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Holidays

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Original poster

Hotel - sneaking an extra child in

58 replies

Lovewhereilive · 17/04/2014 22:02

Impossible to find rooms for 5 but lots of rooms for 4 (grrr), so would you sneak an extra child in (5yr old) or cough up and pay for 2 rooms?

OP posts:

pepperrabbit · 17/04/2014 22:07

We have paid for 2 adjoining rooms before but our next booking, for a wedding in the autumn is a family room, where the hotel has promised 3 z beds and that it'll be a squish!
I'd go for honesty tbh. An extra child is tricky to hide and imagine being turned away when you arrive to check in.
Why not phone and ask if they can fit an extra one in?
I have once taken a ReadyBed to blow up in a hotel room, but told the hotel in advance.

Cleanthatroomnow · 17/04/2014 22:11

I think from the hotel's point of view it is an insurance/safety issue. They really should know how many people are sleeping in each room....

Original poster

Lovewhereilive · 17/04/2014 22:54

Yes think you are probably right, especially if there was a fire I suppose, but just annoying and expensive!

OP posts:

MillyMollyMama · 18/04/2014 15:04

But you did,presumably, want this number of children! You can get self catering for larger families. I would never sneak a child in because it is dishonest, rude and unsafe. You will just have to pay, like everyone else.

mercibucket · 18/04/2014 15:09

loads of families of 5 do this. travelodge etc is easy as they dont often even have anyone on reception

i wouldnt do it for a package holiday, or a small family run hotel - they will notice! but a night in a big chain hotel, sure

Original poster

Lovewhereilive · 18/04/2014 22:21

Merci, glad am not the only one who has considered this.

Millymolly - no they were all a mistake - lighten up lady!!

OP posts:

poorbuthappy · 18/04/2014 22:23

We've done it but then 2 of ours look remarkably alike.

Original poster

Lovewhereilive · 18/04/2014 22:23

I have peas in a pod, poorbut!

OP posts:

Original poster

Lovewhereilive · 18/04/2014 22:24

3 peas in a pod even - oops too much wine!

OP posts:

Forago · 18/04/2014 22:31

I'm with merci

wouldn't do it for a 2 week holiday or a pish hotel, but would (and do) in a premier inn.

saying that, have you looked a part hotels? (if in a city) we find them easy and good value now for a family of 5.

Forago · 18/04/2014 22:32

posh! and I'm not even drinking

Forago · 18/04/2014 22:34

aparthotels ffs!

for long holidays, book early for a family room, if they try to give me (and make me pay) for 2 doubles, I go elsewhere. is kind of annoying that 3 kids is considered out there these days, god knows what its like with 4+!

AFingerofFudge · 18/04/2014 22:40

I book the room (2 adults and 2 children seems to be the norm - grr) usually on the internet, and then phone up and say i'm bringing an extra small child. I have never been told I can't when I've phoned up. Places like Holiday Inn, Travelodges etc have been fine with this.

Weegiemum · 18/04/2014 22:40

We use Youth Hostels when we need a room for 5 - especially for an overnight while travelling.

Unexpected · 18/04/2014 22:40

I might think about it but where would the extra child sleep? Assuming the extra one is the 5 year old, the others are presumably older so they all need proper beds and space. Depending on the hotel you either have a double bed with a pull-out sofa which has a higher and lower level for two children or you have double beds. Most standard rooms don't even have much more space so someone is going to be very squashed.

ChippyMinton · 18/04/2014 22:48

Have done this plenty of times for overnight stops. I would check in with 2 DC, then DH and DC3 stroll straight to room. DC used to sleep sideways in a double bed.

Too big for that now though, so we get a couple of cheap family rooms and enjoy the extra space.

Legologgo · 18/04/2014 22:50

gosh sneak in

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 18/04/2014 22:56

For travelodge we do 5 in one room - I take a camping mat & sleeping bag for littlest child. Last time I forgot we were only supposed to have 4 of us and we all rocked up to check in together - me, dh, 3 hyped-up children. No one else around that those children could belong to. The receptionist looked at me and said "2 adults, 2 children?" And I said "yes" and she smiled and gave me the key card and asked if we needed extra pillows.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 18/04/2014 22:57

Oh, travelodge family rooms have a double and 2 singles and we've always had floor space for the camping mat too

Legologgo · 18/04/2014 22:58

which poor bugger goes on the mat?

Forago · 19/04/2014 10:00

the youngest one, as she said. our youngest is still small so weve put him in our own travel cot before. now he'd come in the double with us. they'd all happily sleep on a mat with sleeping bag though, good idea! (like they do when camping)

mercibucket · 19/04/2014 10:15

they all fit easily into the beds. ours share at home half the time anyway.

when they are all teens we can get 2 rooms as we will actually use them. im not letting kids sleep somewhere down the corridor from us anyhow

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 19/04/2014 10:51

My 5yo wants to go on the mat. Long may that continue!

If we had 2 rooms they wouldn't be together, and we'd need an adult in each room. Which in our case leaves one adult doing all the nighttime medical care for ds2 by themselves in a strange place which just doesn't seem fair.

BrianButterfield · 19/04/2014 10:57

I'd do it and bring a readybed for the little one. For those going on about fires etc, the hotels don't know who is actually in their room at any time or who's out, and plenty of people bring, ahem, guests to their rooms anyway, so that's not really an issue.

mummymeister · 19/04/2014 14:24

we are 5 and I wouldn't do it. each room is restricted to a certain number under their fire risk assessment. if that number is breached and there was a fire in the hotel then the insurance might not pay up. we all know how wriggly insurance companies are - any excuse not to pay - and even with a large co like Travelodge this would make me feel guilty. if you have 3 kids its just one of the things you have to do. have a look at some of the specialist websites like take5. ours don't sleep down corridors we have always had adjoining rooms with connecting door. the issue is what would you do if you were caught out at the reception desk at 11pm with sleepy kids and they were full?

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