How many bedrooms is reasonable for a UK holiday rental for 4 families?

[IWannaGoToTheSpa]

…including 6 children across 3 of the families and 2 dogs (I hate dogs but that’s another thread) - children’s ages range from 18 months to 9 years and they are 3 girls and 3 boys. The adults are 4 couples.

[quote rookiemere]@Hoppinggreen most people smell a bit when wet too .[/quote]
Good reason not to go on holiday with them either
My father in law smelt like the bottom of an old wardrobe at the best of times.Sort of musty and a bit 1950s tv drama kind of smell. Never smelt him when he was wet thankfully.

8 bedrooms minimum for 4 families.

You haven’t answered my question about a sofa bed?

One small problem about getting separate holiday houses as others have suggested is that it effectively stops all the adults getting together/sitting around chatting when kids in bed...as some are on babysitting duty in the other houses. We used to go away with cousins to houses when kids were younger and found this to be a bit of an issue, otherwise having our own space worked well.

That isn't enough rooms and I wouldn't go as I'd also hate not having proper space. We'd also inevitably get the shitty single beds room with no en suite as we get the raw end of the deal whenever we do anything with the in-laws.

@RedHot22

You haven’t answered my question about a sofa bed?

Who would actually choose to spend a week on a sofa bed for their holiday??

Who would actually choose to spend a week on a sofa bed for their holiday??

Maybe the person who booked it?
There would then be enough beds

Let’s face it, some people go camping or campervanning for that long

My philosophy for a holiday is if I am leaving the comfort of my own home and taking precious time off from work then I don't want to be anywhere that is worse than home. How is that a treat?

Of course the exception to that if it is what you like to do-ie camping, canal boat etc that is different because the treat is the holiday.

But a house that is not set up to make you comfortable or with the amenities that make it a treat would be a no from me

@Marynotsocontrary

One small problem about getting separate holiday houses as others have suggested is that it effectively stops all the adults getting together/sitting around chatting when kids in bed...as some are on babysitting duty in the other houses. We used to go away with cousins to houses when kids were younger and found this to be a bit of an issue, otherwise having our own space worked well.

That could be perfect for the OP though. Her husband could go hang out with his family in the evening and she could have her evenings in peace under the guise of babysitting.

YABU to hate dogs and feel constrained to mention it

A bedroom for each of the couples.
The 18 m/o in with his parents if he's still waking at night. He's much younger than the rest & will wake them, they'll wake him, it'll be a hassle to be in with the rest.
The girls all together in one room.
The boys all together in one room.
They are cousins, they will love it.

Or, get hotel rooms.

Yeah fuck that, sounds awful. We’re doing a big family holiday next month and we have: 4 double en-suites for 3 couples and 1 single adult, 1 twin room for the 2 teen boys who are cousins and happy to share, 1 bunk room with 4 bed for the 4 girls who vary in age but are all happy to share. The 1YO baby boy will probably go in with parents in a travel cot rather than in the ‘boys room’ as I don’t think the teens will appreciate his early starts!

@Whatiswrongwithmyknee

I'd say 4 minimum if kids can share with their parents and the rooms are big enough to allow that. Ideally more but that would be my minimum and we have done exactly this in the past.

I hated sharing my room with my child, neither of us got good sleep and I doubt sleeping on airbeds for a week is comfortable (if the room is large enough anyway).

About individual houses - it all depends how flexible you are with bed times. We often had the younger ones either crashing on a bed and then being. carried home or they sat down with a movie while we were in a second room talking.

I don't want to tiptoe around in the mornng making myself breakfast while one couple is sleeping in for hours.

One other family may work but not 4 in total.

At least 7. Bedroom each for couples + 2 children in 3 other bedrooms.

4 couples but 3 double bedrooms with ensuite won't work. Where will other couple sleep? 6 kids will take up all single beds.

I have a 7 bedroom house on France and let it out for up to 12 people. Any more would be cramped.

Id be amazed I you were allowed 14 ppl (or even 13 if the baby doesn't count) in a house for 12.

I have always had to say how many ppl in the party and ages.

There is no way I would do this, how could it work? Also yy what us the living space like for 14 ppl and two dogs? Five beds is not necessarily that big a house esp in holiday cottage terms IME. We stayed somewhere that slept seven - there were four of us and the space was OK. Just about. We used to stay in a four bed house that slept six - this was bigger hence us staying in it again and again, big living room and big kitchen, but would have been no good if it slept more (so if the owner put bunks in three of the rooms and sold it as sleeping eight, fir example)

Aside from the objection that the owner will almost certainly have a maximum occupancy rule, it's unlikely the house will have enough crockery, cutlery - and even chairs and table space for that many people.

It also sounds like hell on earth to me.

My parents have a holiday house, and we all use it.
Occasionally we all overlap to have a few days together.

one room has 2 sets of bunks.
Out of the 8 grandchildren, there are 6 girls.
they often choose to all sleep together in the bunk bed room.
Well, I say 'sleep'.....

But over the years various girls have not wanted to share, and mine is the youngest and she never went to sleep to we often had to put her in our room and move her later. She also woke the others in the morning if we didn't manage it.

So it was huge amount of fun - for 2 nights.

But there are also 2 boy cousins and we never put the girls/boys in together.

OP - I would say - Oh you have booked one room short - that's OK, we'll find an air B&B close by.
When challenged just look really puzzled - 4 adult couples, one room for girls and one room for boys? That needs a minimum of 6 bedrooms? You have only booked 5?????
Never mind, we'll stay in an air B&B

My DH goes on holiday with his siblings and parents, I opt to stay at home as does my BIL. There is no issue with this as we get less annual leave than our spouses. There is no way I would share a house with them as my holiday, I might consider going (and have done) if the accommodations were separate but we were all in the same place.

For balance I feel the same about my family, we did all end up in the same UK holiday resort last year, but we all booked our own properties and travelled independently.

Properly sufficient beds is the only way OP! And identified who will sleep where before you go, so no one gets a nasty suprise - “oh you won’t mind will you?”. Or “we’re family, we’ll all muck in”. No we won’t! I need to know my bed is there before I set off!

it sounds like a disaster, I wouldn't go. or go and book something nearby for you guys. I've been subjected to FAR too many ill thought out holidays by my ILs over the years and have had it now, I'm refusing to go unless there is a. space for everyone and b. a COHERENT catering plan (that doesn't involve me cooking and cleaning all week like F-ing Cinderella)

A bedroom each for the dogs, obv. With four posters.

Everyone else can bunk in together.

Haven't read all the replies.... Could you and your husband take one of the rooms with three single beds and bring a travel cot for your 18 month old?

Then all the other cousins could have the other room with three beds.