How to split cost of holiday villa

[LB101]

We are going on a family holiday with brothers, sisters, grandparents. Everyone wants a luxury villa with pool, chef, staff, garden etc. What is the fairest way to split the cost among the following:
One couple plus two kids - 2 bedrooms
One couple and one kids - 1 bedroom
One couple - 1 bedroom
One couple- 1 bedroom

An easy way seems to be splitting it by bedroom used, but by having the extra bedroom for the couple with kids, we get a villa with a bigger garden and pool. Should the communal areas also be taken into consideration??

In the past, when holidaying with friends we have just split the bill equally regardless of how many bedrooms are used. This seems fairer in some ways as the bedrooms are only part of the villa and the big garden, pool and staff are a significant factor to the overall price.

What does everyone think?

I’d split it per bedroom. Seems the fairest way.
How old are the children?

Split it by the number of people, with children counting as a half?

How old are the children? I would treat the two children as one adult, so the couple with two children pay 1/3 of the cost, not 2/5, which it would be if it was split by bedrooms. That's disregarding the only child sharing with parents.

The kids are 3 and 7, and 18months

By bedroom seems easier but as the total cost of the villa is a lot, the family with kids seems to be paying a massive chunk - villa is 5k for 10 days so one family will pay 2k and the others will pay 1k each.

Sort of feels like paying 1k is an absolute bargain for getting a villa by the beach with pool, chef, housekeeper etc but 2k is a bit steep!

i'll work it out per person as suggested and see how that compares.

Split per couple. You are all benefitting from sharing so split equally. I used to go away with a couple and we had kids and they always paid half. We offered more and they were insistent. So we would stock up on the wine and food instead even though they still wanted to put money towards that too!

I wouldn't count a child under 2 in any calculations.

I’d split per couple because you’re family so who cares if it’s not exactly even or if you end up subsidising your nieces/nephews a little.

We never counted kids when splitting accommodation. Just divided it between all the adults.

Definitely by bedroom.

Presumably you could have got a smaller and cheaper place if you didn't need the extra bedroom for the larger family?

If you do it per bedroom , the family is paying as much for their one extra child as a whole family of 3 is paying altogether.

Count kids as half and decide at what age they shouldn't count at all - I'd be tempted to ignore any kids under 5 in calculations.

I would disregard the 18 month old but count the other 2 as half an adult each. So the couple with 2 rooms are paying more but not double everyone else. So family of 4 pay 1/3, the other couples 2/9.

Yes, disregard the 18mo and count the two children as 1/2 adult.
Oh but wait, if the family that only needs ond room has the 3yo, then they’ll end up paying the same as the other family that is using two rooms which won’t be fair.

I would say divide by 5, the faily that needs two rooms pays 2/5, other families 1/5.

both ways are fair (per room/per couple)

just vote on it

I'd err to 'per couple'.

We split per person that needed a bed as that is how the rental rate is usually worked out.
If someone is on a sofa or bunk bed or other lesser type of bed we'd make an adjustment.

Start off by asking the couple taking the extra bedroom what they think would be fair or compare cost of equivalent villa with one less bedroom or same villa but lower occupancy. Partly depends on everyone's relative finances - is anyone struggling to afford it?

Depends on how many en-suites/sizes of rooms etc if you're being picky! But to me the fairest is 3/9ths and 2/9ths giving a cost of £1665 and 3 x £1110

Alternatively, agree on an amount for the extra bedroom then split the rest between the couples.

1/4 per couple

If this is family, I would split between the adults.

So its the remaining 1k that is an issue and I dont think its fair to simply make it that the couple with 2 children pay that

Personally I would do 1x£1400 and 3 x £1200

But then you have the issue of bedrooms surely all 5 are not the same

Per couple but those with no DC get the better rooms.

Do all bedrooms have ensuites?
Will it be 'grandparents get the best room and the kids get the one with fewest facilities '?

If so split per adult.

Would the couple who need 2 bedrooms also be getting 2 hotel rooms or a suite? Because then 2k does seem fair, as they’d be paying double if they got a hotel too.

Divide the cost of the villa by the number of nights, so you get the cost per night. Then divide the cost per night by the number of people staying, then you get the cost per head, per night. Then multiply that by the number in each family group.
Don’t count children as a half,it’s not like a hotel where you’re paying for meals and children get a lower rate because of that.
It’s how our family have done it for years, amd it’s definitely the fairest way

Because a hotel isn’t just about paying a room, you pay for the amenities, the breakfast, the use of pool, cleaning service. Same as your villa.