Traveling with kids/disclosing number of people in hotel room

[Anonymous]

When you book a hotel for your family, especially if you just have one kid and that kid is young, do you always disclosed that you have a kid when you book?

I ask because we are spending one night in a small city where there is an amazing hotel we've stayed in before and we'd like to stay again. The problem is that their occupancy for standard rooms is a max of 2, and we now have a kid with us (she'll be 4 when we are there). The only rooms they have with occupancy of 3 or more are all suites with multiple rooms and kitchens. We'd do that if we were staying multiple nights, but we're just going to stay for one night after flying into the city, and the next day will be driving in our rental car to another destination.

The suites are literally twice the cost of the standard rooms. Plus we've stayed in a standard room before and I know it would be more than enough space for our family -- they have king size beds and plenty of room, and DD can easily spend one night sleeping in a bed that size with us. Plus we're just there one night and won't be spending much time in the room.

I'm considering booking the room for two adults and just neglecting to mention DD, and then being discrete upon check in. How bad is this? I can't bring myself to upgrade to the suite because the cost is so high and the rest of the trip pretty spendy so I want to keep costs down for this short stopover.

WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't risk getting busted and not having a place to spend the night.

[Anonymous]

Just understand that if they realize what you're doing and they end up sold out, you will be SOL.

There will be no suite to upgrade to and you will have to find somewhere else, hopefully they give you your money back.

[Anonymous]

Can you just find a different hotel in the same city?

[Anonymous]

We were just at a sports tournament where the manager asked how many people were staying in the room - to a customer checking on next to us - because they booked one king bed and had four or five of them checking in. They were asking if there are any rooms with two beds available, then asking for a rollaway bed. I don’t know what the resolution was but the manager was quoting a maximum occupancy in the room.

[Anonymous]

We've often reserved a standard 2 bed (4 person) room for our 5 person family and have never had any problems. Not a guarantee, but I'd be surprised if they cared. The question is what your backup would be if there were a problem. If this is in a big city, you could always find someplace else. If it's in a tiny town with just a few places to stay, it's riskier.

[Anonymous]

I’d probably have one parent check in and the other being up the kid a few minutes later

[Anonymous]

I would if the room came with two beds.

[Anonymous]

The reason yheres a posted maximum occupancy is due to fire code.

[Anonymous]

The max occupancy is strictly applied in certain cities and countries, so don't play that game just anywhere. Here, it depends whether they're in an easy-going area and in need of clients. Maybe you could call and ask, anonymously.

[Anonymous]

I would 100% book the room and not tell them about my 4 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d probably have one parent check in and the other being up the kid a few minutes later

+1 Unless you are requesting a rollaway bed of a fold out couch, there is zero reason to tell them

[Anonymous]

We're a family of 5 and I generally don't include my kids when I book a room for privacy reasons. Obviously if there's something attached to being in the room, like passes to something or meals or anything where the hotel needs to know how many people are there, I'll tell them.

Usually one parent checks in and then the other parent is with the kids gathering up the belongings to bring to the room after we know the room number. We do it this way whether all the kids are disclosed or not because it's more efficient.

In your situation, I'd book the room and not disclose your DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're a family of 5 and I generally don't include my kids when I book a room for privacy reasons. Obviously if there's something attached to being in the room, like passes to something or meals or anything where the hotel needs to know how many people are there, I'll tell them.

Usually one parent checks in and then the other parent is with the kids gathering up the belongings to bring to the room after we know the room number. We do it this way whether all the kids are disclosed or not because it's more efficient.

In your situation, I'd book the room and not disclose your DC.

What are the privacy reasons?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d probably have one parent check in and the other being up the kid a few minutes later

They probably won’t care but just to be on the safe side. The other parent can drop off the kid and check in later if everyone is required to show ID
To add, I never mention my kid at one particular Hilton property in one particular country because otherwise they have to check the birth certificate (!!) due to some country regulations. It’s prob not relevant but I avoid mentioning my kid whenever possible on reservations