Villa split between childfree couples and families

[Adrianne1234]

Trying to organise a long weekend away (2 nights) with a group of friends for autumn and this is the group split:

Family 1: 2 adults & 2 kids
Family 2: 2 adults & 2 kids
Family 3: 2 adults & 1 kid
Family 4: 2 adults
Family 5: 2 adults

We don't seem to agree on how the total price would be split. The house has 6 bedrooms. 3 family rooms (king beds + single beds) with ensuite bathrooms, 2 standard double rooms and 1 room with 2 single beds for "extra space" (6th room is not claimed by anyone but deemed necessary by the parents to have additional space).

2/3 families seem to think the total bill should be split by couple, without considering the kids.
1/3 families and the 2 adults families think that the families should pay more because despite everyone technically occupying 1 room, some rooms are family rooms.

To state the significance of this, if we wanted to find accommodation for 10 adults, the price per couple would be around half the one we are paying to have a place that can accomodate all the kids/has the right sort of family rooms.

If it was to be split by couple, price would be £550 per couple, which seems pretty steep for families without kids (that also end up getting the crappier rooms).

Food bills will be split amongst adults so kids won't pay for that which has been agreed by everyone.

Thoughts?

i think I’d maybe do by room rather than by person. So the larger family rooms would be more

Im a single parent and when organising things like parties people always charge me the full rate as per family even though there’s just 2 of us and other families are 4. I just go with it as don’t want to create a fuss

i think I’d maybe do by room rather than by person. So the larger family rooms would be more

Im a single parent and when organising things like parties people always charge me the full rate as per family even though there’s just 2 of us and other families are 4. I just go with it as don’t want to create a fuss

That's how I saw it too, they wanted an extra unoccupied room for extra space, likely for the kids to have a separate room to play/chill out in. So absolutely they should pay more for it.

Just go to a hotel. With a nice spa. You'll need it.

100% this @marzipanlover81

if people are already arguing over the costs it’s going to be a shit show when they have to deal with other people’s kids ruining their holiday 😂

I mean this with greatest kindness as someone who holidays with my own and friends children regularly - kids are dicks and if you don’t have them it is all a bit much if you don’t love them dearly and are already resentful that you’ve had to pay for an expensive holiday

You need different accommodation. Ideally two properties, one for the families with kids and one for the couples. Then costs (including food) can be split within each group, so the families split accommodation + food between them and the same with the couples. The couples could then socialise at the family property and retire to the sanctuary of the couples property at the end of the evening.

Best chance of still being friends at the end of the stay.

Yes other people’s kids are annoying. You only suffer them if you have your own kids and then maybe they can all hang out together. As a childless person I would never go on a holiday like this. You are paying over the odds to spend time in close proximity to a load of kids. Why are you covering all their food?? Go to a lovely hotel! Meet them for lunch.

I’d count the family rooms as 50% more expensive than the standard rooms.

3x family rooms £550
2x double £367
6th room £367 divided between 3 families £122 each

So 3 families pay £672 (£2016)
2 couples pay £367 (£734)

But as the couples benefit from a generally larger property, and will share a bathroom between 2 rooms that is meant for 3, maybe the couples paying £475 and the families paying £600 may be more palatable. Or £620 and £445. Depends on whether the couples actually think the extra common space is worth it when they are in a small room with a shared bathroom and won’t use the 6th bedroom at all. I think the people with dc are absolute weirdos for thinking they should get the biggest rooms with en-suites plus an extra room “in case” for the same price as the doubles with shared bathroom, and can get other people to feed their kids too.

I think pay per head or even £350 for the kid free couples and families divide the rest up. Given the price has increased so much because of the requirements of the families with kids, and they are getting the crappier rooms, it seems much fairer that way.

Yes, I agree with this.

TBH if the families were to go away and just get a cottage each it would cost much more than for a couple, as you can easily get a small cottage for two people for less than what you'd need for a family. Not only that, not all couples without children would relish a weekend with other people's!

To get the best rooms, an extra room for their convenience AND to be subsidised not only food-wise but also accommodation-wise is beyond cheeky. Hold your ground OP.

One more thing: do they all have similar parenting styles, as that can be tricky? I had some lovely weekends away that ended up breaking down because one couple had a very relaxed parenting style, where their little darling never had to help with anything (slightly older children) and left the others to help out. Also was always running complaining about the other children, which ended up with arguments between the parents. And we all had to do what little darling wanted to which wore thin after a while. Everyone else weren't exactly strict but didn't pander either. Different parenting styles can be a big flash point after a while.

Don't do it, it's madness!

Get on that call and just say that you've decided it isn't the way to go and it would be much easier and fairer to look for somewhere where everyone has their own accommodation and pays for it. Lodges, even a suitable hotel.

Don't get dragged into paying part of the cost of the kids' food and entertainment either.

You couldn't pay me to go on this holiday. 😅

Agree, a “just in case” spare room is a weird concept.

I would treat each child over 2 years old as half of the adult price for both rooms and food. They are likely to significantly increase the overall food budget unless they are babies / young toddlers, and as you say, you have had to pay more to get a villa with family rooms. We have always just split the accommodation costs per person on holidays like this, but we have wanted separate rooms for our kids, and handily have only gone away with similar sized families who also don’t want to share a room with their children. For food we have done anyone over 2 but under 13 is counted as half the cost of an adult, teens upwards eat as much as adults.

I would present this to your friends with the reasons and if it’s not agreed soon, then sack off the holiday and just go with the other couple (I sort of assume you are one of the child free couples but maybe not!).

Value each room for facilities along the hotel cost route, the 6th room will be used for children so who wants it- or everyone puts their luggage in it and split it evenly.

So, 264 replies in, is the Op going to come back and tell us how last weekend’s Zoom call went?! This might all have been resolved days ago!

The families with kids sound very entitled thinking it should be split evenly. Ask them, if that’s fair then it’s fair that rooms are assigned by putting names in a hat- so if a family end up in a double room and a couple in the family room that would also be fair. If they specifically want to big rooms then cost is split with children in mind.
I absolutely wouldn’t pay for the kids food too - kids eat loads! There’ll be specific food and drink that’s bought for the kids only that’ll really up the price. I spent a fortune on kids snacks and fruit for my 2yo!

Of course the families should pay more as family room cost more wherever you go. However, I don't get why pp's are arguing about the "adults without kids getting chappy roims", why would 2 adults want a room with an extra bed in it over people that actually require the additional bed? (And bathroom)

🤦🏻‍♀️ seriously? You don't 'get' why people might want their own en-suite? 🤔

I would be tempted to do it as a ratio calculation…bear with me!

Assuming the total cost is £2,750 (£550 per couple), you could assign a “1” per adult and “0.5” per child, which would give you a total of 12.5 “bodies”. Take the £2750 (or whatever the total is) and divide by 12.5 (=£220)

Add together the total “bodies” in a family- eg 2 adults + 2 children = 3 bodies. This family would then pay 3 x £220 = £660.
So….
Family 1 = £660
Family 2 = £660
Family 3 = £550
Family 4 = £440
Family 5 = £440

i hope that makes sense and isn’t too convoluted!! Good luck either way

Total price/amount of people (including kids) so say it's 4000 and there are 15 people (including kids) then it would be 4000/15. It's only fair.

5 couples at £550 per couple, is not £4000...

Yeah but not everyone can have one, so 4 people versus 2 can you not get that?

Also you missed my other points: Why would a couple want a bedroom with 2 extra beds in, ie a family room? Just for the bathroom? 🤦‍♀️

@LemonPeonies more space to spread out. Means the couple could sleep in separate beds if they want to.

Yeah one can have the king bed, the other in one of the singles. Makes complete sense 🤨😅