To think hotels are very child unfriendly

[Ontheclifftop]

We've just come back from a weekend away in a hotel with dd aged 5 and ds aged 3. Three incidents really made me realise how unwelcoming hotels are to young families:

1. When we were checking in after a long drive the kids were letting off a bit of steam. I know how that sounds, but they were just running around a bit, not getting in anyone's way or anything. Two people who were sitting on couches reading newspapers got up and left, one sighing heavily and one giving us a dirty look.
2. At about 7ish the following morning we got a call from reception to say the people in the next room were complaining about the noise. Again I know how that sounds, but dd and ds were playing quietly with some teddies. DS let out one squeal of excited laughing but other than that they were perfectly fine.
3. Following that call I said I'd take them down to the swimming pool as I knew it opened early. When I got down the attendant said it was adult only between 7.30 and 9.00. I explained about the phone call and pointed out there were only 2 people in the pool and I'd do my best to ensure we'd stay down at the shallow end and not get in their way. But he refused to let us in.

The whole thing really pissed me off. What are you supposed to do with young children in a hotel? If they play quietly in the room someone complains. If you try to use the facilities to keep them occupied, you're told you can't.

AIBU to feel hotels are just totally unwelcoming to young families nowadays?

It doesn't sound as though the hotel was not family-friendly. Your family annoyed some people sitting in the foyer and the people in the next room. You probably don't realise how noisy they were being as I honestly doubt someone would complain because of one squeal. As the for pool it's very standard to have family friendly times. That's to accommodate those with children and those who want a relaxing break without other people's children being rowdy.

I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old by the way so I understand how you children are but it does you need to be considerate of other people rather than focussing on what you and your brood wants.

To be fair I'd be massively pissed off if I was swimming at a time for adults only and they just let kids in. Why are the rules different for your kids?

I don't meet intolerance. I see it on threads like this about other peoples kids. Kids aren't supposed to be mini adults

Of course children aren't meant to be mini adults. Has anyone said otherwise?

Parents on the other hand ARE adults and it's entirely reasonable for them to parent their children, which means teaching them what is and isn't ok.

It's not the children's fault their if their parents are the sort of permissive and inconsiderate parents who teach their children everywhere is a playground.

On most threads about children's behaviour it's really quite interesting how often criticism of permissive parenting turns into accusations of hating children.

For a little balance it isn't just CJ old feb who cause issues. It's simply a case that there are people of all ages who don't know how to behave appropriately when out and about, such as when staying in hotels.

Last year we had to complain to reception in Malaysia as a man in the hotel was playing an electric guitar and singing loudly and mournfully at 3am in the room above us. The hotel lets you borrow guitars and amps, but you aren't supposed to be playing them loudly in the early hours!

And just a few days ago we had to call reception about a small dog left next door to us. It has spent the previous 2.5 hours whining and yapping almost continuously - it was 'crying' several hours earlier when we left too - and we just felt sorry for it. The Disney hotel allows pets but they have to be crated when left in the room (they can't go in Disney parks or restaurants) and it had obviously been left alone all day from what we could gather. Reception just have called the owners as they returned fairly quickly. Not sure what was worse - the dog whining or the American woman crying out to her dog about being a precious little thing, and that she loved it so much. Clearly not enough as it appears they'd left it alone for several hours (and did the same for the next 2 days)

And to be fair I don't blame the children when it's them being unruly. It's the parents not parenting

CJ old feb = children

I blame the far too strong cocktails at the hotel bar!

How is the nationality of the woman relevant? You didn't feel it necessary to specify the nationality of the guitar player.

They weren't running around the people reading in the reception area. They were running up and down over by the wall, and it was only for about 5 to 10 minutes while we waited to check in. If we'd tried to stop them my 3 year old would have kicked off, creating more noise.*

I had missed this till read requoted

This says it all about your boundaries and how you discipline your child.* *You don't

If my 3yr had kicked off after I had told her to stop something , she would have been picked up/taken by the hand and marched outside and told off firmly !!*

I personally think society isn't accomodating for young children at all. Expected to be little silent robots. Staying in a hotel with children is a nightmare, I did it once for a wedding and never again 😂 we are stuck with caravan holidays for a while now. Center Parcs is a good one too but not an option now my eldest has started school. I also do believe one miserable adult would complain over one squeal.

And yes, before anyone asks, i do teach my children to behave the way society expects them to. However it isn't a one hour course and they "get it".

Family friendly to me would mean it had a playground, children's menu, earlier breakfast or earlier dinner, cots and highchairs. It wouldn't mean badly behaved kids running around communal areas and I'd be really annoyed to be woken up before 7 by someone else's children. If it's a tiny baby crying then fair enough but a 3 year old is definitely old enough to be able to stay quiet for a short time with the help of some entertainment such as TV or parents reading stories or taking them outside etc. .

@KatyJ89 Whenever I see someone saying that there an expectation of silent robotics has been imposed on their children, I tend to assume their kids are loud and unruly. No running, no screaming before 7am, and observing pool rules is hardly expecting automatism.

How is the nationality of the woman relevant? You didn't feel it necessary to specify the nationality of the guitar player.

We were in America so just put American woman - we could tell by the accent - as that is what she was.

No idea if the guitar player's nationality. We never saw them. No idea if male or female either. We believe it was an adult, rather than a child, due to the style of song and singing - sounded like an older voice but couldn't rally returned make/female from it. Was very 'sad' mourning type singing and playing.

Nothing more was meant by it. Just information I knew about each adults. I'm not judging the nationality, just the behaviours.

Perhaps your trouble stems from the fact that your children are yours to suffer, not the rest of the world’s.

Stay at a Holiday Inn.

Ah. I see.

the sooner the three-year-old learns that the world is not his playground, tge better.

It’s the other way : Travellers like to go as couples to hotels to enjoy the restaurants, pools and spa, bars, etc; people with unruly chldren ought to seek lodging in less-crowded areas so as not bother other people.

The time for adult swimming is also that little children don’t play in the water very early in the
morning and awaken the adults trying to have a lie-in.

“This is a joke right? It's got to be.”

Absolutely. Or the laziest git I’ve seen thus far.

I know this is an old thread but came up on threads I'm on

I obv replied on it 15mths ago but cba to read 600 replies again to find what I wrote

This bit stood out to me when I reread op replies

They were running up and down over by the wall, and it was only for about 5 to 10 minutes while we waited to check in. If we'd tried to stop them my 3 year old would have kicked off, creating more noise.

5/10mins is a lot but more my 3yr would have kicked off

So anytime you attempt to parent your child , they kick off ?

And you therefore allow them to do what they want and carry on annoying people ?

Incase 3yr kicks off

One of you should have def removed child /ren from the lobby and taken outside

And if you knew there was a pool as packed swim stuff surely you checked what times allowed ?

Would have been better to have gone swimming at 630/7 as soon as awake - before turned to adult only