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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

201 replies

theduchessstill · 09/08/2018 23:27

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 Hmm

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

OP posts:
notacooldad · 10/08/2018 09:55

Berlin is fucking expensive!
I don't think it is a time all.I've been 7 times since July last year and it's no more evpensive than sa, Manchester.

Sure it's not cheap as say Lithuania or Estonia but by God it's a lot cheaper than Denmark, Norway and Sweden and Finland!

wink1970 · 10/08/2018 10:24

To all the people suggesting AirBNB, can I remind you that it's banned or heavily controlled in many countries, so there are increasing stories of people turning up to find that their bookings are not 'legal' or the neighbours have complained and the authorities have turfed holidaymakers out on the street.

This includes Barcelona, Berlin, Paris etc. There's a good guide in the Telegraph.

nervyuyt · 10/08/2018 10:31

made the stupid mistake of changing my search terms to two adults instead of one adult and two children

TWO adults V ONE adult and TWO children.

why should I have to pay more for having two kids there compared to two adults being there?

Because 3 is MORE than 2

Searched 3 adults in room - prices remain about the same. Searched two adults and prices plummet down

Because again, 3 is MORE than 2.

it's cheaper to be an adult than two kids

Because one is less than 2

I'm sorry OP but you are being ridiculous.

As for the posters who think it's not clear what OP actually meant Hmm how can the above mean anything other than what is written?

IDontEatFriedTurtle · 10/08/2018 10:32

its the law for fire regs to know how many "human beings" in the building.

How exactly would they know how many human beings are in the building? I assume that people are allowed to come and go as they please and not forced to leave in groups and sign out?

Junkmail · 10/08/2018 10:36

Book an Airbnb if you can. Much cheaper and much more flexible. I run Airbnb holiday lets and have guests from all over the world. Depending on time of the year one of my apartments is as cheap as £30 a night for four people. It’s self catering but maybe this would be okay with kids anyway to give you more choice.

mavydoes · 10/08/2018 10:36

If it's a euro holiday don't they take your passports for 24hra anyway? Just phone up if possible and complain and raise concerns about comfort and see if they will reduce the amount on goodwill.

But saying 2 adults in stead of 1 adult 2 children is lying so technically information fraud.

nervyuyt · 10/08/2018 10:43

Omg this is typical Mumsnet.

Complain Confused about what exactly? There was no complaint to be made.

What needs to happen is OP needs to pay for her holiday according to the amount of people.

ShesABelter · 10/08/2018 10:45

One adult and one child was coming up more expensive when I searched last year than two adults. The only reason I could think why was they were subsidising the fact they wouldn't make extra cash off the child spending money on alcohol and adult meals?

MeyMary · 10/08/2018 10:50

If you're going for smaller / often family run hotels in the off-season, I'd try see whether you can haggle in regards to the price...
Call them directly and see what they can do. "I saw that the price for 3 adults is XYZ. What is the price for one adult and two children?"
(Obviously also depends on your location, I haven't read the whole thread...)

But yes, 2 is cheaper less expensive than 3. Many hotels do offer children discounts for meals etc but one additional person (whether adult or child...) will require an additional bed, linnens, use the utilities etc. The age of that person doesn't matter all that much...

Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 10/08/2018 11:02

It’s not going to end well. The hotel would be well within their rights to charge you more or cancel you’re booking if they don’t have a family room available.

PurpleCrowbar · 10/08/2018 11:08

Have skimmed so apologies, but I'm a lone parent with 3dc.

If I search for 1A3C it's often expensive (they assume at least 3 beds as expect I will want one to myself). It's frequently cheaper to search 2A2C, so I get maybe a double + sofa bed & share with youngest dc).

In OP's situation I'd search 2A1C & look for rooms that offer one free child space.

Might also be worth trimming a bit of youngest dc age to make them eligible for a cot! It won't matter or cause extra laundry etc to the hotel if dc doesn't actually fit in it & everyone ends up in the double bed together.

Or - as everyone has suggested - ring hotel direct & just explain that you want to book a standard double room & this will be sufficient for you + 2 young dc? They can only say no, & then you are no worse off.

A mate of mine with 2 dd often does this & it's generally fine - the hotel couldn't care less so long as you aren't going to suddenly demand extra beds. If you're a bit squished that's your lookout!

Jeanclaudejackety · 10/08/2018 11:08

Why a hotel. Aparthotel or a flat would be so much better with kids. I got a fab one from owners direct 4 days in Madrid, one bed with kitchen and sofa bed, located right in Puerta del Sol in centre. With flights think it was 600 for 3 adults.

WhiteDust · 10/08/2018 11:16

OH DEAR GOD OP. Let me explain...

If you search for 2 adults you get allocated a double room for 2 people. Usually one double bed.

If you search for 1 adult & 1 child you get allocated a family room.
Usually a double bed and 1 pull out bed.

f you search for 1 adult & 2 children you get allocated a family room.
Usually a double bed and 2 pull out beds.

f you search for 2 adults and 2 children you get allocated a family room.
Usually a double bed and 2 pull out beds.

Family rooms are allocated for more than 2 occupants and unless you are staying in a Premier inn, are always more expensive and usually bigger than double rooms.

HTH

Broussard · 10/08/2018 11:18

It's like being penalised for being single and a parent

Or you have to pay more for 3 people than you do for 2 which is perfectly logical? It's not about being penalised.

WhiteDust · 10/08/2018 11:19

Look at YHA and search for private en-suite rooms for 3 ( or 4 - same price- if you want more space).
Some of them are in amazing buildings and have excellent, refurbished facilities.

nervyuyt · 10/08/2018 11:34

It's like being penalised for being single and a parent

Nope. It's like paying the rate for the amount of people.

It sounds like you have a bit of a chip on your shoulder about being a single parent and you think you are being hard done by here. You are really not. Other aspects of your life may be unfair because you are a single adult with 2 DC's, but in this situation it's perfectly reasonable for 3 people to pay more than 2.

If the hotel charged more for 1 adult and 2 DC's than it does for 2 adults and 2 DC's then it would be unfair, but charging more for 3 than they do for 2? Totally normal. Totally reasonable.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 10/08/2018 11:35

It's also about accommodation and the fact that it does tend to be geared towards couples. People who travel as singles, friends, in groups of more than 2 or as families are not as well catered for in many places. No wonder airbnb took off like it did!

WhiteDust · 10/08/2018 11:36

Click on en-suite if you don't want a shared bathroom

user1457017537 · 10/08/2018 11:38

Just say your partner couldn’t make it and may join you later.

nervyuyt · 10/08/2018 11:48

Just say your partner couldn’t make it and may join you later.

And what will OP say of the 2 children she has brought along?

Please read the OP.

The idea was took book 2 adults INSTEAD of 1 adult and 2 children

Broussard · 10/08/2018 12:15

Just say your partner couldn’t make it and may join you later

Only works if she leave the 2 kids behind.

MeyMary · 10/08/2018 12:42

Just say your partner couldn’t make it and may join you later

Not an option imo. How does she explain the additional kid? I would however book to adults and one child (often a double with a pull out bed / cot) if that was cheaper than one adult and two children....

Bouledeneige · 10/08/2018 13:33

Are you prepared to all 3 of you share a double or two singles? If not then it's fair that 3 people cost more than two.

I'm in the same boat but as mine are now full grown late teens it causes more problems re sharing beds.

Don't do the comparisons - if you were still a couple you'd need two rooms surely?

Yb23487643 · 11/08/2018 17:47

It is annoying cos we have to book family rooms but my kids never stay in strange beds v long & we all end up in the same bed - wish we could just book a double room. Especially when breakfast not included