To book a hotel room as a couple and then turn up as a lp with 2 kids?

[theduchessstill]

I know it's all been said before, but I'm royally pissed off. I'm trying to book a European break for October half-term to stave off post holiday blues and just in case fucking Brexit makes things more difficult and expensive next year.

I've found cheap flights but hotels are so expensive. I'm just feeling sorry for myself that as the only adult I obviously have to pay for it all but that's just the way it is for me and no one else is to blame (apart from twatty ex, obvs). But then I made the stupid mistake of changing my search terms to two adults instead of one adult and two children and the price came down nearly £50 for the room I was looking at. It's like being penalised for being single and a parent. I don't even get the logic of it. Makes me laugh how they tell you to out the kids' ages in 'to get the best deals.' Yeah right

WIBU to book the cheaper rate and then turn up with the dc?

Contact the hotel directly and ask them if they can beat the couple rate which you found online. You're saving them the referral fee. And, as a PP said, they'll sometimes throw in extras for booking direct (our Cretan hotel did a free private transfer for direct bookings)

I found a few hotels in the UK that specifically offered a single parent rate. It wasn't advertised, I called reservations and asked. Never tried it in Europe.

Another one saying contact the hotel direct.

There might well be some who are happy for you to have a double room for yourself and two kids, particularly if the kids are young.

Or they might offer you a better rate than those on the booking sites.

It’s under occupancy charge. My grandma pays it all the time as a widow

I haven’t read the thread, so I don’t know if this has been suggested, but I suggest you ring the hotel directly. The online booking websites were giving us massive prices for a certain hotel, we rang them and told them our 2.5 year old was still in a cot so we could take the standard room with sofa bed, and the price come down massively. They can be more flexible over the phone.

Why are even bothering to go away in October?

We are supposed to have a warm indian autumn and it is likely to be warm all the way through to the winter. Either holiday somewhere in the UK so you can afford it, or put the money towards a better holiday for next year after the long winter when you will really need it no? You can book early bird specials etc.

I don't think it's unreasonable because of reasons already stated, but I can understand your frustration. I think just call the hotel and explain you don't want an extra bed made up and see what they can do?

I was looking for somewhere to stay recently for me, DH and our one year old, but when I tried searching for all three of us most places wanted me to book two rooms (perfectly logical obviously), so the search algorithms don't work for all situations?

Is this booking.com? We have had problems with them when booking for 2 adults and a baby. Adding the child makes it default to two rooms which is crazy because he just shares our bed.
I would call the hotel direct and be specific about what you want.

It’s under occupancy charge. My grandma pays it all the time as a widow

Well no, it's not.

He OP has been quoted MORE for 3 people than 2. This is the opposite of a single supplement. It's also normal to charge more for 3 than 2, even if the 2 are children.

3 people cost more that 2? What a shocker!

I really can’t see how this is beyond comprehension?

You maybe just need to holiday somewhere else?

Sent too soon.

Especially if £50 is the deal breaker. That’s not much of a buffer if you needed extra for holiday etc.

£50 extra for an additional person in a room isn’t much at all. Doesn’t sound bad to me?

Phuquocdreams. I haven’t read the thread, so I don’t know if this has been suggested, but I suggest you ring the hotel directly.

Several times (and air bnb) but OP seems to be ignoring advice...

Also everyone blaming the search algorithm is way off the track here.

OP has a party of 3 and has detached and found rooms accordingly. She has then, for some unknown reason, searched for the same holiday but as a party of 2. Of course it is cheaper.

I honestly despair sometimes. Mumsnet is like a parallel universe. Like I said previously, you book for the amount of people you have, and pay for it. If you genuinely think you are being done out of money because it would cost less for less people then I think you have some problem and should probably stay at home.

*searched

YABVU - 2 people will always be cheaper than 3 people. It’s also BVU if you lie about it when you book!
I would ring/email the hotels directly. Often they will do a double room with put up beds for a small extra charge per night.
Please don’t lie when you book.

Have you looked at Travel Lodges? We stayed in a family room in Barcelona that was reasonably priced and close to an underground line.

If you lie and get caught, they may not honour the booking. Please be prepared for that eventuality. No point putting up a sad face on DailyMail.

Ive been looking on expedia and although the head line price was more expensive, when you drilled down and changed from 2 adults and 1 child, to 1 adult 2 children the prices were the same

OP has a party of 3 and has searched and found rooms accordingly. She has then, for some unknown reason, searched for the same holiday but as a party of 2. Of course it is cheaper.
I honestly despair sometimes. Mumsnet is like a parallel universe

Me Too people are bloody bonkers!

Would you go up to an ice cream van and ask for 3 ice creams, then complain that it’s more expensive than 2?!

Also the “my children take up less space/water/air than an adult” is rubbish. I’m a 5ft 2, 8 stone, I don’t go around complaining that I’m being charged the same as a 6ft, burly man. It’s just how the world works!

I did auditing for some holiday resorts as part of a graduate training program. It really is because they don't make as much from kids - kids meals are cheaper; kids don't tend to have their own budget so there's another barrier in the way of making a sale, there won't be any minibar or full bar purchases from kids.

Statistically speaking, a lone parent going with kids is going to spend the least whilst there, followed by someone on a solo holiday as just an adult, and then couples/groups.

Tried it again , but this time it didnt work.

Would you go up to an ice cream van and ask for 3 ice creams, then complain that it’s more expensive than 2?!

No its the same as OP going up and asking for 1large and 2 small icecreams and being charged more than if she had ordered 2 large and one small.

No its the same as OP going up and asking for 1large and 2 small icecreams and being charged more than if she had ordered 2 large and one small.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that scenario. It's pretty standard.

Airbnb/holiday flat. Much better if you're on a budget, more space, more flexibility, no other guests
Where in Europe are you going?

The hotels have set their rates and if you don't want to pay them (or ask directly for a better deal), you aren't obliged to book.

Just look at Airbnb. I use them all the time now, don't bother with hotels that are dearer and you only get a room. I always go for "entire place" so you get a decent size place to stay with a proper kitchen so you can cook for yourself if you want.

You have much more freedom than in an hotel and I have always found Airbnb cheaper, even than Travelodge and Premier Inn

No sorry that's incorrect I didn't realise that you had included a small ice scream in your scene.

It's not the same at all. Because that's 3 v 3 comparison. OP was comparing 3 v 2

It's obvious isn't it?
You're using booking sites where they quote per person. What you actually want is a double room, not a triple, so you need to email or phone the hotels directly and ask for a double room to share with your kids. Then you will probably get the discount.