all be in the same room, which would be 4 of us.

Friends who we are going with had a problem while they were (not linked to the hotel, car accident in hire car) which the hotel manager was really supportive in helping them to sort out. They have his email address and have emailed to query whether the hotel have an issue with what we want to book, we're waiting for his reply.

It's not an issue for us to find a holiday...we can find other places to go. I am just really annoyed that we can't book this hotel because of a Thomson policy which I feel discriminates against my family situation. Obviously I'm only aware of it because of wanting this specific hotel but am now wondering how many other, possibly cheaper or nicer hotels, I am not being offered because of this 'policy'.

OP posts:
BaronessEllaSaturday · 11/06/2016 11:03

It is possible that this is a hotel policy . I'm off to Turkey next week and the hotel I'm booked into does have a minimum of 2 adults in a family room.

branofthemist · 11/06/2016 11:23

When you find out if it's hotel policy or not, it will make it easier.

If it's not hotel policy then challenge Thompson and speak to someone higher up. Unless they can give you good reason ( I can't think of one) they shouldn't be able to refuse your booking.

If it is hotel policy not sure what you can do about rules in another country

RedHelenB · 11/06/2016 11:42

But that would be to do with price surely Baroness?

BaronessEllaSaturday · 11/06/2016 11:54

But that would be to do with price surely Baroness

No because they charge a flat rate for the room.

Junosmum · 11/06/2016 12:27

It also discriminates against families with adult aged children who still go on holiday- for example 2 parents, 18yo dd and 14yo dd - they'd need 2 rooms but couldn't as there'd be only one adult in he second room.

Totally totally bizarre!

Could you contact the hotel directly (by email)?

Pineapplemilkshake · 11/06/2016 12:32

I agree it is discrimination. I was a single parent for 7 years and used to find up paying a fortune for DS and I to go on holiday. Now that I'm in a relationship, it often only costs a small amount more even though there are now 3 of us travelling together. I stopped booking with Thomas Cook for a similar reason - they used to give out a £100 voucher after your holiday, towards the next one, but it could only be used if there were two adults, despite the fact I was having to pay an adult price for a 5 year old boy!

Pineapplemilkshake · 11/06/2016 12:35

Slightly off topic here, but I also second one of the above posted who recommended some of the holiday companies that specialise in lone parent holidays, I booked twice with Singleparentsonholiday.com and they were amazing. I realise that doesn't help you this time though. In hindsight I wished I'd complained more about this type of discrimination - maybe posting on their Facebook page would help? Sadly this is sometimes the only way you can get anything done these days.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page