Fair way to split this holiday

[afrikat]

Large group of friends and family going away this summer to Spain, groups as follows:

Family 1: two adults, 4 children. 3 rooms needed
Family 2: two adults, 3 children. 3 rooms needed
Family 3: two adults, 2 children. 2 rooms needed
Family 4: two adults, 2 children. 2 rooms needed
Family 5: two adults, 2 children. 2 rooms needed
Family 6: two adults, 2 children. 2 rooms needed

Altogether 12 adults, 15 children. Place booked has 14 bedrooms so enough for everyone's needs. Would you split evenly? Or another way?

We've been on big holidays a few times and divided the cost slightly differently each time depending on circumstances / rooms / children's ages /.finances.

There's no right and wrong way, whether you do cost per room, cost per family or a formula based on numbers of adults and children as some have suggested above.

I'd calculate the different prices using each of the three methods above then pick the one that "feels" right.

Personally I'd divide the total cost by 13 rather than 14. The 2-room families pay 2 shares each and the 3-room families pay 2.5 shares each (2 x 2.5 + 4 x 2 = 13).

This way, you're reflecting the fact that some families are using more bedrooms but also the fact that the villa isn't just about the bedrooms.

I would split evenly but ask the three bedroom families to share bathrooms if needed and take any really small rooms.

I went away with a group of friends and the children and we did it by points

So each adult was 2 points and each child was 1 point

so if the cost was for example £3000 and there 12 adults and 15 children

£3000 divided by the total 27 points which makes £111 per point

Each adult cost is £222 and each child £111

Family 1: two adults, 4 children. 3 rooms needed. 8 points =£888
Family 2: two adults, 3 children. 3 rooms needed 7 points = £777
Family 3: two adults, 2 children. 2 rooms needed 6 points = £666
Family 4: two adults, 2 children. 2 rooms needed 6 points = £666
Family 5: two adults, 2 children. 2 rooms needed 6 points = £666
Family 6: two adults, 2 children. 2 rooms needed 6 points = £666

this meant everyone was paid for as if we had done it by bedrooms it wouldn't have been fair on the families with 2 children as the family with 4 children would pay the same

I’d split per family as long as the smaller families felt ok with that. And I agree that the 3 room families get the shared bathroom rooms.

I’d divide it by 14 and the 3 bedroom family’s pay 3 14ths each and the 2bedriom family’s 2 14th each.