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'd pay to be an invisible spectator on the upcoming Zoom call.

OP, in your shoes I would abandon the villa notion and push for a hotel/resort. That way everyone will have privacy and their own bath, and the costs will be allocated fairly. There is no reason you should be splitting restaurant or supermarket bills with the childed; just ask for separate checks per family.

Yep-subsidising their room that’s better than yours and has an en suite, as well!

I would also push for a hotel/resort. Then parents can pay for the type of room/s they want and it is nothing to do with you.

I'm amazed you found a villa that so perfectly accommodates you all!
But seriously 5 dc?? I wouldn't dream of it. Can you fine 2 villas near each other? One for families and one for the couples?
You could hang out at the family villa during the day as it would be easier for the families but you can escape too. You'll probably want down time without the chaos

This sounds horrendous as a holiday and I have kids. With arguments already about the rooms, a bunch of kids and childfree couples and everyone sharing a kitchen good luck remaining civil for the week :(((

We always count an adult as 1 and a child as 0.5 and for food we deduct the alcohol and split the same way then split alcohol costs per adult.

Splitting alcohol costs is always a bad idea unless everyone either drinks a little or drinks a lot. I have friends who would be drinking expensive ready mixed cocktails and spirits while I had one glass of red wine and my DH had nothing.

That's a fair and sensible split. I don't think anyone could complain about that.

We were the childless couple who travelled with friends with children. We always got our own separate accomodation. We never shared. It gives you room to escape.

I think this was said tongue in cheek but tbh, from what I’ve read this seems to be the perfect strategy for OP.

We always pay per room - so the family that want the extra room should pay for the extra room.

But tbh - this sounds like hell.

I agree with splitting the cost by room, with the 3 families with children paying for the extra room.

Total cost of villa: £2750

Family 1: £458.33 + £152.78 = £611.11
Family 2: £458.33 + £152.78 = £611.11
Family 3: £458.33 + £152.78 = £611.11
Family 4: £458.33
Family 5: £458.33

We go away every year with two other couples and theirs kids plus my brother in law. Once a child is in a bed and not in a cot, I. E. Over 2, we count all heads and split by the number of people. We have three kids, we pay the most and our friends who have 2 kids and 1 child pay less in total. But we pay the same for our 2 year old as my single brother in law pays for his contribution. It's just the fairest way of doing it. If you need a bed then it's being paid for in the total cost. I would consider going away with people who have such different values to me in general. Some people are holiday friends and some aren't. Doesn't mean they aren't your friends. But if you already feel short changed then don't get any deeper into this holiday. Wait til they try and split the bill between their adults when their kids have all eaten and drank etc.
It's nice you want to holiday together but it needs clarifying before you go to avoid some awkward issues arise and you wish you'd not bothered.

What if there was a single room for a single person? By your logic they would pay same as a family of 4? No…. They have a large rental to accommodate everyone. If it were just the couples they’d have much smaller and therefore cheaper accommodation.

I'd suggest that 2 kids = 1 adult. split cost per adult, so, divide total cost by 12. family with 1 child gets off (makes it too difficult otherwise) so, each couple pays 2 twelfths. families with 2 kids pay 3 twelfths each. Family with one ch is asked to chuck in a "sweetener" to compensate (wine?)

I would pay to not go. In all honesty OP, this sounds terrible.

As for subsidizing the kids food... Who came up with that idea!!?? My own children can definitely consume more than me when it comes to drinks and snacks - often in the form of fresh juices/smoothies, BLT's, avocado toast etc. Like bugger would I let anyone outside of immediate family pay for them. It is quite outrageous the parents in this scenario are fine with the child free paying towards their children.

I would resign from being the organiser and opt for a hotel.

What madness- I’ll bet the childless couple will do lots of casual child sitting also.
I would suggest you work out a cost per room based on size and facilities- eg family room and bathroom- 450, two single beds 200, double room 250. Let them cut their cloth depending on how much they want to pay.

This takes the sting out of it- little kids, out of babyhood, cost a fortune- ice creams, drinks, crisps, lunch etc- it would be fairer to divide it taking into account kids.

Enjoy!

This is almost how I’d do it. £220 per night for a double room without an en suite is still pretty pricey for the child free couples. You could get a nice hotel room for less - though I get you want to go away with your friends. Your £220 is covering the extra bedroom which is at the insistence of the families so I’d be tempted to include that room in the division of costs as well to be honest. Or say you’re happy to look for a house which is five bedrooms. Not sure why the family with one child get a discount either if their room is the same size (two single beds and an en suite) as the other two families. I would divide as follows:
Family rooms = £660
Double rooms = £385

The £660 pays for the additional space, the en suite and the extra room they’ve asked for. £385 is a more reasonable cost for 2 nights for a double room without an en suite for the couples without children who are also covering the cost of the kids’ food. Your friends with kids are slightly CFs for suggesting otherwise!

I just wouldn't go. It's too much like hard work, and it has disaster stamped all over it!

If they want to do it by room, then at the very least either you draw lots as to which family /couple gets which room, and those wanting a spare bedroom pay for it.

Or you find accomodation where all the rooms are basically the same, and have separate rooms for the DC to share.

Or, you split per head, 50% per child.

DC food has to be sorted somehow. If youre eating out, then rough split by who-had-what. If its self-catering, then surely parent(s) sort dc snacks, treats, special food, etc and everything else could be split just with adults.

First of all why on earth are the childfree couples wanting to go on holiday with other peoples kids 🤣🤣

In terms of split, I'd say each child should count for half the cost of an adult, and that includes food.....although if alcohol is included in the food shop maybe just leave the kids out of that as booze could amount for a significant chunk of the bill.

The families without children definitely shouldn’t have to pay the same. The families with children are getting bigger rooms, and they have already decided that they are getting the spare room for “extra space” so they absolutely should pay more. £550, like you say, is a LOT for the child free couples to pay for two nights away. A house with five normal bedrooms (not family rooms) would be way cheaper than this, you’ve had to go for the accommodation with family rooms to suit the parents and their children, so why should the child free couples pay for this?

How did the various rooms get allocated?
(Sorry if I've missed this bit!)

its 6 bedrooms so divide by 6 , the 2 without kids pay 1/6 each other 4 divide the rest by 4

Had a similar situation for years where we just split the cost per couple led mainly by the people with kids. those without kids decided the next year that they would book separate accommodation. Worked out loads cheaper for those without kids and those with kids realised how much had been subsidised for them! Worked out loads better