Thoughts on what age is appropriate for parents and teens to share a room in a hotel.

[Truffle55]

I have just got back from a holiday in Greece. I am a single mum and my DS is 12. We have not been away for a long time and I (possibly stupidly) assumed the hotels (we island hopped so multiple stays) would see he was 12 from the booking and at very least put us in a twin room.

Basically they didn’t.

At the first stop, we had a double room. At the second, they didn’t, but it was a family run hotel and they changed the room into a twin for us. The third, was a twin, albeit the beds were pushed together.

The age of a “child” changes depending on who you book with. It can range anywhere up to age 17. But next year, when we travel he will be 13 maybe 14. Frankly, I don’t really want to be sharing with him at age 14 but booking a second room will obviously increase the price considerably. I do accept that but that also could mean the difference between travelling and not traveling for us. And he loves to travel and seeing new things.

I have booked a long weekend abroad in a few weeks to test out the idea of AirBNB to see if that could be a possible answer.

My question is, what age do you think it’s acceptable to share a room with your child?

If it saved money, I'll be sharing with my kids forever... or until they're old enough to pay for their own rooms if sharing bothers them so much!

I travel with my dad for a hobby sometimes and I'd share a room with him for a night or two- probably not any longer (because I like my own space, not because it is him).

I think the only answer is that's its acceptable as long as it doesn't make either of you uncomfortable 🤷‍♀️

I think you're fine. Just request twin beds.

I’d share a room with my child forever! Wouldn’t want to share a bed with my son but wouldn’t occur to me to feel uncomfortable about sharing a room 🤷🏻‍♀️

same as pp. I’ve got girls so not sure if that makes a difference. Eldest is 14 and they’d be happy sharing a room if needed

Depends on the room and child I guess. Last time ds was 16 and it was a huge room with two double beds. It was too expensive for two rooms and I really wanted to stay there (historic hotel).

I think it does make a difference.

My dad booked a hotel room for him and got me when I was 17, and I really did find it uncomfortable. Nothing untoward but I hated it to be honest.

I’d still share a room with my dad if needed (although I’d rather not because of his snoring!)
although I could see as a teenager I may have felt awkward about it

I shared a room with my teenage sons (18 and 15) for my birthday trip away. Worked out cheaper 🤔 only problem was I put two adults and a child on the booking form.....so they gave us a double bed and a single 😂😂😂 very kind man on reception sorted us another family room (one double bed two singles) though. It does get more awkward with age Lol

Try to book twin beds or one bed apartment type rooms where there's a bed in the lounge. My ds is 14 now and the last few holidays we've booked 2 rooms and dh has shared with ds and I've shared with dd. I think it's probably quite embarrassing for boys when they hit puberty properly and there's no way my two kids would share now. A lot of hotels won't let kids be in a room on their own though.

I think I’d always rather have my own room than share with another person who isn’t my DP but it’s a trade off isn’t it? Assuming you don’t have unlimited funds I’d probably be booking a twin room and using the money saved to enhance our experience in other more meaningful ways.

Like a pp I'm thinking maybe a one bed apartment...so a bedroom and there's a bed in the living room

We're a family of 5, kids ages 13,14 &17. Recently we had a holiday and we were all in one room. 2 large doubles and a single sofa bed. I shared with my 13 year old daughter, my husband shared with my 14 year old son and my 17 year old 17 had the single sofa bed. I wouldn't want to share a bed with either of my sons probably from about age 11/12 but would be happy to share a room with separate beds. Getting an extra room really increases the cost of the holiday. Saying that, the second part of the holiday we had 2 connecting rooms and it was lovely. DH and I had one room and then there were 2 large double beds in the kids room, so the boys shared one and my daughter had the other. Was great having 2 bathrooms too!

If there are 2 beds I’m happy to share with my son and he’s an adult . I’d happily share a bed with my adult daughter and they are both happy to do the same .

I shared a room with my 18 year old ds last year. He’s my child so why would it be an issue.

We shared a room in Las Vegas for one night when dcs were 19 and 16. DS on sofa bed, dd in one double and dh and I in the other. Also had a 2 week cruise with dd then 20 and dh and I in the same cabin. Don’t see any issue tbh.

On our trips sometimes dd 34 shared with ds 9. Makes it cheaper and we are faaaammily... Surely you love your ds whatever his age op?
Seriously keep the cost saved for a meal out. You really don't need massive privacy just to get some sleep. You should be busy all day!!

DS (18) and I shared a very small tent last summer... we travel a lot and scrimp on accommodation where possible so often book places that have fewer beds than people, sometimes I share with DD and DH shares with DS, we sleep on the sofa or just share beds, taking care to respect each other's privacy and space in the bed if necessary.

We still share with our 15 yr old and 11 years old and will keep doing so.

I'm a single parent too and shared with my kids for most holidays. It meant the cost was so much lower and we went to some lovely places. I would phone in advance and ask for twin beds/separate beds if it wasn't clear on the website.

I appreciate that it would be nicer to have your own room but guess it depends how much you can afford

Just request twin beds if you are uncomfortable, my DDs (adults) share with me

Thank you all for your comments - I’m glad I’m not completely potty! but maybe worrying unnecessarily.

I think for me, there seemed to be an assumption from the travel company that because I am female and he is male (and he could potentially be classed as an adult), then a double room was “ok”. When, it’s not.

think I just need to be extra vigilant when requesting a “TWIN” room. 😊

Bit different as it's me, dp (stepdad) and dd (14) but we try to do one bed apartments, like me and dd did when holidaying alone. Next hol is a 2 bed apartment, but last year we all shared on a cruise, we used magnet hooks and hung a shower curtain between the beds to create some personal space. I don't think me and dd would sleep well in a double bed.

We shared rooms when we did a 18 day trip around California, my eldest was 17!!! Its fine 🙂

i went to Athens with my 19 year old son for a week. The hotel allocated us a double room. I advised them that I had requested a twin. They changed it immediately. Just be assertive. But otherwise I don’t have a problem with sharing a room with him.