Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How would you split the holiday?

211 replies

Mumstheword8 · 09/02/2022 18:17

So basically I have booked a holiday with my son (5), my dad and my dad's wife. We have got two rooms and also a free child place. How would you split the cost? Would you split per room so basically half the holiday each or per adult which is the holiday split into 3 as the child place was free?

OP posts:
Faevern · 09/02/2022 19:01

Cancel it, really if they can’t split the holiday in 3 and give their grandchild a free holiday imagine what it’s going to be like when you’re there.

Could they afford a holiday just the two of them?

Chocomelon · 09/02/2022 19:04

So there are three adults and child that is free but the child is only free because they are going to do i kind of see their point.

If half is less than you'd pay alone just pay half. I take it you'll have one room with your DC and th have the other

ByMyName · 09/02/2022 19:09

When we go out with my family, we split by adults. Some couples are childless and some have more children. No one ever questioned it!

ByMyName · 09/02/2022 19:09

It’s not some random stranger, that’s your dad!!!

LethargicActress · 09/02/2022 19:10

Is it a package holiday with flights and hotel rooms? It makes a difference, so if it is, I think it’s fair that you pay half.

Saying that though, these aren’t strangers so the dynamics involved because it’s family will make the biggest difference. Are they going at your invitation so that you have adult company on a child friendly holiday somewhere that they wouldn’t go alone, or is it something that your Dad initiated because he wanted to spend time with his daughter and grandson?

Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 09/02/2022 19:11

I go with adults (who have no dc) and my under 16 dc. Accommodation is always just split between earning adults.. Hardly a family holiday if nit picking about costs before you even get there!!

Original poster
Mumstheword8 · 09/02/2022 19:18

It is a package holiday yes all inclusive so all flights, hotel, rooms, food etc is included. I went away with my mum and my son last time, so it was only fair thar I went with my dad this time but of course his wife too. He has always said he would like to have a holiday with us. I've already paid the holiday and they are paying me back for it but it was my friend who has only just pointed out that it's not being fair on me paying double their price. I'm just not sure and a bit worried to say anything

OP posts:
ittakes2 · 09/02/2022 19:21

Very simple - ring travel agent and ask how much it would be for just you and your son and pay that. Nuts you are going halves for a three year old - their airfare is cheaper and room and food free!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/02/2022 19:21

Oh if they owe you the money I'd just say "as ds is free, then each guest pays a third of the total. You and X owe Y"

Stressedout1009 · 09/02/2022 19:22

Do you think your Dad is the type to intentionally do this. I mean, you didn't even think of it until your friend pointed it out. Do you think they did the same or is your dad the type to take advantage of you?

HTH1 · 09/02/2022 19:22

I think one third each.

Let’s say you were eating at a restaurant and a child gets a free meal with every two paying adults. Would your dad seriously then expect you to pay for some of his and step mother’s meal as well as your own because you joined them with your child/his grandchild?

HTH1 · 09/02/2022 19:24

Also I would look into cancelling and going somewhere with your mum instead if they keep arguing.

LizzieMacQueen · 09/02/2022 19:24

That's s very good price if it includes flights. Mind saying where it is OP?

BaronessBomburst · 09/02/2022 19:25

Cancel the booking and go with your mum instead.

Awakened22 · 09/02/2022 19:26

Seems like there’s not an easy answer. If you split it 3 ways then you dad and partner are paying more than if they just booked their room themselves as a separate booking as essentially they are “subsidizing” the free child’s place. I’d image most grandparents wouldn’t quibble about that as would appreciate the family time it brings.

Some of it may depend on who can afford to pay a bit more and whether there’s any “extras” like days out that could be used to balance out the costs.

Pbbananabagel · 09/02/2022 19:28

Massively cheeky! The room is only a tiny part of it and you’re subsidising their food and drinks.

Midlifemusings · 09/02/2022 19:29

Divide the cost by 7 - they pay 4/7., you pay 3/7

That way you pay half the cost between full cost (if you had gone alone) and free (because they also bought packages).

That way all 3 adults are paying the same for adult rooms / flight and food and you are paying 50% for child flight / room / food.

DirtyDancing · 09/02/2022 19:30

Doesn't make sense ... you're not getting a child place for free if you are playing for 2 adults?! I don't get it. Lol

Original poster
Mumstheword8 · 09/02/2022 19:32

@DirtyDancing

Doesn't make sense ... you're not getting a child place for free if you are playing for 2 adults?! I don't get it. Lol
Haha I know, I've only just realised this 🤣🤣
OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 09/02/2022 19:34

Ridiculous to book a holiday together without first agreeing who is paying what. If they don't agree to a fair split you don't book it. Too late for that now, of course.

What does your dad say about the money? Is it just his wife wanting to split it this way or does she agree?

I think there are various different ways to split the cost:

Divide per person with child costing half the adult price. So you pay 43% (1.5/3.5) and they pay 57% (2/3.5).

Split the cost in half, one half is divided by adult (each adult pays 1/6) and the other half is divided by room (1/4 per room). So you would pay 42% (1/6 + 1/4) and they would pay 58% (2/6 + 1/4).

As you can see, the two ways of dividing it up end up pretty equal anyway.

Could you call your dad and suggest something like that? I think it's best to discuss these things in person or over the phone if possible.

Awakened22 · 09/02/2022 19:34

What would you dads room cost if they’d just booked it independently? That’s what they then pay you right? Then the child is an added bonus by “combining” bookings?!

budgiegirl · 09/02/2022 19:34

Very simple - ring travel agent and ask how much it would be for just you and your son and pay that

It would probably cost the same or more than the half the OP is being asked to pay, as you don't generally qualify for a free child place with only one adult.

Seems like there’s not an easy answer. If you split it 3 ways then you dad and partner are paying more than if they just booked their room themselves as a separate booking as essentially they are “subsidizing” the free child’s place. I’d image most grandparents wouldn’t quibble about that as would appreciate the family time it brings

This. While I can see both sides, I know my mum would never have quibbled over this. But I guess that depends on their financial situation.

AnotherEmma · 09/02/2022 19:34

Typo
does she he agree

wanderlustgirl · 09/02/2022 19:39

Go on to the website and see how much it would be to book just the two of them on the same holiday. Normally hotels charge per room to tours operators so you would need to pay half

Kite22 · 09/02/2022 19:41

If I was taking my son away on my own I would have to pay 2 full adult prices so because there are at least 2 adults on the booking we got a free child place. Obviously I think the price was inflated due to a free child place. The price split in half is less than I would of payed anyway if I was to take him away on my own

I think this ^ is key.

I would also factor in finances in general. So when my dc were little and my Dad were alive, he would have delighted in treating us / subsidising things as - at that point in his life and that point in my life - he had a lot more money than I did. The fact you have paid for it all and they are paying you back suggests you can afford it as much, or possibly more than they can. That would influence my thinking too.

Ultimately though, by paying half, you and your dc are still getting a cheaper holiday than you would have if you had gone without them.

Maybe your friend should stop stirring?

Swipe left for the next trending thread