'Sneaking' two extra children into hotel room booked for two adults and two children

[AlbertCamel]

AIBU in thinking this may have implications regarding insurance etc?

Friend is off on holiday later today to a large hotel abroad with her DH and four DC aged between 4 and 16. Not a package, no meals included and flights were booked separately.

The room has a small bedroom, bathroom and living area with a sofa bed. It sleeps 4. They've booked it for two adults and two children. That's the maximum number of people allowed.

She wants to check in with DH, their two youngest boys and all their luggage, and have the two oldest boys wait outside until they're 'sneaked' in a little while later.

I think that whilst this is logistically possible, it will have implications but not sure what these implications might be. Friend thinks there's no problem with this and nobody will bat an eyelid.

AIBU in saying it's not a good idea?

I love how that the only reason people can think of that this might be an issue is a hypothetical fire that rages so out of control people get trapped inside rooms.

If that did happen, despite statically the chance being probably about the same as winning the euro millions twice in the same week, you would be buggered anyway. Even if your name was on some list of guests they would search for, it wouldn't save you from anything. I'm sure somebody will come at me with some super dubious story followed by 'so it can happen!' in a minute but effectively that is an anecdote and hotels don't randomly burn to the ground very often at all. If they did nobody would go anywhere.

Also the staff in the hotel are not paid enough to give a shit or start confronting random holiday makers. Plus most of them are not jobsworths. It depends obvious on the hotel eg a family run BnB you wouldn't go unnoticed, buts big resort place? They have no way to police the hundreds of people there and it's nobodies job to check who is in what room. People are always slinking off in to other guests rooms anyway, plus they have no idea who has decided to stay out all night clubbing etc.

Most modern hotels have key cards so you know if people are in their rooms or not. I'm disabled so I always make sure the hotel knows can't walk down stairs.

OP how old are the children? If they are over 16 the hotel has to register them with the police.

Apparently you now also have to show your booking at the airport before they let you in. OP that really would spoil the holiday.

www.travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk/news/not-knowing-these-rules-could-leave-you-stranded-or-facing-hefty-fines-in-spain/

Plus most of them are not jobsworths.

Is this what you say to yourself as you wheel a full trolley of food out of the supermarket? Theft is theft, and most establishments are against it.

Other people, believe it or not, also have a decent moral code.

This woman is not even particularly short of money, OP said. Despicable.

It sounds like a grim way to spend what is surely supposed to be a fun family holiday.
As a family of 5 we go for villas and did apartments when they were younger and we had less money, still a lot more comfortable than squeezing 4 into a space designed for 2.
You were being a bit of a jobsworth, think I would have just wished her luck tbh and let her crack on in blissful ignorance of your feelings.
A sign to me of people having more kids than they can afford.

I been to Spain loads of times …,last time was in June this year….no one at the airport has ever ever asked where I’m staying …..they did once in Amsterdam ..,,but that was years ago

I've been on plenty of holidays where this would never be noticed. And don't agree its a fire risk as have never had to sign in and out of the hotel when we go on excursions or just for a wander. Also I think yes its cheeky because they should have booked another room, but I also think its causing no one any bother if they aren't All Inclusive, they'll be paying for all food and drink they use. So the hotel aren't losing out financially.

Lots of kids are pretty loud on holiday, even if they make a scene, I don't think anyone is going to go "hang on those loud kids must be over occupying a room"

While you may not choose to do this yourself, I don't think it was your place to get involved. If it were my friend and I thought it was wrong and i was asked...I'd probably have said "ooh i'd be worried about being caught" and leave it at that.

Probably won't get caught in peak season, as hotel will be super busy.

But I wouldn't do it as I wouldn't relax all week.

So the hotel aren't losing out financially.

Yes, they are! OP said: They're not particularly short of money. It was a last minute booking. When they tried to book for 4 children, the site defaulted to two separate rooms, but she changed the settings to two children to get just the one room.

This woman should be paying for two rooms, and can afford to.

I think it’s quite funny ! Doesn’t hurt anyone really . I think it would be a nightmare though !!! How mean can one be ?

I feel guilty pretending my kids are ALL under 16 for the freebie breakfast !!

People will be along now to accuse me of stealing hash browns ……

Can’t imagine how you’ve avoided that travelling overseas. A quick google will tell you it’s a requirement in Spain

This. I've done it many a times. In UK and abroad. Only when no food etc involved. And with little kids. I just take my own cot bed for the extra one. I have 4 kids and always just check in on my own. I've never been questioned on it. Maybe just been lucky. It's hard to find hotel rooms that can take 6 so I just book for 5 and hope for the best!

Moral code? Oh do give over lol. It's not hurting anybody. It's not taking anything either. The room still exists and can be let out on different to other guests just like it always will be. They're just squeezing an extra person in, it makes no odds to anything. Ridiculous attitude. Unclench darling.

Having an electric key is absolutely no gautentee of who is in a room. If I go out and my partner is in the room how is they know? If a large group go out but one person feels unwell how do they know if 5 people are trapped in the ridiculous hypothetical or 1?

Thanks for clarifying you lack a decent moral code.

It's not taking anything? Then why didn't the woman cough up for the extra room? She's taking the cost of an extra room for 10 days from the hotel.

If you are cool with theft and deception on that scale...

We go to Spain annually and there is no one more vigilant than a life guard at spotting kids without wrist bands.

If there is one thing MN teaches us, via the ever helpful Relationships thread, it is that the best way to know a person's character is not to listen to what they say, but to observe their actions. Furthermore, that how people behave when they are unobserved or think they will get away with it is even more telling, and a useful guide as to how far they can be relied on in difficult times.

By her actions your friend is demonstrating she is highly untrustworthy - this is mot a small thing she is doing for 10 nights - and has very poor judgment. She's also setting a bad example to her children, and being very foolish in estimating she'll get away with it.

Personally I wouldn't want a friend like that.

In Spain now, you would be stupid to do this and will not get away with it.

PPs have stated and are correct, all passport numbers have to be given to the police. Taxes have to be paid. Spain is not like it was.

Now, more than ever, they could be arrested. Believe me, they probably will, gleefully by the guardia civil.
Idiot move.

This would stress me out so much and I honestly wouldn't be able to relax on holiday. But it's up to them really. If they get caught, they have to deal with the consequences

If you booked a package I expect the travel company passed on the information

Edit - sorry, I've quoted the wrong post, but yes, you may theoretically be asked at the airport, also to show you have the money to support yourself during your trip.

Most modern hotels have key cards so you know if people are in their rooms or not.

That would only be useful if you used your card to leave the room as well as enter, and if there was a turnstile type arrangement on the room door so every occupant beeps in and out.

If anything they are taking up two extra, unpaid for, chairs by the pool. If you can pay for a day pass to the pool, those chairs is loss of income for the hotel.

I assume there is also a limit of people in the pool area, so yes, they are stealing.

If you were the owner of a hotel you’d think differently I’m sure. Because then it would affect you, darling.

That's exactly why the op shouldn't do it.

Well yeh theoretically…..I mean, border control can ask anything…..but the reality is they don’t…..I’m 59….been travelling all over the world for years….only ever been asked if I have accommodation once …that was in Amsterdam….and when I said yes they didn’t ask further

Sorry, I meant the OPS friend.

It's a very stupid thing to do .

Why do you want to understand implications of over occupancy from the perspective of the hotel and how that might affect their stay?

Surely you will always need at least 2 rooms as a family of 7?? Maybe 3 by the time they are teens etc? Who would want to stay in one room with 7 people in it anyway? Unless it’s some kind of dormitory.

Its odd that some people with bigger families seem oddly indignant about the very foreseeable consequences of these additional kids eg - family rooms in hotels, cars etc tend to cater for the 2-3 kid “norm”.