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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think Premier Inn etc are unfair- 16 is adult Under 18 is child

46 replies

HaroldsSausageInCider · 09/01/2023 17:41

My two play sport and travel a lot for competitions, my youngest was 16 in December, my oldest 17.

We stay in Premier Inn, it is just where we sleep, the rules are 2 adults, 2 under 16 allowed per room. Now youngest is 16 they have to have their own room BUT can not stay without me also booking a room.

So now every stay is going to cost double and I can't let them stay alone. This seems unfair and will result in no rooms being booked at all.

I understand they don't want four adults staying in a room, but there should be flexibility for dependants AIBU to think that?

OP posts:

MischiefTheChicken · 09/01/2023 18:14

Would Travelodge be an option for you instead? They allow 3 adults per room. I’m the same as you about following the rules so once our eldest turned 16 we shifted our allegiance to Travelodge instead.

Mochawithcream · 09/01/2023 18:14

We had this, been going to Travelodge ever since. Premier Inn lost a fortune from us over the years because of this silly rule!

Sarahcoggles · 09/01/2023 18:17

I'd just lie. I carried on getting DS the free child's breakfast till he was 17!

Original poster

HaroldsSausageInCider · 09/01/2023 18:20

Iamthewombat · 09/01/2023 18:13

Premier Inn have done this for many years. A receptionist told me that it was to stop gangs of stags and/or hens piling into rooms: maximum of 2 adults per room.

See I get that, I would understand if you had to show ID, prove they are family etc or let them stay alone in the hotel.

I will look at travelodges thank you, I think I'd rather that than sneak around but PI are much nicer in my experience.

OP posts:

Choconut · 09/01/2023 18:21

DS is 16 and we've been a few times and said put that he was 15. Otherwise DH and I wouldn't even be able to share a bed, one of us would have to be in one room and the other in with ds! We also took our young cousins away (17 and 15) and let them share a room to themselves next door.

BamBamBilla · 09/01/2023 18:27

You can self check in at the machines. Go back to car and bring the 16yr old with you straight upstairs.

Don't even need to speak to anyone at reception.

Quisquam · 09/01/2023 18:30

DS shares with us (DH and I) at Premier Inn. He's 16 , complete with a full beard. He's also got additional needs so I wouldn't want him in a separate room., unless they can guarantee that they are interconnected rooms (which they can't as they are allocated on arrival, subject to availability). Nobody has ever checked.

We have adult DD, staying in our room on the single sofa bed, as she is disabled. I’ve asked Central Reservations about it several times. They allow it as a reasonable adjustment. I just book 2 adults and a child; and explain at check in. Nobody is bothered about it.

B1rds · 09/01/2023 18:30

We stopped using them for this reason. Plenty of other options. We have one teenager so can book a triple room with Travelodge instead.

JusteanBiscuits · 09/01/2023 18:34

I was discussing earlier how youth sport would collapse without premier inns! First thing when a race is announced, you check the nearest premier inn :D

I go with the lie about their ages. Honest, they're not going to be that bothered - it's more a case of "computer says no". You check in while they get everything out of the car.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 09/01/2023 18:35

Wehad ds's age challenged at a PI thus summer . He's very tall and he needs an occasional shave, but he was only 13!

Tomikka · 09/01/2023 18:35

It’s fair enough on their side to have the terms that they wish

But I always aim to book a family room in Premiere inn whether I’m alone or not
I like to spread out and used them when I was photographing events, so wanted the ease of space with cameras, laptops multiple chargers etc

I’d also book a family room for the maximum number of adults and children, ensuring I have plenty of bedding and the extra pull out beds.
I could also then share with team mates bunked up, arriving together or separately

There was only one occasion where three of us arrived to be asked which one of us was supposed to be a child - and then were allowed the room ‘just this once’

There was an occasion where I was waiting to check in but was held up by a team complaining there weren’t enough beds. The receptionists answer was ‘tough’, the room had been booked for one person, he wasn’t going to be dragging more beds around the corridors, and the hotel was full

I considered offering a room swap for a millisecond, and opted not to.

As they headed back upstairs and I checked in for a family room with one person I received a wry smile from the receptionist

JudgeRudy · 09/01/2023 18:37

I think it's discriminatory to have 'special' rules for families but they should make their mind up and chose either 16 or 18 as the adult age for both categories.

Abraxan · 09/01/2023 18:38

RedToothBrush · 09/01/2023 17:44

How do premium inn age verify a 16 or 17 year old when they don't yet have formal ID?

They never check in my experience. They don't really care.
Though we've never tried to get the free breakfast as part of it.

Dd stayed in our PI room at the airport at age 19y. No one checked and no one was bothered.

Seen lots of people doing it especially at airport hotels, even 3 adults weren't checked with the people in front of us.

JWR · 09/01/2023 18:43

The PIs I’ve used recently were self check-in anyway so nobody there to query?

BuwchGochGota · 09/01/2023 18:43

They don't check.

I've booked a family room a few times over the past 12 months for myself, and my DC aged 18 and 16. I have to book them both in as children in order to get 2 extra beds as well as the double.

I won't book breakfast as that would be a bit cheeky (claiming the 2 freebies), but I have no qualms about booking a family room.

Original poster

HaroldsSausageInCider · 09/01/2023 18:44

JudgeRudy · 09/01/2023 18:37

I think it's discriminatory to have 'special' rules for families but they should make their mind up and chose either 16 or 18 as the adult age for both categories.

I do actually agree despite my earlier post.

It's more that they are neither a child nor an adult. They wouldn't mind staying on their own but not allowed until oldest turns 18.

The beds are fine for three, my girls share the double and I have the single so it isn't a space problem.

@JusteanBiscuits completely agree, it works well for them, they have contractors in the week and kids sports at weekends. Everyone I know books PI for youth sport.

OP posts:

Holli222 · 30/08/2025 09:49

I have been told several times i couldn,t book a family room for myself and 3 children once my oldest was 13 we would have to pay for a second room , he is now 16 but we have not been able to stay in premmier in for the last 3 years. I am a single parent on a low income. And every time i have tried to book premier inn in the last 3 years i have been told my autistic son cant stay in a family room. Last year we worked out the cost of 2 rooms added the cost of food and drink for 3 weeks and it worked out cheeper for us to go in a 4 star all inclusive holliday to dominican republic including return long haul flights. Swimming pools etc . We had a wonderfull time . How come if we go abroad we can all stay in one room but premier inn dont want us to holliday in this country

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/08/2025 12:59

I agree with you @HaroldsSausageInCider. We have the same problem. DS is 17 next week and has looked older than his years, for years.

We’ve had success with family rooms in youth hostels. We also have a younger child.

memememum · 30/08/2025 13:54

You could book the family room as 2 adults and 1 child, then only have to say that one of them is younger than they are.

Holli222 · 30/08/2025 16:50

When you ring the booking line they won't let a thirteen year old stay in a family room so i tried online and it will only let you book for 1 adult and no more than 2 children even though in the past we had myself my mum and 2 children and a baby that we stayed for 4 months while we were having work done in the house. According to some of the comments if my autistic child has to go in a different room meaning I have to pay double the price but he would need an adult with him, as a single parent they would expect me to split myself in half half of me in one room and half in another room or leave my 9 year old and 6 year old in a room on their own while I move in with my 13 year old . Does this mean a single parent with a 13 year old and 2 younger children is not welcome. As for beds my youngest one sleeps in my bed as are house isn't big enough so she would sleep in my bed anyway

NotSmallButFunSize · 30/08/2025 17:11

Staying in a PI soon with my mum and sister - just booked a family room as 2 adults and 1 child. I will check us in and meet them after.

My 15yr old DS is bigger than me so what the hell is the difference if I use the bed as a "child" or he does?? Just because I am an adult??

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