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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hotel - substantial extra cost for toddler

56 replies

Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 22:44

AIBU thinking this situation is quite unreasonable?

Looking for a b&b for a long weekend in Wales, just a random weekend in Oct, so not school/holidays or 'peak' time.

2 people B&B in a double - £95
2 people B&B in a triple (double bed & single) £115
But if you want to use that extra single bed for a toddler, it's an extra £30pp extra per night. Same fee for baby/toddler or adult.

Queried it as it's already costing £20 more for the larger room, so seemed weird to me to charge more for a Family room then charge more again to actually use the beds, and they've said it's correct as it "covers the bedding, towels, shower and breakfast and labour for the extra bed to be made up."

But surely they're only doing the making up and washing of things once as they're not stripping and changing the beds every day?! And I wouldn't want them to! And if it's only 2 people in there, do they not still have to make up both beds? Might be 2 friends sharing who sleep separately surely?!

Just think it makes it feel quite extortionate when you think what a 2 year old eats and uses... Feel like it would make more sense to have that as a 'one-off' cost for the stay, and then add on a daily charge for breakfast if needed?

Looks a lovely B&B, and really good reviews, so is it just me being tight?!

OP posts:
PeachesOnTheBeaches · 02/07/2023 22:45

YABU. They get to set the prices, you get to choose if you want to pay them.

MrsElsa · 02/07/2023 22:47

I've only ever paid by the room. Not the occupancy. YABU to compare the price for family room to double room, unless you're planning to co sleep

Avondale89 · 02/07/2023 22:53

Unclear what whinging on here will do. Book it or don’t. Hospitality, like most industries, is struggling at the minute. They set their own rates.

qwedtask · 02/07/2023 22:56

You wouldn't expect to get 50% off if one person stayed in a room with a double bed, don't be silly OP.

Original poster
Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 22:57

@qwedtask You do get reduced rates for single occupancy.

OP posts:
qwedtask · 02/07/2023 22:59

Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 22:57

@qwedtask You do get reduced rates for single occupancy.

But you have three people using three beds, I don't understand why you would expect it to be cheaper because they are a toddler. In my experience a toddler is more likely to make mess on a bed than a full grown adult.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 02/07/2023 23:04

It's probably to cover them in case of toilet accidents in the bed and other bodily fluids.

People always yammer on about how "kids are people too" and "kids have a right to be out in society" and "how dare they exclude my child; they are part of the family too!"

Then when they're expected to pay up, suddenly the toddler is practically invisible and doesn't count as extra human being.

BungleandGeorge · 02/07/2023 23:04

Yes you usually pay for age 2 and over. Makes no difference to them whether it’s an adult or a 2 year old having a bath, using the towels and sleeping in the bed. Some of the big chains are free for kids (eg premier inn)

qwedtask · 02/07/2023 23:05

If it was a breastfed newborn that you didn't intend to shower then maybe you would have a point, but my toddler regularly has several breakfasts to start their day and would use everything else the same as an adult so I wouldn't expect a reduced charge.

Original poster
Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 23:08

Think I'm just used to a room rate rather than it costing an extra £30pp per night for in reality nothing extra.
If it's 2 people in the room, using it as a twin, they'd still need to make up/wash both beds surely? So in reality it's washing 1 extra towel and 2 lots of weetabix and water for £120?!

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 02/07/2023 23:10

Very standard in small B&B and guest houses. Toddlers are a risk of more damage and mess. Perfectly reasonable to charge for them.

BiscuitsandPuffin · 02/07/2023 23:10

YANBU I'd go somewhere with a clearer fee structure, it seems like they're charging you twice. They should just charge by the room and then for breakfast (which isn't going to be an extra £30 for a toddler at a B+B). I personally don't stay in places like that but it seems other people don't mind getting rinsed.

Original poster
Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 23:16

@BiscuitsandPuffin Thank you - this is exactly what I'm thinking! On the bookingdotcom website there are so many different rules but generally a 2 year old isn't classed as an additional adult, and for an extra bed in a room it's in the region of £10 per night, which seems reasonable.
This is a 'Family' room, so surely the cost should already be factored in?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 23:16

Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 23:08

Think I'm just used to a room rate rather than it costing an extra £30pp per night for in reality nothing extra.
If it's 2 people in the room, using it as a twin, they'd still need to make up/wash both beds surely? So in reality it's washing 1 extra towel and 2 lots of weetabix and water for £120?!

My maths is failing me tonight - extra £60

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 02/07/2023 23:19

qwedtask · 02/07/2023 22:56

You wouldn't expect to get 50% off if one person stayed in a room with a double bed, don't be silly OP.

And by the same logic you wouldn't expect to pay extra for three people to stay in a three person room!

NuffSaidSam · 02/07/2023 23:26

Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 23:16

@BiscuitsandPuffin Thank you - this is exactly what I'm thinking! On the bookingdotcom website there are so many different rules but generally a 2 year old isn't classed as an additional adult, and for an extra bed in a room it's in the region of £10 per night, which seems reasonable.
This is a 'Family' room, so surely the cost should already be factored in?!

I agree with you. They're charging twice for the toddler.

Ultimately though pp is correct. They can charge what they like and you can choose to pay or not. I wouldn't, unless this specific b&b is the only one/particularly special.

Original poster
Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 23:26

qwedtask · 02/07/2023 22:56

You wouldn't expect to get 50% off if one person stayed in a room with a double bed, don't be silly OP.

No that's not my point, of course 1 person using 1 bed vs 2 people using 1 bed is the the same.
But following the logic it's then the same that 2 people using 2 beds or 3 people using 2 beds is the same in terms of prep and washing?

OP posts:
NotABeliever · 02/07/2023 23:32

Can you not book a double room and pay £30 per day extra for the cot bed?

BungleandGeorge · 02/07/2023 23:33

But by your logic 2 people sharing a double shouldn’t be charged more than a single then? They’re offering flexibility so that 2 people can pay extra to get a larger room but don’t have to pay the same cost as a family. Yes some establishments charge by room but those that don’t it will be per person, including children. A 2 year old will eat breakfast- push the boat out and let him
have egg and soldiers and fruit juice with his breakfast and get your moneys worth! Or if it doesn’t suit you go elsewhere

NotABeliever · 02/07/2023 23:34

I think they must have misunderstood your situation. It doesn't make sense to pay for three people to occupy a triple room but leaving one bed empty and charging you for an extra toddler bed or cot bed.

Sugarfree23 · 02/07/2023 23:42

Op am I reading this correctly
2 people in the triple room is £115
3 people in the triple room is £145?

I think I'd look elsewhere. It doesn't cost £30 to wash a bed and do breakfast

Original poster
Wiggleinherwalk · 02/07/2023 23:49

Sugarfree23 · 02/07/2023 23:42

Op am I reading this correctly
2 people in the triple room is £115
3 people in the triple room is £145?

I think I'd look elsewhere. It doesn't cost £30 to wash a bed and do breakfast

Yes that's it exactly - room is a double bed and a single.
It's £115 for 2 per night, £145 per night for 3 in the exact same room - so an extra £60 for the 2 night stay.

I wouldn't even mind if it were 'per stay', but adding it on for every night seems crazy!
She'd need to have a lot of dippy eggs and OJ to justify a £30 breakfast!

OP posts:
MonumentalLentil · 02/07/2023 23:58

They don't want small children but won't admit it.

ikno · 02/07/2023 23:59

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 02/07/2023 23:04

It's probably to cover them in case of toilet accidents in the bed and other bodily fluids.

People always yammer on about how "kids are people too" and "kids have a right to be out in society" and "how dare they exclude my child; they are part of the family too!"

Then when they're expected to pay up, suddenly the toddler is practically invisible and doesn't count as extra human being.

such a good post

WhiteFire · 03/07/2023 00:00

MonumentalLentil · 02/07/2023 23:58

They don't want small children but won't admit it.

That was my thought, they are pricing you out knowing it is unlikely you'll agree to their terms.