families of 5 do you really book two rooms?

[Anonymous]

If you are all crammed in a room together, there really isn't a benefit you would get over having one spouse in another room. Unless you have sex in front of your kids. In that case the number of rooms you get is the least of your issues.

[Anonymous]

Stay at the hotel beacon. It’s on the upper west side near a playground and a levain, and the suites have a nice little kitchenette. It is a lovely vacation for my family of 6!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand all these posts to "hide" your children and not all approach the desk together. There are legit rooms that will fit 5 (or even 6) guests.

I'm a pp with a family of 6 that has stayed all in one room. When we booked springhill suites, embassy suites, etc. with 2 queens and a sofa bed, we ALWAYS were truthful when we booked the room (online) about how many people would be staying in the room.

Not in all areas, not in all hotels, not all locations, different price points, etc.

I don't think you have to "hide" your kids. But just to avoid any issues, we won't all go to the front desk together. Usually I'll park the car while the others are checking in. No big deal.

But they don't care, anyway, as best I can tell.

+1. It’s not always possible to get a suite at every hotel. And in some locations the type of hotel is limited.

Then you don't go on that vacation. Choose a different place that has hotels that can accommodate you.

Nah. We'll just use one room. But you do you.

Cheap.

[Anonymous]

I always booked only 1 room for our family of 6 (DH, me, 3 DDs, 1 DS). We usually had one parent check in, and then the rest of us went up to the room.

DH & I would share a bed, two of the girls would share a bed, and the other two would alternate between the couch & a sleeping bag. If we were lucky enough to have a suite, it was easiest to accommodate everyone. The kids enjoyed the closeness during those family vacations back in the day.

[Anonymous]

We are a family of 3 and get two rooms.

[Anonymous]

We stayed in NJ when visiting NYC as a family of 5. Similar aged kids. Youngest actually 4

[Anonymous]

I always booked only 1 room for our family of 6 (DH, me, 3 DDs, 1 DS). We usually had one parent check in, and then the rest of us went up to the room.

DH & I would share a bed, two of the girls would share a bed, and the other two would alternate between the couch & a sleeping bag. If we were lucky enough to have a suite, it was easiest to accommodate everyone. The kids enjoyed the closeness during those family vacations back in the day.

Come on - you know this was pushing it, and that’s why you hid from check in. I’m sure you feel better fondly remembering how much your kids enjoyed the experience of sleeping on the floor and everyone sharing a bathroom, but I also have four kids and know everyone would have preferred more space.

[Anonymous]

We are a family of 6 who often crams into one room. Search for hotels with 2 beds plus a couch. We typically bring an air mattress just in case we need it.

Embassy Suites and Homewood Suites work well for us.

[Anonymous]

We are a family of 6 and sharing one bathroom on vacation has literally never been a problem. It's just for a few days, and it's not like we're getting ready for the prom. It never crossed my mind that we would need to get two rooms b/c sharing of issues sharing the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

NYC hotel rooms are so tiny. I think you'll definitely want 2 rooms. We are also a family of 5 and did one room - two queens/sofabed when they were younger or if it was just one night - but NO ONE slept well (and not in NYC). It just isn't worth it. Spouse and I split up with each having 1-2 kids. Now that kids are teens they have their own room and we have ours.

[Anonymous]

The frustrating thing is that suites are so expensive, that two rooms is sometimes cheaper, but doesn’t work well for families with small children.

[Anonymous]

My preference is to stay at an Airbnb. If we stay at a hotel, I try to pick the Embassy Suites, Residence Inn...something like that where they have suites. If we can't get a suite, we just split up into 2 rooms. I have never been able to get a connecting room, even when I asked at booking, but we usually do get rooms on the same floor. I just like space to spread out and a separate room for my toddler to nap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand all these posts to "hide" your children and not all approach the desk together. There are legit rooms that will fit 5 (or even 6) guests.

I'm a pp with a family of 6 that has stayed all in one room. When we booked springhill suites, embassy suites, etc. with 2 queens and a sofa bed, we ALWAYS were truthful when we booked the room (online) about how many people would be staying in the room.

I gave that advice and I’ll give my two examples. One time we were staying at a chain hotel near phoenix airport for an early morning flight. They wouldn’t let us check in with the 3 kids who were all under 5 including a cosleeping baby. She made a big deal about it and said they didn’t have any other rooms nor did any of the other airport hotels. I under up saying I would just sleep in the rental car and she could check the rest of the family in. She then caved and said she would check us in but gave me a long lecture. The other time was a Hilton in Honolulu where we were staying for 2-3 nights before moving on to another island where we had a 2 room condo. She also gave me a problem but I can’t really remember how that resolved. I don’t think 90% of the hotel clerks care, but you just never know if you are going to get that one person who is a stickler for rules. I would feel dishonest doing this at a resort where there are activities or food included in the price but at a standard hotel where they are basically renting you two beds in a defined space, it doesn’t seem to me dishonest to apportion that space how you prefer. We generally prefer 2 rooms but sometimes it just doesn’t work out or make sense for whatever reason. At least Hilton now will guarantee connecting rooms which does make life easier.

Ok, well then in your Phoenix example, we just would have stayed in another hotel that DID accommodate all of us. I know you said there were no hotels like that close to the airport--so we would have stayed further from the airport. As far as it took until we had a legit, honest reservation.

As to your Honolulu one--I guess I don't understand why you think you were an exception? Surely you planned this trip to Honolulu? You didn't go to bed in your home in Washington DC and suddenly wake up in Honolulu, and had to figure out a plan?

People like you give "big families" a bad name.

Genuine question. Do you never exceed the speed limit?

Not intentionally. Yes, there are times where I notice I have accidentally gone too fast, and I immediately correct it. Are you insinuating that these families "accidentally" have a kid, and only realize it as they are pulling into the hotel parking lot?

Oh, you're the person going 1 under in the left lane of the interstate.

[Anonymous]

You do realize that hotels have a maximum occupancy for safety reasons. Now of course your one extra kid isn’t a problem but if everyone does that it becomes a problem. I know you are special but this the exact kind of behavior that ruins so many things for the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have three kids who are 7/5/3 and no hotels want to let me book a double queen. It is so annoying because honestly even if we HAD two rooms we'd all sleep in one! Unless they are connected I guess but its not like I'm letting the kids sleep across the hallway alone, and I don't want to split up Dh and I on a vacay.

What do people do? I'm thinking of just booking the one room and smuggling the 3 year old up?

All Hyatt Place hotels have two queens and a pullout. Even with only two kids, my DD and DS are no longer do little that they’ll tolerate the same bed.