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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think REAL rules on room occupancy is all rubbish?

26 replies

PeasForTeaAgain · 18/02/2009 12:18

Can anyone help with room occupancy "rules" IE the rubbish they tell you about health and safety and why you can only have 1 cot in a room but not 2 (can you go nowhere with twins?) and 1 adult and 3 kids is fine but not 2 adults and 3 kids even though its technically less safe?? Are there any ACTUAL rules or is it all just money making rubbish?!!! I have 3 kids and other than smuggling the baby into the Travelodge or buying a tent I am clearly done for...

OP posts:

notamumyetbutoneday · 18/02/2009 13:12

if they say you can't for 'health and safety' reasons, ask to see a copy of the document which says this?

FAQinglovely · 18/02/2009 13:14

we did 2 adults and 3 children (one in a cot) in a hotel just a year ago.........

slayerette · 18/02/2009 13:15

It's all a money-making scam. Where we have booked this year, prices are based on four adults sharing so even though it will be us and DS, we still have to pay 2 x under-occupancy because there will only be two adults in the accommodation.

GrapefruitMoon · 18/02/2009 13:15

Don't about the UK but I know I have found it impossible to find a hotel in France that will (officially) allow 3 children and 2 adults in a room. Have never heard about the cot one though.

popperdoodles · 18/02/2009 13:16

We too have many times had 2 aduts 2kids plus baby in cot. Youngest is now over 2 and out grown travel cot so I wonder what we shall do this year....

FAQinglovely · 18/02/2009 13:17

popper - top and tail the older 2

Original poster

PeasForTeaAgain · 18/02/2009 13:18

I can't beleive that its such a nightmare for everyone. FAQinglovely where did you go?

OP posts:

Original poster

PeasForTeaAgain · 18/02/2009 13:19

but popper - problem is if getting them IN the room to top and tail!

OP posts:

popperdoodles · 18/02/2009 13:20

Do you think I will need to sneak 2 year old in in a suitcase!

FAQinglovely · 18/02/2009 13:21

was a hotel in Bristol - can't for the life of me remember what it was called though

Original poster

PeasForTeaAgain · 18/02/2009 13:26

suitcase - definitely. mine look very similar so i am going to try the magician lookalike trick 'what child? where?!'

OP posts:

mrswoolf · 18/02/2009 13:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

PeasForTeaAgain · 18/02/2009 14:31

And I bet there were not actually any rules on it, just the hotel's money rules!

OP posts:

BONKERZ · 18/02/2009 14:52

we have booked a travel lodge for tomorrow night, when we booked 4 weeks ago it was for 2 adults and 2 DCs but we now have DSD who is coming with us so will now have 2 adults and 3 DCs. not sure what to do now TBh but will probably get DH to book in alone and will just have to go in and look like we are 2 separate couples me thinks! PLenty of room on the pull out sofa for the 3 DCs!

mysteryfairy · 18/02/2009 20:29

We use the baseball cap technique - two DSs of similar size, lots of toing and froing with luggage, one distinctive baseball cap worn by both boys on the way in on separate tricks. Does worry me slightly thay they might not count all 5 of us if there is a fire though.

thomsc · 18/02/2009 23:52

i slept in a bath on holiday in the US with my parents and 2 brothers once...

qwertpoiuy · 19/02/2009 07:49

I'm in the situation of having 3 children over 2 this year, and I've decided to abolish the package holiday this Summer and go direct instead as a package holiday would not set us back e3500 for somewhere decent. Flights can be booked direct, and www.ownersdirect.co.uk have lovely accomodation. You can choose any size accommodation you wish and pay a fixed weekly amount. A colleague of mine at work has tried it and recommends it. I'm giving it a try - it is definitely working out cheaper.

qwertpoiuy · 19/02/2009 07:51

"would now set us back e3500", I meant to post above!

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 19/02/2009 07:59

that 3rd child really works out expensive doesn't it?

I'm almost tempted to have a 4th just to make numbers up

Ivykaty44 · 19/02/2009 08:04

Companies have their won health and safety - the company make their own rules. IT is not law.

When I worked for a large hotel chain all the bedrooms had two double beds - this was considered a twin - and therefore the room could sleep 4 adults and there was enough room to fit one travel cot - if you wanted to put two babies in the travel cot that was fine. As long as we had room numbers so we could charge - we didn't mind (children stayed free anyhow)

Adults we wanted to know numbers so we could charge for breakfast!!

BlueCowWondersSomeMore · 19/02/2009 08:26

We've always just ignored the rules when staying in big chain hotels! One adult checks in, another unloads car, dc with one or other. Rooms are big enough, and dc tend to end up with us anyway.

But genuine qu - how do other people manage with 3? Mine are far too young for a separate room, and no one guarantees interconnecting.

paranoidmother · 19/02/2009 09:15

I use to work in a hotel and the rules of room occupancy is because the fire service agree how many people per room and your computer system will then only allow certain numbers in.

The Fire service only look for the number of people on the hotel list and if you've got someone else in that room you're putting their life in danger for breaking what your idea of a silly rule is.

Sorry I've seen reports of this happening and nobody knowing there was someone extra in the room and them dying.

I know with many hotels i've worked in depending on the ages there are many options, but it does mean going to the larger hotels or discussing it on the telephone with a genuine person to find a room big enough.

sayithowitis · 19/02/2009 10:32

I can see the logic in what PM says.

There have been several occasions over the years when we have been in hotels when a fire alarm has gone off in the middle of the night and we have had to evacuate. Each time the staff had a list of names and room numbers to check against. My mum got told off because she decided to leave my disabled dad in the room while she went to find out whether it was a genuine alarm or just a drill! Then a member of staff helped her get him into the wheelchair.

Thankfully, each time has been a false alarm, but the consequences of having an extra person in the room and them being accidentally left behind don't bear thinking about.

Ivykaty44 · 19/02/2009 10:43

There can not be a head count for the rooms in the event of a fire - as you do not know where the guest are in the rooms or perhaps down the road at a local bar - the old system of handing in the keys on your way out doesn't happen and therefore head counts for who is in the hotel and who is not is not possible.

You can have a report from the front desk - but in the event of the fire alarm going of the electric may also be down and these systems are reliant on electric.

A list of numbers is something to go/work on but the fire service will not check a room for four people and leave people behind - they will in the event of a fire empty the whole room.

Natt82 · 19/02/2009 12:50

a hotel we use in Manchester has a family room which will house 5 - a double bed for 2 adults, a double sofa bed for 2 kids up to 16 and a travel cot. I only ever use it for 1 adult and 2 kiddies (me in bed, DS in sofa bed, DS2 in cot) but its advertised as a family room for 3-5 people

It seems to depend on the hotel chain. I;ve worked at a few which have rooms which can be seperated off - so you book a family room which is actually 2 rooms with an interlinking door etc. Not sure whether you get charged for 1 room or 2 though.

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