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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Premier inn - financial trouble and rooms

80 replies

Teacherteachernotapreacher · 17/12/2023 07:35

I’m talking myself round in circles here and hoping you can all help!

have 4 nights booked in a premier inn in London over Xmas period. Have had it booked for ages and will pay on arrival. Have two rooms booked as there are 5 of us - 2 adults and 3 chn aged 7, 10 and 11

have recently had some unexpected financial disasters which mean we are not doing well financially.

would cancel the trip but have things booked that I can’t get refunded and it’s also the chns and husbands surprise Christmas present (they don’t have much else except chocolate and socks)

Can’t contact the hotel directly as it just rings out using the premier inn number when I get transferred.

Would they notice/mind if we all squeezed into one room? And if we did, could we still get all three kids a breakfast for free? (And then they’d know anyway as they was what room you’re in)

it would save a fair bit making the trip less stressful for me. But then I’d stress about lying about the number of people in a room.

what would you all do?

OP posts:
adventadvent · 17/12/2023 07:38

Used to work for PI so can answer your question
Family rooms are only for 4 people, they won't allow a 5th even a child

RandomMess · 17/12/2023 07:41

I know people that have snuck a 3rd child in.

You'd have to go elsewhere for breakfast though.

PuttingDownRoots · 17/12/2023 07:42

Breakfasts are I think two children per paying adult... you don't actually have to stay there (PI breakfast is extremely good value for families!)

I don't think they would like the room sharing though there isn't space for 5 people.

Mumdiva99 · 17/12/2023 07:42

I wouldn't try to fit 5 in a 4 person room. (We are 5 and always have 2 rooms).
Funnily enough I am currently in a premier inn room in London (alone - bliss) and its the smallest premier inn room I have ever seen. If the family rooms ow the same pattern there is no way that 5 could fit.

Can you shorten the trip by a night instead?

MissBattleaxe · 17/12/2023 07:46

Four nights with five to a room will be horrible. How about cutting a night or two off the trip? London can be exhausting. Two nights might be plenty .

Original poster
Teacherteachernotapreacher · 17/12/2023 07:52

Thanks for the quick replies - it would be cramped wouldn’t it.
re a night off - we could but it’s a really long way for us, approx 6 hours drive. So we don’t get many actual days in London once you factor in getting there and returning if you take it to three nights

OP posts:
Westfacing · 17/12/2023 07:53

If you're paying on arrival doesn't that mean you chose the most flexible, and expensive, option? I think you can cancel with no penalties - please have a re-read of your confirmation email.

vanillaredbushtea · 17/12/2023 07:54

They absolutely would mind.

Westfacing · 17/12/2023 07:55

Sorry, meant to add, then you might be able to book elsewhere more cheaply.

Original poster
Teacherteachernotapreacher · 17/12/2023 07:55

Yes it’s a flex booking so I can adjust it right up to the day. Each room is 45 each a night. Problem is in cancelling - I lose the value of the things I’ve paid for and then have to magic up Christmas presents for everyone 😬

OP posts:
ClockHolly · 17/12/2023 07:58

If you ask them they will definitely say no, so don’t call.

If it’s a big and busy hotel you may be able to sneak in a third child if you don’t all check in together. But where would the third child sleep? It’s usually a king bed and two single mattresses with very little other space.

Re: breakfast some Premier Inns allow non residents to book breakfast. You should be able to check online if the one you’re staying in does. Then book one adult breakfast with your room and one separately.

The other option may be to look for an Air BnB or another hotel which has space for 5? If you say your dates and roughly where in London you want to be, someone may be able to help.

Westfacing · 17/12/2023 07:58

Well, assuming you're not absolutely skint and going without food I think you should just use your credit card and get on with enjoying your Xmas break!

sandgrown · 17/12/2023 08:01

I would keep the booking but look at other ways to cut costs . Fill up at breakfast and take snacks, sweets and drinks with you for during the day. Look for free activities and the cheapest ways to get around London.

ClockHolly · 17/12/2023 08:01

Ok I take back my AirBnB or alternative hotel idea. £45/night is a very good price for London so you’d struggle to get anything for less. Especially with the ability to feed five people unlimited breakfast for £20.

Blueblell · 17/12/2023 08:03

45 is very cheap you won’t get anything cheaper in London. I would drop one night rather the 1 room.

FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable · 17/12/2023 08:04

I found the family rooms to be 1 big bed and a smallish sofa bed. I was sharing with two boys 9 and 7 and ended up in the sofa bed as they were super wiggly and annoying each other. At 45 a night I’d try for a good nights sleep and pay the extra.

MoreHairyThanScary · 17/12/2023 08:07

We have snuck a 3 year old into a PI (historically) but with the-ages you have I don't think it's possible.

PI need the number of guests staying for fire safety.

InsertUsernameHere · 17/12/2023 08:08

At £45 per night you have done very well, so I doubt re booking would be cheaper. It also won’t be the most expensive but of the trip. You have a few options - first is breakfast. Whilst I do love a PI breakfast - are you going to make the most of it. As an adult I often have a large breakfast that that then sees me through til tea - this is probably unreasonable with young children. So how about cancelling breakfast and having porridge pots in your room? Think about lunches and evening meals. This where I find the expense of holidays can run away. Check for deals in restaurants - eg Tesco vouchers for pizza express or buy nice salads/sandwiches/takeaway pizza for your room. As you have two rooms this much more double. Perhaps take an icebox for the room? (I have friends that take a microwave with them - but I never have - I suspect it wouldn’t be encouraged). Have a lovely time. Stick to doing what is already paid for and free stuff.

Original poster
Teacherteachernotapreacher · 17/12/2023 08:16

These are all good points. Could definitely eat our fill at breakfast and get to an early tea with snacks in the middle. Are you allowed takeaways? If so - then that would make it more doable.
it’s tempting to go a day later but then we’d actually only get two days in London which - as country bumpkins and it’s a one off visit - seems a waste of a trip. Maybe I just need to credit card it and accept it.
move looked online and yeah - there’s no cheaper options by a long shot!

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 17/12/2023 08:23

Look for a wethersppons... itvwill be cheaper than a takeaway!

We do the massive breakfast, snacks at lunch time and early dinner thing often on holiday. It works well.

There are loads of free things to do as well.

PixiePirate · 17/12/2023 08:28

I think keeping the two rooms, encouraging the children to eat plenty at breakfast and eating your evening meal at the hotel (family movie night could be fun?) will be the best solution. You said you have already booked some things to do that will cost money, so perhaps ask on here for ideas for freebie entertainment ideas to fill in the gaps.

i think the museums are free (Science museum is great for kids). The Outernet at Tottenham Court Rd is also meant to be free and good. Also recommend getting free tickets for the Sky Garden and London Mithraeum. There’s plenty of mini supermarkets dotted around for drinks and snacks. The buses are fab and I think £1.75 per adult for up to an hour’s travel (easy to work out using the TfL app). There is one bus route (I believe the 11) that pretty much follows the route of the open top tourist bus at about a tenth of the price.

wellhellohowstheweather · 17/12/2023 08:32

Absolutely fine to get takeaways (or supermarket stuff) at premier inn.

rookiemere · 17/12/2023 08:33

Have you checked what the fixed rate room cost is ? It might be cheaper to cancel your flex booking and change to non refundable.

WonderLife · 17/12/2023 08:34

You would be able to sneak an extra child in - have you and DH going in separately with different children for example - but it would be cramped once you're in there.
We've done it when the 3rd child was preschool age and had them in bed with us, but it would be a squeeze to get 3 in a double bed. Especially for 4 nights.

MyLifeMyChoices · 17/12/2023 08:34

Food is definitely the big expensive. Hopefully you will be able to find the local supermarket and can make sandwiches etc and save on that. We saved a fair amount buy getting 4 packs of ice lollies from the Sainsbury’s local etc instead of puddings etc. but it was summer