This is why I say no to house shares (happy to meet up at a resort instead). People have different ideas about what is fair, how to divide cost, how to allocate bedrooms, etc. so it’s easier for each family or individual to get their own room(s) and meet up for meals and activities and that way nobody feels like they are subsidizing anybody else’s vacation.

Anonymous wrote:We go on a vacation like this once a year with another family and our two single friends. We split the cost by person but the two kids are just included in the count with the parents. So our total is split 6 ways.

So it's more so split by # of adults?

We go on a vacation like this once a year with another family and our two single friends. We split the cost by person but the two kids are just included in the count with the parents. So our total is split 6 ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per person is the fairest

How? If my family of five is crammed into one bedroom and my sister-in-law is alone in a similar sized bedroom, why am I paying four to five times as much?

We always pay for or bring more food because we do use more of that.

Because it's not just about sleeping arrangements, it's about occupying space in the rest of the house.

The fact that you think your family of 5, which is going to take over the whole damn house, should only pay double what your single SIL pays really speaks volumes. I guarantee that she's love to be doing something different for her vacation than spending it in a rental house with you. Don't try to squeeze her for more money for the "privilege" of vacationing with you.

Split by person is the fairest in my opinion. This covers everyone equally for use of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, etc…

We take a trip with several other families and split by person. We end up paying 40% of the cost (but aren’t using 40% of the bedrooms) because we have 4 kids. We think that’s fair.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The single person shouldn’t subsidize the big family’s vacation.

This! Once, like a decade or so ago, I was invited by my two best friends who were going on a trip to Wisconsin Dells. They both had one child at the time and their husbands, while I was single at the time. They got an airBNB and wanted to split it by family. I noped out of that trip so fast. Plus, I was assigned the pull out sofa bed in the living room, while each husband and wife got a bedroom, kids got the other room, and I was asked to pay 1/3 of the cost, when I didn't even get a room.

NO, the kids go in the parents room, you pay less for your room as you are one and they are 3+. Or, if the parents want the kids in a room they stay on the couch.

Anonymous wrote:By bedroom but families chip in some extra

This, and those with nicer bedrooms pay more, those with more people pay more. Why should someone bring 4 people pay the same as one person? The 4 person family who has two rooms will get the two nicer rooms over the single person so single person should pay much less.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The single person shouldn’t subsidize the big family’s vacation.

This! Once, like a decade or so ago, I was invited by my two best friends who were going on a trip to Wisconsin Dells. They both had one child at the time and their husbands, while I was single at the time. They got an airBNB and wanted to split it by family. I noped out of that trip so fast. Plus, I was assigned the pull out sofa bed in the living room, while each husband and wife got a bedroom, kids got the other room, and I was asked to pay 1/3 of the cost, when I didn't even get a room.

That’s terrible!

I don’t split rentals with other people, for this and many other reasons. Too fraught. Either someone pays for the whole thing (aka grandparents) or we each get our own hotel room.

Anonymous wrote:Split cost of the house by bedroom, and cost of groceries per person.

In my experience the person who does the legwork/books the house and pays the deposit gets the best bedroom, and only pays more if it's substantially nicer than the others (so yes, if it's a king bedroom with ensuite bath and private balcony overlooking the ocean, they pay more than the family with bunk beds and shared hallway bath).

Substantially more, not just a token amount.

Anonymous wrote:The single person shouldn’t subsidize the big family’s vacation.

This! Once, like a decade or so ago, I was invited by my two best friends who were going on a trip to Wisconsin Dells. They both had one child at the time and their husbands, while I was single at the time. They got an airBNB and wanted to split it by family. I noped out of that trip so fast. Plus, I was assigned the pull out sofa bed in the living room, while each husband and wife got a bedroom, kids got the other room, and I was asked to pay 1/3 of the cost, when I didn't even get a room.

Split cost of the house by bedroom, and cost of groceries per person.

In my experience the person who does the legwork/books the house and pays the deposit gets the best bedroom, and only pays more if it's substantially nicer than the others (so yes, if it's a king bedroom with ensuite bath and private balcony overlooking the ocean, they pay more than the family with bunk beds and shared hallway bath).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The single person shouldn’t subsidize the big family’s vacation.

Nobody has suggested that or would suggest that.

You must be new to Dcumlandia. Go read the countless threads. Circle back after you’ve found the one about bacon.

The reality is if I were the single traveling with a family of four, I’d probably prefer having the best room with the fancy bathroom and a balcony overlooking the ocean. I’d even pay more—particularly since most families prorate at a token amount. So if you are relegating me to tiny room by the kitchen overlooking the driveway, then only charge me a token amount.

Trust me: whatever you think is fair won’t feel fair to the single.

Fwiw, when we’ve had a single friend or relative join us, we don’t ask for money. We cover the house, and they usually do something nice as a thank you (pick up pastries, pick up the check at dinner).

If you are committed to charging everyone, start by acknowledging that the best room is worth 50% of the total rental.

Agree per bedroom is the fairest, with adjustments made for size/view/whether there is an en suite bathroom.