Paying adult price for 2 year old

[dancingmonkey]

I am going on a big family holiday with around 15 people and staying in a large house. The person organising it (my mums partner’ has charge me, boyfriend and 2 year old daughter £200 each, and daughter will also have to sleep on a sofa bed! There is also a day trip paid for adult tickets are £26, under 4’s free and yet nothing has been taking off for that.
Is it really worth moany about? Money isn’t a massive issue but it’s the Principle that really annoyed me!

Should I bring it up? Or just leave it

[Cremebrule]

My 9m old eats more than her 2 year old cousin so you need the same approach for the baby and toddler really re cost. From what you’ve said, I’d have done cost per room (assuming similar sizes) and then adult cost for food per head including booze and then a half price rate for each of the kids and then day trip on top for those that need to pay.

[Caspianberg]

If your room has sofa bed in though as well, Its probably one of the bigger rooms. Also food wise I would just say its the same as they will likely get some extra easy bits in for kids than if no kids, more milk, some easy snacks etc. So I would be happy to pay if you can afford.

The £26 for free under 4s you shouldnt pay though.

[Whynosnowyet]

At meal times you fill up a third plate and share it with your dh....

[mummmy2017]

I'd say if I am paying full price for DD here is a list of items she can eat, or do you want to just charge her £100 for her bed and I will do her food shopping.
Also as under 4 go free on trips do you want us to just pay for our own trips and meals out?

[Bert2020]

When we go as a big family we split the costs per adult, children aren’t included at all unless we go out for dinner and then are occasionally half cost or else not included again. For a hotel booking we have worked out costs per family as we need a bigger room for the children.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I think it would be reasonable to charge young children half price maximum. So that’s happened with the family with 2 children. Ask for a reduction. It’s ludicrous to charge a 2 yo the same as an adult. Especially when the food won’t be suitable.

[mummmy2017]

14 people at £200 each is £2800.
Do you think he has coated himself and your mum for free.
How much is the house to rent as taking the £260 for 10 Adults off the bill is still one heck of a pot to spend.

[Straycatstrut]

Wow £200 for a 2 year old to stay somewhere on a sofa bed?

I'd only expect to pay for a child if they were taking up a plane/coach seat and had their own bed in a twin room or something.

Say that you will keep her "cost" back for her special dietary needs and remind mums partner she is free on trips.

[mrsm43s]

The day trip, since there is no cost for your daughter, you shouldn't pay for her.

Otherwise, she's a person, she needs a bed, she will be using heat and light, water etc and she needs to eat so of course she should be paid for by her parents. That said, I wouldn't expect to have to buy any alternatives since I'd already paid for food - I'd expect dairy free and child friendly alternatives to be included at that price. If the group are generally heavy drinkers, and a large part of the grocery cost is alcohol, I'd want that adjusted for too.

I've never really understood why people think that children should go "free". All that generally means is that everyone else in the group is paying for the child's portion, rather than the parents.

[MaryThorne]

thanks everyone for your advice, shall definitely send a message and hopefully it’s taken well

If you haven't already sent a message I would suggest you pick up the phone to discuss - far less risk of misunderstanding and reading in the wrong tone by either you or them

[BarbaraofSeville]

To be honest if there's a dozen or so adults and 2 tiny children I'd just split the price between the adults and ignore the children as they're not getting a room/bed but sharing with parents and will eat hardly anything.

[IntermittentParps]

Ask why you should pay the same for your 2-year-old in a sofa bed as people who have a bed/room to themselves.
And definitely query why nothing has been taken off for a day trip for which your DD will be free.

[mrsm43s]

Ask why you should pay the same for your 2-year-old in a sofa bed as people who have a bed/room to themselves.

If an adult was sleeping on a sofa bed, or sharing a bedroom, would you expect them to go for free?

[WhatWouldTheDoctorDo]

I would only expect to pay for a child if they were staying in a desperate room. We've been on a few group holidays, and we split it by room (half cost for a room with a single bed). Food and booze is separated out, and children are half a person for food costs.

[soapboxqueen]

When we go on holiday as an extended family, I tend to split the cost of accommodation by number of rooms required since that is what usually makes the difference in price of similar properties. So we are away at Easter with my sister and her wife. We require 2 rooms due to having kids, they require one. So we pay 2 thirds of the price.

Tickets for anything should be paid on the basis of how much each ticket cost.

Bulk buying food is a nightmare at the best of times so may the odds be ever in your favour.

[Ihavenoidewhatsgoingon]

We always divide the cost by adults - anyone under 18 is excluded from the costs. They don’t eat much / don’t drink alcohol / generally have the smaller rooms so it’s not fair to charge them.

[Atalune]

Is he subsidising his/your mums bill?

What does the parents of the other children think?

[Frenchw1fe]

It’s difficult because the house will be insured for so many people whether children or adults. I personally would not count children when dividing costs. Tbh he should have consulted you all before making final decisions.
I certainly wouldn’t pay for the trip. Or the child’s food but if he then divides cost by fewer people you will pay a bit more anyway. Swings and roundabouts really.

[soapboxqueen]

And no. I don't think you should just leave it OP. This will set the standard for what is expected in the future.

[IntermittentParps]

If an adult was sleeping on a sofa bed, or sharing a bedroom, would you expect them to go for free?
No, but I'd expect a discount.

[mrsm43s]

I do agree that, for accommodation only, "per room" can work rather than "per person", as long as there is an uplift in costs for the extra large rooms (i.e. ones with sofa beds!), ensuite bathrooms etc. Not really fair for the single person in the box room to pay the same total as the family of 4 in a master ensuite with roof terrace and sofa bed, is it?

The sleeping room is also only a small part of what you are paying for. You are also paying for communal areas, for lighting,for heating, for water, for wear and tear, for cleaning etc, all of which would apply to each person going, regardless of age.

In a family group, I think there will be some give and take - grandparents might well be happy to subsidize their children and pay a portion of the costs for the children etc. However, I do find the outrage about parents being asked to pay their own children's costs quite entitled.

No way should you be paying for the trip though, or buying additional food for your toddler when you've already paid into the kitty for her.

[2020BetterBeBetter]

I think splitting the food bill is fine but as your DD is dairy free, make sure she has suitable food included. However, I don’t think she should be paying for entry to something that is free for her. As for the bed, that’s a tricky one because presumably it would just be an empty sofa otherwise and she could probably share with you anyway but ultimately she is taking up a bed.

[MyDcAreMarvel]

Six year old should be £76 and two year old £50. Ridiculous to charge £200 for them.

[Quartz2208]

I think you need to have a chat with him quite how he has come up with te day trip thing when clearly everyone should pay for the price of the ticket you are subsiding adults

Plus you have a triple room which should be 1.5 times the price of a double room (as it would be in a hotel)

[paap1975]

At our family gatherings, (20-25 people), kids don't pay