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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to still book our DS (16) as a 15 year old at a Premier Inn?

545 replies

VioletOrange · 02/08/2023 09:49

I’m probably going to get a flaming for this but here goes.

We only have DS, he can’t stay in a PI by himself until he’s 18. If we booked him in as an adult, as he’s classed as one now he’s 16, we’d have to pay for another room. So for now, while we can still just about get away with it, we book him in as a child stating he’s 15.

In one PI where we’ve stayed many times over the years, a couple of the regular staff are aware but they’re ok with this. He doesn’t get up for breakfast so doesn’t benefit from the ‘kids eat free’ deal.

AIBU to carry on doing this for as long as we can get away with it? Not that he’ll likely still want to come away with us in the next few years.

My personal opinion is that on the one hand they class 18+ as adults but want to charge a 16 year old adult prices.

OP posts:
DonnaGiovanna · 02/08/2023 10:36

Don't worry about it, op, I did this with autistic dd until she was 18. As for the 'morals', businesses impose these very random 'you're an adult now' charges to increase profit. What's moral about that? (We never took up the free child breakfast though.)

Tiggee2001 · 02/08/2023 10:38

VioletOrange · 02/08/2023 09:49

I’m probably going to get a flaming for this but here goes.

We only have DS, he can’t stay in a PI by himself until he’s 18. If we booked him in as an adult, as he’s classed as one now he’s 16, we’d have to pay for another room. So for now, while we can still just about get away with it, we book him in as a child stating he’s 15.

In one PI where we’ve stayed many times over the years, a couple of the regular staff are aware but they’re ok with this. He doesn’t get up for breakfast so doesn’t benefit from the ‘kids eat free’ deal.

AIBU to carry on doing this for as long as we can get away with it? Not that he’ll likely still want to come away with us in the next few years.

My personal opinion is that on the one hand they class 18+ as adults but want to charge a 16 year old adult prices.

Omg some of the replies on this FFS.

Let's be honest if PI do not care then why do all you randoms. "Oh it's a gateway to worse things" NO, if you found a £10 in the street would you take it to a police station? No you wouldn't I can bet that money would go straight into your pocket. So random posters and your silly conclusions double standards much!!!

Now OP you are not hurting anyone. It's not like he is getting another room for free and stopping a paying customer from having a payed room. The hotel (PI) are still getting the £££ from your stay and your husbands stay. If I am honest and I have worked in hotels as a receptionist I never cared about this as I considered that the price paid was either per adult (over 18) or per room and had nothing to do with occupancy.

Yes before you say it if it was per adult and there were 6 adults that's a different storey but we are talking a family booking here not 6 male or female stag party.

Original poster
VioletOrange · 02/08/2023 10:41

Willmafrockfit · 02/08/2023 09:52

yes,
who would flame you?

Re the flaming. Have you changed your mind now you’ve read some of the replies 😆

OP posts:
Original poster
VioletOrange · 02/08/2023 10:45

To the poster who made the scab comment to another poster, charming!

DS doesn’t have the free kids breakfast, although DH has been known to bring a croissant and jam back to the room, from his ‘all you can eat’ breakfast and DS might just eat that. Hangs head in shame.

OP posts:
LostThestral · 02/08/2023 10:48

not heard of this rule - i've stayed in one with 2 other adult friends & it was no problem.

Original poster
VioletOrange · 02/08/2023 10:57

LostThestral · 02/08/2023 10:48

not heard of this rule - i've stayed in one with 2 other adult friends & it was no problem.

Then you’ve been lucky and I don’t know how you’ve managed this. 😆

Clearly states on PI terms etc that no more than two adults can share a room.

OP posts:
BlueSlate · 02/08/2023 10:57

Reminds me of the days when I was 17 and would get a child's bus ticket to go to a nightclub 🤣

My daughter is 17 but looks barely 15. Long may it continue! 😉

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 02/08/2023 10:57

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 02/08/2023 10:26

Also if you have two adults and a 16 and 17 year old for example you have to lie a bit even to get two rooms by saying that one adult will sleep in each. Or I guess you have one parent and one child in each room or stay somewhere else. The rules are bonkers.

Actually I was wrong here - they will let you book two rooms with the 16-17 year olds in their own room and the adults responsible. But it does feel unnecessary and surely up to the family if they are happy to share or not.

LostThestral · 02/08/2023 10:59

VioletOrange · 02/08/2023 10:57

Then you’ve been lucky and I don’t know how you’ve managed this. 😆

Clearly states on PI terms etc that no more than two adults can share a room.

Show quote history

admittedly it was a number of years ago & I think was a holiday inn rather than PI

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 02/08/2023 10:59

Maybe if they changed the rules people would complain that the extra beds aren’t big enough for adults.

SamW98 · 02/08/2023 11:00

LostThestral · 02/08/2023 10:59

admittedly it was a number of years ago & I think was a holiday inn rather than PI

Show quote history

PI seems to be the only chain with this rule. All others allow 3 adults to share

WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 11:00

VioletOrange · 02/08/2023 10:45

To the poster who made the scab comment to another poster, charming!

DS doesn’t have the free kids breakfast, although DH has been known to bring a croissant and jam back to the room, from his ‘all you can eat’ breakfast and DS might just eat that. Hangs head in shame.

😳😳😳😳😳😳

I hope he also doesnt use the toilet he hasnt paid for.

WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 11:01

I think the outrage of a teenager eating a non existent breakfast is up there with one of my favourite MN comments.

FerretFumbler · 02/08/2023 11:03

WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 10:31

@FerretFumbler did you read the part where OP was clear he doesnt have breakfast?

Yes. I was referring to the poster who let her 17 year old son steal the free breakfast.

And steal is what it is. Lying about the room and then stealing breakfast.
Whether you think it’s a fair policy or not, the rules clearly state he is not entitled to it and she hasn’t paid for it.

To those defending this, do you all eat food you haven’t paid for in other restaurants? Lie and defraud in other areas of life?

I don’t agree with it, but just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean I am entitled enough to think I am above that company’s rules and policies like so many of you on here.

MaxwellCat · 02/08/2023 11:06

I did this the other way said dd was an adult when she was 11 I put her as 16 as a single parent couldn’t book the room otherwise (have other kids so couldn’t put her as a kid!) they didn’t care.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/08/2023 11:08

I think it’s less acceptable if they’re getting the free breakfast, as they probably eat more than most adults at that age.

The way you’re doing it seems absolutely fine though.

It does seem odd you can’t choose to have a 16 yo or even three adults in a room if you want to do that though. Would be much simpler!

Original poster
VioletOrange · 02/08/2023 11:09

WildUnchartedWaters · 02/08/2023 11:00

😳😳😳😳😳😳

I hope he also doesnt use the toilet he hasnt paid for.

Show quote history

As we neither feed or water him, he manages just fine, no need to use the unpaid for facilities then! 😜

OP posts:
Willmafrockfit · 02/08/2023 11:11

Soontobe60 · 02/08/2023 09:56

A family room is the same price as a double room - at my local PI tonight, both cost £71.

Show quote history

she is 23 now, so it was some time ago!

Comefromaway · 02/08/2023 11:12

My 19 year old ds (with food sensory issues) eats 3 hash browns for breakfast, that's all. It irks me that I have to pay almost a tenner for that!

HeidioftheAlps · 02/08/2023 11:12

MaxwellCat · 02/08/2023 11:06

I did this the other way said dd was an adult when she was 11 I put her as 16 as a single parent couldn’t book the room otherwise (have other kids so couldn’t put her as a kid!) they didn’t care.

Do you mean they allow 2 adults and 2 kids but not one adult and 3 kids?

MaxwellCat · 02/08/2023 11:14

HeidioftheAlps · 02/08/2023 11:12

Do you mean they allow 2 adults and 2 kids but not one adult and 3 kids?

Show quote history

Yes

gogomoto · 02/08/2023 11:15

We book dsd in as a child despite being an adult with sn's which mean she will never be able to stay in her own room. Premier inn headquarters told me to do so and staff have never questioned it (she's late 20's) other chains have been just as flexible

gogomoto · 02/08/2023 11:20

Ps we pay for her breakfast!

EhrlicheFrau · 02/08/2023 11:22

I'm in the minority here, but the minute my son turned 16 we booked him as a 16 year old. I am not judging those who do otherwise, but it just wouldn't sit right with me to pretend he is still 15 (even if it would save me money). I was the same with not pretending he was under 5 when he wasn't (back when they paid bus fare from 5 years onward in Scotland). Again, not judging others who do it differently, but you did ask for views! Enjoy your holiday whatever you do! :)

Cognitivedisonance · 02/08/2023 11:23

@FerretFumbler
no offence intended, I think I quite admire you for being such a stickler for rules. However I don’t think I know anyone in real life like this, I know a lot of families too! children’s ages are definitely fluid by 2-3 years according to entry fees, buffet prices and such. There can be at least 1 ‘ghost child’ snuck into holiday accommodation and definitely baked goods from breakfast buffets are fair game for a snack at the beach later. From my culture and background it’s absolutely normal to do it.