How would you split the cost of this trip?

[GetBendyWithWendy]

Surprise birthday trip for the parent of adult children.

Attending:
The other parent.
One adult child with a spouse and teen.
One single childless adult child.

Need more info. Are there flights? As middle household will pay 3 times as much for those.

Everyone pays for themself.
Parent of teen pays for their child.
Three adults split the cost of the birthday parent.

What is the trip? What does it involve? Flights, hotel, apartment?? Need more information

Two Options I think- option A- per person and each “family group” pays a third of the birthday person. Or- option B- per person and each adult pays 1/4 of the birthday person. Probably a bit mean to make the teen pay a portion of their grandparent’s trip.
So if the trip is £600 total.
option A-
single adults- £134
family of 3- £334
option B-
single adults- £125
family of 3- £350

If you all get along well and similar means, then I would think:

6 people going. Parents don't pay (surprise - they didn't choose to go). Single child shouldn't pay half because they don't benefit as much as other child. However, it's a bit tricky to expect the other child to pay so much because it was a joint decision.

I would split it:
Child with 'family' should pay 3½/6 - one parent, both adults, half of teen.

If they feel generous enough, single child should pay 2½/6 - one parent, themselves, and half of teen.

If you don't get on well, I guess 4/6 and 2/6 split.

Sorry, I should have added that the cost is for one large holiday home on an Airbnb type site.

Parents don't pay (surprise - they didn't choose to go).

It’s only a surprise for the birthday parent.

If the parent whose birthday it isn't can afford it comfortably, then I think it would be a nice gesture to cover the accommodation cost for the whole family...but perhaps I'm old fashioned...

Otherwise everyone pays for themselves and their families. Birthday parent is paid for by their spouse.

I'd split between families I think. So in 3?

What’s the bedroom split?

What costs other than accommodation do you anticipate? I.e. travel and food etc.

Split by person and then adults pay for their own children and the birthday guests cost is split between the two adult children and their other parent.

Do the “children” want to go or is this being presented to them as a non-optional activity?

I’d split the accommodation per bedroom if everyone is on board, so the middle family pays half if they need 2 bedrooms but otherwise split 1/3 to each.

Everyone pays for their own transport and food split between the number of people.

Who planned it? Suggested it?

unless it was the spouse of the birthday person you would be basically be expecting their family finances to pay for their own birthday without them having a say

We did something similar, but birthday parent (my mum, and dad) paid for the whole thing. But they have more money than everyone else.

What do you think is fair? Has there been a suggestion you don't agree with?

Presumably there are 4 bedrooms. Everyone pays for the room they’re in. Adult parent pays for one, single child pays for one, married child pays for two.

This

If all adult children are working adults with salaries then you split the accommodation and present three ways and everyone pays for their own travel expenses. If one of the children is a just turned 18 or 19 year old and not a full time earning adult then I wouldn't expect them to cover their own way fully. If the non-birthday parent is feeling generous and can afford it, they can cover the accommodation.

If I were the non birthday parent organising this, I would expect to pay for the whole accommodation. Spending money would be down to individuals.

As it’s an Airbnb, I think the split should be based on the rooms.
For example, If there are 3 rooms and the split is couple 1 (birthday parent and their partner share) , second couple 2 and their child share and the single adult has a room then the split should be 3 equal split as everyone has a room.
However when we did something like this, the cost was split equally between the 4 adult children and their parents (the birthday adult and his wife) didn’t pay.

If all adult children are working adults with salaries then you split the accommodation and present three ways and everyone pays for their own travel expenses.

Why only three?

Split by bedroom, everyone pays their own travel expenses.

There are 4 adults, one is not paying.

Is there a big cost to pay extra for the teen?

Other parent pays for flights and accommodation, everyone covers their own food and entertainment (parents of teen pay for teen).

There are five adults, with one not paying.