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Original poster

Would you let your 8 year-old stay in a Travelodge on a school trip?

69 replies

SiriusPink · 16/02/2011 22:04

This is quite bizarre I feel.

DD's class is going on a school trip and has to stay overnight (early start next day). We have just been informed that the school has booked 'almost all the rooms' in a 'small Travelodge'.

No more information at the moment, but I don't feel happy about this idea. DD is only 8 (Year 4) and we wouldn't put her in a big hotel room on her own (or with older sibling) if we went away, even with us next door, so I feel even more uncomfortable about the idea with us not even there!

How can they possibly have risk-assessed a public hotel as being safe for a group of 50 children (2 classes)

Who is going to be 'on duty' overnight? What if the children wake up scared overnight, or won't go to sleep, or if there is a fire etc.

I assume they were planning to pair up the children, 2 to a room, but DD hasn't ever been away on her own - except at friends' houses for sleepovers, which I feel is very different?

Would you be happy with this arrangement?

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ChasingSquirrels · 16/02/2011 22:04

no

themothershipcalling · 16/02/2011 22:05

Bloody hell! NO!

PoppetUK · 16/02/2011 22:09

I'd feel very very uncomfortable about this. This is coming from someone who spent many weekends in hotels in my teens due to sport camps run by a governing body. I think you were looking at 12+ before you could be invited.

hocuspontas · 16/02/2011 22:11

No. It's the fire risk. If there was a fire, how would the children be rounded up from locked rooms quickly enough? And I'm sure a Travelodge wouldn't normally let children share a room without an adult, especially that young.

Original poster
SiriusPink · 16/02/2011 22:20

I just think it's too young.

Who's going to stop them messing about with the kettle/ watching TV all night/ getting locked out of their rooms etc.

IIRC Travelodges don't even have a 24 hour reception, and I wouldn't trust that all sorts of different people probably have access to keys etc.

No, I don't like the idea at all...

OP posts:
Clunge · 16/02/2011 22:22

My daughter is 8 and hasn't even had a sleepover at a friend's house yet because I think she's too young. So no, I would no way, not ever, never, ever let her stay at a Travel Lodge with school. Ever! Lol.

HildegardVonBlingen · 16/02/2011 22:25

No, no, no, no. And no.

seeker · 16/02/2011 22:25

I would want more information - so not a blanket "no".

JemimaMop · 16/02/2011 22:26

No.

Original poster
SiriusPink · 16/02/2011 22:30

But Seeker - I just can't see what assurances they could give that would make it OK, unless there was an adult in every room (which is impossible) and someone sitting in the corridor of every floor overnight Confused

OP posts:
bubbles1112 · 16/02/2011 22:38

No way, not a chance!

pippibluestocking · 16/02/2011 22:42

Unless there was an adult in every room, absolutely not. Can't imagine the Travel Lodge would agree to any other arrangement than that anyway

QuickLookBusy · 16/02/2011 22:43

I think the school would be mad to do this, they can't have thought it through at all. They have to do a risk assessment for every trip, like you say, there are so many hazards.

KerryMumbles · 16/02/2011 22:43

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Maryz · 16/02/2011 22:45

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Maryz · 16/02/2011 22:46

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LittlePushka · 16/02/2011 22:47

No, I agree with you SiriusPink - it is impossible to supervise that many children segmented into umpteen rooms and 8 is really very young to be self supervising with friends of the same age. My concern would be fire and the very public access to the place...and that is before the emotional issues of a class of very young children home alone in a hotel room!

if the children need an early start why cannot the coach just collect them all at 5am (or whatever time) at school (or wherever place)?

I never went on such trips until secondary school - I am a little taken aback by the schools' arrangements to be frank!

QOD · 16/02/2011 22:52

Hmmmmmmmmmmm no way, no fucking way

However, I can think of at least 3 of DD's friends whose parents wouldn't have thought twice.

herbietea · 16/02/2011 22:57

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LittlePushka · 16/02/2011 23:00

QOD - how wonderfully you summarise my whole first paragraph Wink

lollystix · 16/02/2011 23:05

Again I'm quite laid back but absolutely no way....

Lovetodance45 · 16/02/2011 23:05

Not a chance!

fairtradefloozy · 16/02/2011 23:12

Unless they have exclusive use of the hotel, all the TVs and kettle's moved out of the rooms, and the doors defaulted so they cannot be locked in, with a staff member on waking nights in each corridor, no, I wouldn't.

They can risk asses this but think they have not properly assessed the consideration of parents over the arrangements which is one of the really important elements.

(I used to work in a residential setting where we had lots of kids coming through on school trips so I do know what I am saying from the other side of this acceptable risk balance issue).

kreecherlivesupstairs · 17/02/2011 07:41

Not. a. chance.
Very bad idea for so many reasons.

DrNortherner · 17/02/2011 07:47

No.

In high school my school booked out a hotel in London, there were 3 kids per room. We were 13. It was chaos and mayhem.

Deffo not at 8.

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