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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

692 replies

AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:04

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?

OP posts:
FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 09/08/2024 09:19

It is disgusting
So bloody entitled and arrogant. I would not want her as a friend

liveforsummer · 09/08/2024 09:20

AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:16

We actually fell out about it yesterday, well she was annoyed and said I was trying to ruin her holiday before it had even started. I was just pointing out that there may be fire/ insurance implications and for her to be aware of this.

So Spain will most likely be OK. I don't want them kicked out! However, her boys are pretty loud when they're at home and so it's unlikely they won't draw attention to themselves on holiday and full of energy and excitement.

Why did you call out about it, it doesn't affect you in the slightest!

MrsSkylerWhite · 09/08/2024 09:20

What a stupid thing to do.

MyStylish40s · 09/08/2024 09:20

I would be very surprised if it went unnoticed.

Original poster
AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:21

liveforsummer · 09/08/2024 09:20

Why did you call out about it, it doesn't affect you in the slightest!

Show quote history

Of course it doesn't affect me, but we were talking about it yesterday and she felt my arguments against it were unreasonable. This is AIBU and so I'm asking if IABU.

OP posts:
Plump82 · 09/08/2024 09:22

So is she planning on squeezing all 4 of the kids in one sofa bed. Surely the oldest 2 could almost be the size of adults!

liveforsummer · 09/08/2024 09:23

tinydynamine · 09/08/2024 09:16

I'm assuming your friend wouldn't dream of doing this in her home country. My advice is: if you wouldn't do it at home, then don't do it abroad.

We used to do this ALL the time in our youngest days in travel lodge and premier inns 😬. Also known many people do it as said hotels have really limited family rooms so squeeze in a child or 2 to a normal room. Definitely something that's done regularly in the uk. I'd be far more worried to do it abroad tbh

PiggyPlumPie · 09/08/2024 09:23

I will admit to having done this for one night in a UK travelodge. Youngest slept in with us.

But I wouldn't have done it for more than one night and definitely not for a week!

Original poster
AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:24

Plump82 · 09/08/2024 09:22

So is she planning on squeezing all 4 of the kids in one sofa bed. Surely the oldest 2 could almost be the size of adults!

Oldest two are quite big for their age and the 16 year old could easily pass as an adult. They plan to buy lilos/ inflatable beds for the youngest two who are apparantly looking forward to sleeping on them. All four kids will be in the living room, parents in the bedroom.

OP posts:
Original poster
AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:25

They're going for 10 days.

OP posts:
LewishamMumNow · 09/08/2024 09:26

I would probably do this for self-catering accommodation, but not a hotel. I'd be too worried about being caught, and thrown out!

MaggieFS · 09/08/2024 09:26

With regards to the fire thing, it makes no sense to me, as pp have said, people can be anywhere so how would they know. But when we had a water outage and insurance would pay for us to go to a hotel, we didn't actually stay, just needed a shower. So I tried to book a single room and explained the situation. The hotel was adamant they couldn't do that for fire reasons, and ended up giving us a family room but discounting the price down to that of a single. There was absolutely no way they could knowingly have too many in a room.

Not the point though. What your friend is doing is fraud/ theft. I have sympathy for people with three children looking for one night in a Premier Inn, but going to Spain with four kids and not paying for their accommodation is beyond excusable.

Theothername · 09/08/2024 09:27

I hated this sort of thing as a child - I got very stressed and anxious,

Purplebunnie · 09/08/2024 09:27

And people wonder why the Spanish hate British tourists. Is it any wonder when visitors they won't pay the full price

Starlight1979 · 09/08/2024 09:29

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/08/2024 09:18

Don't make your two oldest wait outside the hotel. Put ALL your clothes on, and put the two lightest children in the empty suitcases and carry them up to the room.

Make sure you have a plan that in the event of someone knocking on your room door, at least two of the party immediately hide, in the suitcases, under the bed, in the bath or maybe hanging off the balcony.

In case of a fire role call be prepared to disown two your children, (perhaps decide now which you like least).

😂

parkrun500club · 09/08/2024 09:30

Purplebunnie · 09/08/2024 09:27

And people wonder why the Spanish hate British tourists. Is it any wonder when visitors they won't pay the full price

Edited

What makes you think only British tourists would do this?

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 09/08/2024 09:30

Macandcheeese · 09/08/2024 09:09

I work in a hotel. If someone did this and we had a fire we would only be looking for the people booked into the room.

This isn't true.

A hotel has no idea if people are in or out of the room, or if one or all are in a room, or if someone has a guest.

Plus if there was a fire and the fire brigade go to the room they aren't only going to rescue the four that have paid and let the other two burn.

Why do people post such rubbish.

But it is still a terrible idea.

Reallybadidea · 09/08/2024 09:30

If you're being honest OP are you secretly hoping that your friend will get kicked out?

It's not a great idea but it's absolutely nothing to do with you and it sounds as though you forgot you weren't on Mumsnet at the time and pushed it too far with your friend. I'm not surprised she's pissed off with you.

pictoosh · 09/08/2024 09:30

I voted YANBU but that is because I have anxiety and couldn't see something like this through for fear of being caught. It would certainly ruin the holiday for me.
I suppose the likelihood of being caught depends on the layout of the hotel but honestly, I don't fancy their chances.

I don't know how I feel about it from a moral point of view. It's hardly the crime of the century...a minor infraction really. Is it the thin end of the wedge though? Does it display a sense of entitlement that may touch upon other areas....or is it just hard to finance a holiday in the current COL crisis? We all know the prices have shot up.

I wouldn't do it.

RampantIvy · 09/08/2024 09:30

MyStylish40s · 09/08/2024 09:20

I would be very surprised if it went unnoticed.

Same, especially If the children are loud. What are they going to do about breakfast? In every hotel I have stayed at you have to check in for breakfast each day and they check the room occupancy numbers.

Will they just take stuff from the buffet for the other two?

If they couldn't afford to pay for a holiday for 6 people they should have chosen cheaper accommodation or had fewer children.

BoredAuditor · 09/08/2024 09:31

AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:25

They're going for 10 days.

Mmm, they could probably get away with it for a night or two or three...but 10 nights is likely pushing it.

I guess each adult would always need to enter / exit separately with two boys each time. Though if it's a huge hotel reception staff would never remember specifics of each family anyway.

Cleaners will likely notice after 10 days though.

MargaretThursday · 09/08/2024 09:31

We used to take one extra child into travel lodge, as they say 2dc only.
But that was when they were all under 10 and one night.
I assume they're not expecting feeding for free too. That would be the point it goes from being dodgy to theft.

Starlight1979 · 09/08/2024 09:32

So what are they going to do when they're coming and going to the pool / beach / for dinner? Are the two oldest kids going to have to spend the week hiding and walking in and out separately?

Stupid idea. Couldn't be arsed personally and would rather spend the extra money and relax. Also 6 people in a room for 4 is going to be a squeeze and probably massively unenjoyable for the older kids (who by the sounds of it are all going to have to share one sofa bed).

Turophilic · 09/08/2024 09:32

Why do you care? It seems a silly thing to fall out with a friend over.

We frequently ‘smuggled’ an extra child into a Travelodge family room when youngest was 3 and would sleep in the bed with us.

However, trying to cram two extra children into a room over 10 days is crazy. But that’s their problem, not yours.

Original poster
AlbertCamel · 09/08/2024 09:32

Reallybadidea · 09/08/2024 09:30

If you're being honest OP are you secretly hoping that your friend will get kicked out?

It's not a great idea but it's absolutely nothing to do with you and it sounds as though you forgot you weren't on Mumsnet at the time and pushed it too far with your friend. I'm not surprised she's pissed off with you.

I am absolutely not hoping this and in fact was worried for them that this might happen, that's why I voiced my concerns to her yesterday. My mind doesn't work like that, why does yours?

OP posts: