Anonymous wrote:We have been planning a family trip to Europe for some time now. When we told our in-laws, they asked if they could come along for the first part of the trip. I'm happy to have them come along. The challenge is with the hotels. We have been collecting points, and plan to stay at a hotel where we can use our points. My in-laws have stated that the hotel choices exceed their budget. They have offered up a couple of more modest hotels, but it then exceeds our budget if we are paying instead of using points (and, in a couple of hotels, we would need two hotel rooms, b/c of max room capacity). On the one hand, I understand that that it isn't fair to ask them to pay for a hotel that is more than they want to spend; on the other hand, I don't think it is fair to ask us to pay for a hotel when we weren't planning on it. But, these are grandparents, and this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. Should we stay in different hotels? Or should we suck it up and pay for a hotel within their budget, even if it means that we are cutting our trip a couple of days short or otherwise figure out how to keep costs down. We also have thought about scrapping the hotel all together and getting an apt, but that might be too much family togetherness for me

You can share your freebie. Have them stay at the same hotel and you pay half of their cost- or you can make up the difference between the hotel they found and the one in which you are staying. I don't think it fair to say- Hey- we are getting free nights lodging and you have to pay your way. Share it all.

So, can we look forward to rants later about the presumptuous things your in-laws did while on your vacation into which they inserted themselves?

Stay in different hotels. If that is completely unacceptable then suggest a different hotel in your price range. Tell them why. They did the same thing to you.

You mention hotels. Will you be traveling to different hotels? If do, maybe stay together once or twice? Otherwise, for the bulk of your vacation, I'd stick with your plans.

Just find a cheaper hotel that you both can be happy at.
I agree that two different hotels would be bothersome in the sense that you are going to waist away your vacation waiting for them to catch train and plan transportation to get to them and them home.

Did you explain the reason for your hotel choice? Id hope they wouldn't begrudge you wanting to also stick to a budget. (Unless you are the type that doesn't want to admit you are using points)

Different hotels. This is your vacation they tagged into. It shouldn't increase your costs.

Ideally, you should stay at the same hotel but if their hotel were within easy reach, it really does not matter.

It is not as if you will be seeing a lot of each other after you both check into your respective rooms.

What if you covered the difference for them to stay at your hotel? Probably cheaper for shelling out to stay at the cheaper place. I think you should make an effort to stay at the same hotel. It'll be compilcated to coordinate outings with two separate locations and kind defeats the purpose of a family vacation.

Agree to get separate hotels. And as PP said, it might even work out better for everyone with more flexibility.

Yes, just stay in hotels close to each other. The points is cheapest for you, their choices are cheaper for them. Win win.

I'm sure they can find a hotel no more than a few blocks away (walking distance) that's within their budget.

Don't cut your trip short just so you can stay in the same hotel! You decide what fits your budget and they can decide theirs. If they can get a hotel close by it won't be that big of a deal.

Since you had already begun planning your trip including location, hotels, budget, etc I would plan on staying in separate hotels. They invited themselves and if it makes it difficult for you budget, I don't think it's rude of you to let them know your reasoning and continue planning as is.
I would check at some of the hotels that they are considering and consider the logistics depending on your trip plans (how will you meet up in the morning? Are you planning on coming back for naps and meet back up for dinner? etc?) just to make sure there is an easy and convenient way for the two of you to meet up. I am sure they can find hotels in their price range convenient to the hotels with your points. Let them know "your X hotel is located just one block from where we are staying"
I'm assuming they are young enough to be mobile enough and don't need assistance in getting around? It might be nice for both of you to have separate hotels. They might want to do some site seeing while you come back for naps or maybe they want to stay out for a late dinner while you are handling bedtime. It gives you a little more flexibility if you want to do things without one another. Personally, my in laws are over bearing so I would love separate hotels so we can have a little more space because we would have to eat, sleep and pee together every day of the trip.

We have been planning a family trip to Europe for some time now. When we told our in-laws, they asked if they could come along for the first part of the trip. I'm happy to have them come along. The challenge is with the hotels. We have been collecting points, and plan to stay at a hotel where we can use our points. My in-laws have stated that the hotel choices exceed their budget. They have offered up a couple of more modest hotels, but it then exceeds our budget if we are paying instead of using points (and, in a couple of hotels, we would need two hotel rooms, b/c of max room capacity). On the one hand, I understand that that it isn't fair to ask them to pay for a hotel that is more than they want to spend; on the other hand, I don't think it is fair to ask us to pay for a hotel when we weren't planning on it. But, these are grandparents, and this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. Should we stay in different hotels? Or should we suck it up and pay for a hotel within their budget, even if it means that we are cutting our trip a couple of days short or otherwise figure out how to keep costs down. We also have thought about scrapping the hotel all together and getting an apt, but that might be too much family togetherness for me