Ski trip cost- are we subsidizing “host “ family

[Moknicker]

Wanted to get a sense check on how a family has asked us to split costs for an upcoming ski trip

• One family (2 adults + 2 kids) is going on the trip.
• Four additional children (each from separate families) were invited to join. Our child is one of these - is friends with younger child. Kids are 17 and 15 year olds
• Total people on the trip: 8
• 4 from the host family.
• 4 individual children

Shared costs:

• Accommodation: 4k total
• Ski lift pass: 7 at 300 each = 2100 ( mum is not skiing)
• Total cost: 6100

The host family just told us the cost is 1640 for our son. I asked for the breakdown( we were only given total figure). It looks like they have added up the costs and divided by 5

Aibu to say this is not fair and our cost is around 1050( accommodation divided by 8 and we pay 300 for ski lift ) and we and the other kids should not be subsidizing the “host” family? And if we are then they should have told us beforehand?

Travel costs and other costs are covered individually.

YANBU, accomodation should be no more than £500 each. It sounds like they’re taking the piss.

What is the bedroom split?

Does the total £1640 including all food and drink?

I can see why you would think it isn’t fair, but if the parents are supervising 6 teenagers doing a potentially dangerous activity like skiing then it’s not going to be much of a holiday for them (mum isn’t even skiing).

They should have explained the breakdown in costs before booking though.
Have they actually said that they’ve divided by 5 or is that just what you’ve worked out? They might have included other shared costs like food (if it’s self catering), petrol/car hire etc.

When you said that "It looks like they have added up the costs and divided by 5" - it's actually worse. £6,100/5 would only be £1,220, Even divided by 4 it should only be £1,525. There must be some other costs in there surely?

Aibu to say this is not fair and our cost is around 1050( accommodation divided by 8 and we pay 300 for ski lift ) and we and the other kids should not be subsidizing the “host” family? And if we are then they should have told us beforehand?

Have you paid them any money yet? Have they paid for the trip?

If they insist I would withdraw my child from the trip. Don’t pay them a penny.

What about things like flights, ski/equipment hire, food, transfers - is that all being paid by you separately?

I would question this but very very gently. Agree with pp - what about travel?

What about travel, food, equipment, etc? Seems to be missing from the total costs, so your math maybe not be correct. I'd ask about it - but starting from needing to understand all the costs rather than guns blazing that you are paying too much (which you might be, but it isn't, yet, clear).

What's the rooming arrangements?

I'd normally expect the costs to be divided by rooms (then by occupants) and then ski passes (adult/concession) and ski hire/carriage to be borne individually

FWIW I've just paid about 1390 for a week, sharing a room, including flights, transfers, and ski carriage.

Shared costs:
Accommodation: 4k total Ski lift pass: 7 at 300 each = 2100 ( mum is not skiing) Total cost: 6100
The host family just told us the cost is 1640 for our son. I asked for the breakdown( we were only given total figure). It looks like they have added up the costs and divided by 5
Aibu to say this is not fair and our cost is around 1050( accommodation divided by 8 and we pay 300 for ski lift ) and we and the other kids should not be subsidizing the “host” family?

Surely accommodation divided by 8 is 500 plus ski pass at 300 equals 800 total?

I’ve no idea how they or you have worked it out.
But arguing about the cost will be tricky, especially if they have already booked and presumably your child is a good friend and keen to go. Good luck.

Where have you got divided by 5 from? I don’t understand why would 5 be the number they divided by? Also 6100 divided by 5 is not 1640?

I am baffled by the maths here too as I come up with one persons (skiing) share being £800 - accomodation + lift pass.

They're asking more than double that, what is the extra for? I can see there being extra - ski hire, boot hire, food whilst out during the day if its food included breakfast/dinner or all food if its self catering...

But they should tell you what this sum covers so you know what DC needs for any extras (after a disastrous ski trip my sister had recently, would never recommend going without sufficient spare to hire skis/boots, hers spent half the holiday in Geneva Airport!)

Interesting.

If they are expecting subsidies due to facilitating this for other families, that is perhaps not unreasonable but should have been put in writing, up front.

Travel costs and other costs are covered individually.

From the OP.

Assuming there are 4 rooms, and each person is sharing a room with one other person, then you shouldn't be paying more than £800. The only way you should be paying more than this is if there are other costs which they haven't told you about. It's hard to see what would cost another £800 if you know food and transport is not included. In which case, they are taking the piss. Could you send us a "ooops, looks like you've charged us double!! I'll send the £800 over" message?

Their maths is puzzling.
How many bedrooms in the accomodation? I’d expect someone in a shared bedroom to pay less than someone sleeping alone.

Absolutely not. They're not professionals supervising a trip. They're parents taking their kids on holiday who have invited four of their friends.

Unless you’re also covering all food etc I’d probably leave it as I know how my kids eat and they aren’t even teens yet, and don’t people mostly eat out on those trips? That would cost a fortune.

So four extra teens not from their family and they want £6560 from those four? Towards total costs less than that?! Are you sure they haven’t separated out their own accommodation costs?
I would say ‘Oh that’s more than I was expecting. I thought it was about £6k between the 8 of you. Is that right or am I missing something’ along with some other friendly general chat of course.

i think the tone of your post is unreasonable. You’re basically saying they’re scamming you for a free holiday when they’ve offered to take your kid away for a week.

By all means write and ask what it includes, ski lessons for example, can your child ski?

But if you start with the attitude that they’re out to rip you off then you’ll quickly find your child is deeply unwelcome.

I second asking about / assuming food is included. I'd also factor in ferrying the kids around and chaperoning.

eta. fwiw I cringe with these types of scenarios. If i was taking my family on a ski holiday and having my dc's friends come along all they would need is money for their lift tickets/rentals and whatever picket money their patents gave them. No way would I charge for "their share" of the accommodation or food.

If this really is how they have divided the cost (as others have said, the maths doesn't work so I'm not sure if it is) then that is completely unreasonable of them. You can't have one child paying the same amount towards accommodation as a family of four! You need to go back and ask (nicely) for clarification.

Are you expected to send your child with any more money for incidentals and eating out etc?
Also if it was just the kids covering the costs and the adults chaperoning for free then surely it’s divided by 6. Where have you gotten 5 from?

Lessons, kit hire, tourist tax? Or is all that separate as well?

Are you sure they have added up the costs and divided by 5?

It seems more likely that the figure includes a contribution to travel from airport to resort, food and drink, ski instructor, equipment hire etc.

I haven't worked it out but are you sure that's the total costs they gave you for everyone, or the total cost for the 4 friends?

You need to query it in a nice way, like you're being a bit thick and don't understand.

Ignore. Didn't read initial post properly.