4 people in one hotel room

[MuffinFace]

I'm trying to book a night in a hotel near Manchester airport and am baffled to find that the only way for our family of 4 (2 adults, an 8 year old and a 4 year old) to do this seems to be to get a room with 2 double beds. It's sometimes a proper double bed and a double sofa bed on offer, sometimes 2 full double beds. I don't understand how we're supposed to arrange ourselves - I get that there are technically 4 spaces in the beds but who wants it as two doubles rather than a double and two singles?! I had similar problems before booking in Edinburgh and in Germany. AIBU to think that most people booking 4 people in a room would want 1 double and 2 singles instead of 2 doubles or am I missing something?

As others have said just share. We have done this for years. Pillows down the middle of the bed for kids to stop them squabbling. We only stopped when they both got older and now book separate (usually interconnecting where we can) rooms.

premier inn is the best for this though- love their family rooms.

Surely this is a non issue for one night?

You are ‘baffled’, ‘don’t understand’ and can’t seem to figure it out 🤔. Prob best to stay home where things are clearer.

Part of the issue here probably comes from that fact that both of my children are terrible sleepers, go to bed at pretty different times and absolutely couldn't share a bed, but if we can't find something else one of us will have to share with each child. The main thing though is that I don't understand who would choose this over a double and two singles. Those of you saying your children share, surely it would still be better if they each had a single bed rather than sharing a double? And to the person who mentioned two adults sharing a room who want separate beds, isn't that what a twin room is for? What I'm struggling with is who would actively choose two doubles to the point where so many hotels have it as the only option for 4 people in one room!

I don't understand why you don't understand!!

My toddler likes to share with us so I always look for two doubles so we can start her in own bed and then one of us joins her. Once our baby is big enough I’m hoping that they’ll share and keep each other company

Also thank you to everyone who pointed out the Premier Inn configuration - they're not in a great location for Manchester airport but it may be what we go with as you're right, it's the only one we could find that did something other than 2 doubles!

But you're all going to be in one room anyway, all of these factors are irrelevant!

When I share with a friend we want two king-sized beds and we have one each, tbh I'd like that if I was sharing with DH.

Single beds are too small for adults.

Of course it would be better to have separate beds but for one night, pre holiday, you just deal with it? And you're sharing the room too, so you don't go to bed at the same time? I'm so confused by your confusion.

The Clayton, one of the nearest hotels have suites which are a double in the main room and two singles in a side room off the main room. It's sort of an L shape. They also have a free shuttle bus.

Yes it's the overwhelming number of 2 doubles that is surprising me. I guess some people can have children sharing a bed for one night, fair enough, but it's the fact it's the default and so hard to find something else that has surprised me! Even in "family friendly" hotels.
Much more common where we live (continental Europe) to have two singles pushed together as a "double" so, as you say, you have the option to separate them.

All the Premier Inn and Travelodge family rooms I've ever stayed in were a double, a single sofa bed and a single trundle bed.

@MuffinFace it is just a mater of cost for the hotel. Having doubles is cheaper than singles that break apart. Most hotels don’t cater specifically for families but some like premier inns, have family rooms.

if your kids are terrible sleepers you might have to bike the bullet and book 2 interconnecting rooms. Works brilliantly but obviously more expensive.

we found that everyone sleeps quite well when all tucked up together in one room. It is like one big sleepover and the kids are reassured by their parents in with them.

Downsides (or upsides depending on your perspective) is that the adults go to sleep earlier as you go to sleep when the kids do!

Buy two rooms, one adult and kid in each. Everyone sleeps better 😃

The main thing though is that I don't understand who would choose this over a double and two singles. Those of you saying your children share, surely it would still be better if they each had a single bed rather than sharing a double?

Airport hotels are a short stay designed to fit as many people as possible because it is usually only one night. 2 singles takes up more space, which costs them money. If you look at higher end hotels it may be different, but probably more cost effective to book 2 rooms in a cheaper hotel.

I think it’s the OP’s wording that has led to mirth - “how we are supposed to arrange ourselves”.

I mean it’s quite obvious how you can.

But I agree it isn’t ideal.

I have children of different sexes, with a big age gap - dd16 and ds10. With the best will in the world, they ain’t going in the same bed!

So yes, if I were in a couple with children of those ages, it would mean one parent shares with the child of the same sex, but a lot of people don’t want that as children are notoriously not considerate sleepers!

I am on my own so would be less of a big deal - up until recently I’d have shared with DS in that situation.
But now DS, the youngest, is 10, we’re at the point where I’d be thinking “maybe i should share with dd instead” as the same sex. But then it would seem daft to have a 10 boy in a big bed to themselves whilst two women squash up.

So I can see how it still wouldn’t work for us, and just having individual beds for children is better.

The premier inn is good for that, but then tbh the child bed is a bit small and rubbishy for a child much older than 10. I think they may be starting to do twin rooms at PI, so if they do one of those as a family room it would be fab.

I do get your point. Seems like most people (us included) find the kids can share a double without a problem, but I can see why that’s not always the easiest.

I guess it all boils down to who else they sell the two-doubles rooms to. Is that a much bigger market than families? Easy to think we are the main customer base, but most airport hotels are probably catering a lot to business as well. I do also find it annoying that it’s seemingly so niche to have a family room that includes two single sized beds and a double - guessing its space. Two singles take up quite a lot more room than a double and take more time to change sheets on etc.

When faced with this we play rock paper scissors to see who gets DS2 (15 6ft 3 and wriggly). It’s just one night.

Going to bed at different times would still be an issue if you're all in the same room.
It's one night you'll manage.

You're better off getting an Airbnb for multiple people. Loads of choice within a £20 taxi ride, and likely cheaper.

No one is disagreeing the a double and 2 singles would be preferable though, it's just from the hotels point as I said further up the thread the other options are preferable and people make do

@MuffinFace Another vote for Premier Inn family rooms. They do free kids breakfast too.

So just so 1x adult and 1x dc per bed. It's one night, are you incapable of not sharing wt your dh.

This would be fine in my family. My Gdcs very often share anyway - when they stay here the 3 of them enjoy being cuddled up together like puppies in a sofa bed (standard double size). Last time I offered the eldest (9) a spare single bed elsewhere, but she preferred to stay with her siblings.

They all sleep right through perfectly well.