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

[VioletOrange]

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.

I agree most TL are definitely a step down from most PI. That said, if you just want a bed for one night it's possibly ok.

We tend to have the opposite problem and have a 14 year old DD who is very tall and looks older - always being asked if she is over 16 and they don't have ID at that age.

Ooo, Travel Lodges are definitely not as good.

It doesn’t ask to specify age

It says how many 2-15

Get off your high horse He's not having the free breakfast

Its lying, but hey if you are ok with that!

It's clearly stated as 'child 2-15' and 'adult 16 and over' - if you enter anyone other than a child 2-15 in the child count then you are pretending they are a child when they don't actually count as one, in PI terms at least. Again, not judging anyone who feels they need to do this, but saying it isn't a pretence isn't correct. Just admit you're happy with the pretence and we can all get on with our day.

YANBU
We always use Premier Inns the night before a holiday, or as others have said, for Uni drop offs. It makes zero difference how old the ‘child’ is. We do always book a family room so that the sofa bed is made up. Therefore it’s not like we’re booking for 2 and cheating them out of a freshly laundered towel and some extra loo roll for the extra person 🙄
it had never occurred to me that the ‘Kids Eat Free’ deal might be the reason for this but none of us ever eat at the hotel anyway.
I assumed it was to prevent large, loud groups all piling into one room which is understandable, but that’s not us.

I didn’t mean to quote you @Comefromaway

We’ve only started getting dd her own room this year, now she’s 18. This is only for her benefit, not because we felt bad about taking the piss. Go for it OP, and ignore the batshit stealing and fraud stuff.

If this rule makes you feel uncomfortable, can I mention that there are other options. We used to use Premier Inn Watford as our base for London visits, but if we want 3 beds (our kids are now in their twenties), we would now use the Leonardo Hotel (formerly Jury’s Inn) which has three proper beds and doesn’t cost much more.

Oh I’m happy

and I have no qualms about the freebie breakfast either!

And repeat

No it isn't fraud No it isn't fraud No it isn't fraud

There is one who pops on every thread.

Oh ffs. It’s a gimmick to ensure that parents pay for the ridiculously over priced breakfast

Yep there’s always one (usually same one)

Im a Financial Crime Prevention Manager and I’d do it. As far as financial crime goes, this one isn’t even on the radar 🤣

😆 fraudster.

Think you need some sleep, Zelda.

Grifting mingers! Bit harsh over a solitary croissant! 😆

Yeah, do whatever you want. It’s nobody else’s business really.

I am afraid it is fraud, albeit very minor.

I am not sure that I see it tremendously differently to low league shoplifting from big chains, apparently victimless, but in reality it just increases prices for everyone else.

No one obliges you to stay at PI but, if you do, you should surely abide by their rules. You can always use smaller chains or individual hotels, where you would have more negotiating power.

The likes of @ZeldaWillTellYourFortune

name calling and profoundly judgemental

but thinks she’s the bee knees because she follows rules set by hotel a management to the letter

I can’t stop myself and hate myself for it !

but “My two friends and I…”

Shit sorry. I actually genuinely do appreciate the correction :)

How will letting my now 16 year old DS, who a few months ago could stay in exactly the same bed within the rules, push up prices for everyone else?
And low league shoplifting? Give over! 😆

I had no idea the cut off in family rooms at PI was 16!

My dd is meeting friends next month and the 4 of them booked a family room. 2 are 18 and 1 is 17 and 1 is 16 (17 a week after). But according to PI rules, neither the 16 or 17 year old can actually stay in the hotel even in own room unless a parent also has a room booked there.
So they are going to have to decide if they say they are 15 or 18. Bonkers.
They are all sensible and quiet and so i'm hoping the rules are there to stop huge groups of drunk teens staying, and only get enforced if it looks like that may be the case.

I've also booked family rooms for me and 5 dc in the past and we all just stayed in the one room, when none of them were over 15. (1 in travel cot, 2 little ones in bed with me and the other 2 on the sofa bed). Not much else I could have done.
They never batted an eyelid at it tbh.
One even said all 5 dc could have the free breakfast, even though I only bought 1 adult breakfast. Normally i'd just buy 2 adult breakfasts to cover us all.
I think it depends on who is on the desk.
If your ds isn't even going to have breakfast I can't see they would say anything. Its common sense he shares with you. so unless you get a jobsworth without any, you'll be fine.