Aging child down to get a hotel room together

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My kids are 10 and just 13. We want to be able to stay in one hotel room on holiday in Greece this year but everywhere I'm looking considers kids as kids only up to the age 11 or 12, and over that they are adults. They won't allow us to book into one room, even though it has two double beds (well, a double and a double sofa bed) if I put 3 adults and 1 child. This is only b&b so he won't be consuming excessive food, and we're booking flights separately as it's not a package holiday. I wouldn't mind paying more for him, but I'm finding that rooms suddenly aren't available at all if I put in his accurate age. Do you think it will matter if I put him in as 12?

Thank you!!! That’s exactly what I was looking for someone to say!!

I mean we’ve done it with a 4 year old in chain hotels and not even included child on booking. How much do people think these checkin staff are getting paid to give a shit? I admittedly wouldn’t do this in a really tiny B&B in someone’s house but that’s the only exception and I’d still chance it on a year or two on age.

Thank you for looking, but we can’t be particularly flexible as we have an itinerary- we’re flying into Athens and out of zakynthos and have to be in certain places in between (Corinth, Napflion, then only killini before we get the ferry to Zakynthos). And it’s in August so busy too. We’re pretty limited to certain hotels due to the historic sites we want to visit.

All but one are big chains and large resorts so I think you’re probably right!

I would find a different hotel. 4 people should be able to fit into 2 double beds

Not that many options in the places we’re planning to go to. It’s quite an off the beaten track area so most places there’s one 5* hotel and a couple of downmarket guest houses.

Drop a star and you'll be able to afford to keep within the hotels' booking terms and conditions.

Why not just email the hotel directly and ask?

But drop a star and we have to be crammed in with all the package holiday people and get half as much space.

We stayed at IKOS in Corfu twice last year, asked for passports each time, so the age would be impossible to hide! Factor in the cost of tourist tax for 5* per room, if you need to book two. The first visit we had was 28euros, second visit 6mths later was 70euros, I think it’s increased since. Both of our stays were for 1 week. Unfortunately as your children age you have to accept holidays will increase in cost.

Well you can’t afford the five star, can you?

Sorry princess, but it seems you’re gonna have to slum it with the hoi polloi.

Jesus, no thanks. I’d rather up the budget. We’ll just have to only go skiing for one week next year 😂

Have you tried booking directly on the hotel website. I often find you get a wider selctiom of rooms and better deals in the hotel sites. I usually search hotels on expedia etc then book on the hotel website.

Book 2 roooms and put 1 adult and 1 child in each on the booking form then when you get there you can all sleep in the same room.

You know that package holidays also offer 5 star hotels right 😂 our last holiday was a 5 star hotel booked via easyjet package holidays

I think it’s the word package that has her reaching for the smelling salts

Probably better than sticking a pubertal teenage boy into a bed with his sister.

Get two rooms, one parent per room, everything's sorted - and twice as much space.

Aging down. You mean lying.

The reason most options gone and only deluxe left also is it’s pretty late booking for this August if you want something very specific. If you want certain type of rooms, especially in areas with limited accommodation options you need to be booking 12month min before hand. Ie last August/ Sept.

We want a specific itinerary for next year, already booked for March 26

But we don’t stay in one place. We’re travelling from Athens to zakynthos and staying in 4 places.

Sounds like you want 5* but can't afford it.
We have 4 kids and spent many a holiday in 2 rooms 1 parent with 2 kids.
It's a holiday not a lifetime.

They’re both boys.

Not as horrible as sharing with a 10 year old and a 13 year old. And moving every couple of days is my idea of chaotic hassle.

So it doesn't really matter what the sex of the children is, you can't find anywhere to accommodate you unless you lie about the children's ages.
That's not fair really, especially on the hotels who will have fire regulations and all sorts of local country regs to follow.

Each to their own. We love travelling and get restless if we stay in one place for more than 3 nights, and are all very happy in each others company.