'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?

Agree completely…never hand your passport over for hotel staff to keep …..you see the advice time and time again but still idiots doing it🙄

You do have to give your holiday address on arrival at passport control. We were asked just a couple of weeks ago when we went to Portugal..

Why did you let them do this!?

This is such a dumb, stupid idea! Has your friend never heard of CCTV?

I once did a stint as a night receptionist and the hotel I worked in, had covert cameras in all the corridors precisely to stop this type of thing! We even watched drunken guests initiating sex before they got to their rooms from reception and we'd soon radio and send the porters around to that particular floor to disrupt...

How on earth does she think two extra children will remain undetected? They also risk being kicked out, as well as charged for the extra guests. We always used to take card details BEFORE the stay.

Because it’s normal in Spanish resorts, what on earth do you think they’re going to do? They give them back. We all get home fine every time, passports present and in tact.

Amazed by the paranoia - has no one here used a hotel safe either?!

Well we’ve survived so far. In very large hotel chains in Spain. What do you think they’re going to do?

What if something happened, like a wildfire, or something so that you had to leave quickly. I travel a lot, I would never give them my passport. It’s common sense, not paranoia.

It's not a good idea and as a good friend you should mention it and advise her against it, which you have , but if she continues to press ahead then it's not really any of your business. When it all goes wrong you'll be able to say I told you so.

^ Yes this. In a way it impacts on all of us.

Barcelona & Mallorca are already thinking of introducing additional tourist taxes & levies, which is a shame because it means that only wealthy people will be able to afford to visit these places.

Do you think anyone would be paying that much attention?

I mean, if a wildfire started would anyone’s passports be safe? They’re not less flammable in your hotel room than in the reception office. Do you go back from the beach and get them during this fire? Or are they duct taped to your body at all times?

Quite unlikely in 22 degree weather on the Spanish coast in the hour or so between checking in and popping back to the reception to get them back, get additional hotel info, menus, etc.

I imagine the maids will notice the air beds…

You do have to give your holiday address on arrival at passport control. We were asked just a couple of weeks ago when we went to Portugal..

I've never been asked for an address going into Europe, but admittedly it's always via ferry or Eurotunnel and we're driving our home.

They’ll have to tip well!

But they're tight-arsed thieves !

No no no.... the best option is a Trojan horse.

The fact that you've taken time out of your day to post about your friend's holiday accommodation arrangements that don't impact you sounds like you're too invested in your friend's life.

Wish her well and get on with minding your business.

Because, so what if someone says they'll be caught. Then what? Do you think your friend hasn't already considered this?

I have felt bad enough saying DS was younger than he is so we can get a family room at a Premier Inn. He's very small so doesn't look his age and has SN so doesn't always behave it either.

We never have breakfast there so he's not taking advantage of the free kids breakfast.

Yeah I doubt they will be tipping anyone 😂

True, if they start tipping well enough that their secret is kept they might as well have just paid for appropriate accommodation.

6 people in one hotel room sounds like hell! Why would anyone choose to do this 🤦

Rubbish! You've no idea how many people are in each room, so had OPs friend booked two rooms and the whole family happened at to be on one room, the fire brigade would stop counting at four people (or the staff as a PP claimed, the hotel staff running round burning building)!

Rubbish!

Tight-arsed thieves.

If they can't accommodate two children without suffering, they need to close their hotels full stop.