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Holidays

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Original poster

Has anyone been "dishonest" and booked a holiday abroad paying child prices although your child was older?

34 replies

Fimbo · 23/02/2011 14:00

I.e. brochures state child prices apply for 2-12 years old.

My dd will be 13 when we go, so we will need to pay an adult price for her. Also they seem to change room configurations and change from family rooms to 2 twin rooms, which is not ideal either.

If I was 'dishonest' and put her age as 12, would anyone ever pick up on it? Thinking more the hotel when you hand in your passport really.

OP posts:
thenightsky · 23/02/2011 14:01

I would never risk it. You could end up with a big bill for a whole other room or something when hotel or holiday rep sees your DD's passport.

Original poster
Fimbo · 23/02/2011 14:03

Hmmm I don't really think I could do it either, it is just so blinking annoying.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 23/02/2011 14:03

Don't risk it -passports are usually checked at reception when you first book in.

Just shop around for companies that have 13 year old still as children. There are a few.

Ooopsadaisy · 23/02/2011 14:04

Don't you have to hand their passport in?

compo · 23/02/2011 14:04

Yes they'll check her passport
bad idea

TrillianAstra · 23/02/2011 14:04

In this country you could, because who carries around proof of their 12 yr old's age?

Going abroad, with passports? No.

Original poster
Fimbo · 23/02/2011 14:04

Yes I will do scurryfunge, its just the one I really liked the look of only offers child price up to 12.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fimbo · 23/02/2011 14:05

I would be living on my nerves tbh that someone would find out. I was just wondering if anyone had actually tried it.

OP posts:
PestoEatsBananaFlapjacks · 23/02/2011 14:08

You can't coz the holiday company take all your passport details at the time of booking.

Original poster
Fimbo · 23/02/2011 14:09

Ahh Pesto, that indeed is the final nail in one's own coffin.

OP posts:
Ooopsadaisy · 23/02/2011 14:13

Your travel insurance will be invalid if you are found to have lied too.

TheSpook · 24/02/2011 17:07

It would be fraud.

PaperView · 24/02/2011 17:10

I thought about the insurance side of it too.

Backinthebox · 26/02/2011 14:28

Hi Fimbo. What do you do for a living? Would you mind if I lied to you to get goods and services for a reduced price? Hmm, no? Thought not. Hmm

Dishonest, lying, fraud, cheating, stealing. Call it what you want, it's still wrong.

Original poster
Fimbo · 27/02/2011 16:09

Lol Backinthebox, I think you have the right name! I was asking if anyone had done it, as an opinion. Where in the thread did I actually say I was going to do it?

OP posts:
nappydaysagain · 27/02/2011 16:15

Hi when ever I have booked my holiday (including the holiday I have booked for this year which is in the UK) I have had to give me childrens actual dates of birth.

I personally wouldn't risk it.

AimingForSerenity · 27/02/2011 16:15

We were told that the room change thingy is due to european laws or fire regs or similar.

IIRC we were told (it was a few years back now so not 100% sure) that if you have just 1 child with you they can stay in family room until 16 but if more than 1 child in the room the cut off point was 12. It was booking 2 rooms rather than the increase from child prices that hit us hardest.

We found it was as cheap to go to Florida as we could have 2 adults and 2 teenagers in 1 room rather than Europe.

privategodfrey · 27/02/2011 16:19

This reminds me of the episode of Only Fools and Horses when Rodney had to pretend to be a child after winning a holiday in a competition Del entered him in!

It's annoying but I wouldn't risk ruining your holiday over it by lying bending the truth.

elphabadefiesgravity · 27/02/2011 16:20

They will check passports. I can see how it is tempting though. When we went to Disney PAris ds was waved through the turnstile as a free child every day (we did have a valid ticket for him)

Original poster
Fimbo · 27/02/2011 16:42

I will phone Sovereign the company I want to book through in the morning, as their website only class children up to 11 but some of the hotels offered in their brochure advertise child prices up to the age of 14.

OP posts:
Lala241280 · 27/02/2011 18:24

I AM A TRAVEL AGENT AND WOULD NOT DO IT PEOPLE HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE THEN GOT TO THE HOTEL AND BEEN ASKED TO PAY THE EXTRA YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Backinthebox · 27/02/2011 21:40

Remember, Fimbo, people actually make their living out of travel. Including me. So yes, people like you who want a luxury for less than the price it costs and are 'suggesting' that it could be got by 'someone' being dishonest piss me right off.

I took a paycut this year because people want to pay less for their holiday than it costs. Pay the fucking price or don't go. You didn't ask if anyone had done it - the only question you asked was 'If I was 'dishonest' and put her age as 12, would anyone ever pick up on it?' To me, that looks as though you are wondering if you can get away with being dishonest - your word, not mine.

Original poster
Fimbo · 28/02/2011 09:32

Ah that clears things up then Backinthebox. Thought you might have had something to do with travel. Sorry you had your paycut but not my fault. It was hypothetical question. No need to swear at me.

Perhaps you could answer the question then if the website says child prices apply for 2-11 years, how does it work when the pages on the brochures for certain hotels say child prices up to age 14?

OP posts:
elphabadefiesgravity · 28/02/2011 11:49

But the flights and other parts of the holiday may have differnet child ages.

eggontoastie · 28/02/2011 14:52

I have often noticed that package holidays limit the child age to 12, but if you go directly onto the hotels websites they sometimes allow children aged 12 & over to stay free in the parents room.