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Becky J
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| Posted: July 13 2012 at 5:29pm | IP Logged
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I have spent the afternoon trying to make lodging reservations for a road trip my family plans to take in a few weeks. We are a relatively small family -- 2 adults, 3 young kids. I was getting extremely frustrated trying to find a place of lodging that will allow us to stay together in one room! Most hotels seem to only allow 2 adults, 2 kids in a standard-size room. If you are honest and say you have 3 kids, you aren't allowed to book a standard-size room.
I didn't want to lie and click on "2 kids" when making the reservation when I really have 3. I finally did manage to book some accommodations, but only closer to $200/night, when we could have stayed at places closer to $100/night if I'd lied about the number of kids we have.
Has anyone else who has a "medium-sized" family faced this dilemma?
Thanks for any feedback on what your family does to handle this roadblock to taking an affordable vacation!
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: July 13 2012 at 5:37pm | IP Logged
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The online reservation sites are impossible with more than average #. Call and talk to a real person. Yes they have to follow fire regulations but on the phone is much more flexible than the online sites. when I must make a reservation online. We use a place "kids stay free" and don't input any # for the # of kids. (eta we do tell them we have the kids just don't input the # for the reservation)
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 13 2012 at 5:38pm | IP Logged
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Hampton Inn has been great to work with. We can usually get a suite and they will let our family of 6 stay together in the larger room.
Another option is to get adjoining rooms. That's been a nice option for us, too, at times.
Yes. It is more expensive with either of these options. We usually balance the cost by eating in the room for at least 2 of the 3 meals of the day. That easily offsets the extra cost of the room.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 13 2012 at 5:38pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
| The online reservation sites are impossible with more than average #. Call and talk to a real person. Yes they have to follow fire regulations but on the phone is much more flexible than the online sites.. |
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I have found this to be true as well.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: July 13 2012 at 6:16pm | IP Logged
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We've always used Priceline, and they don't ask the number of people, only the number of rooms. The trick is you don't get to ask for the number of beds until you check in, and sometimes, they don't have two queens available. My husband usually goes to check in while we wait in the car, mostly because it is a pain to wait in the lobby with crazy kids, and I don't think they've ever asked the number of children.
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Lindsay
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: July 13 2012 at 6:20pm | IP Logged
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The last two times we stayed overnight somewhere, we rented a house. It was cheaper than paying for two hotel rooms, even when considering the cleaning fee they usually charge. We vowed we would never stay in a hotel with kids again if a rental house were an option--it was so nice to have the kitchen and yard! Obviously this only helps if (1) you're staying in a "destination city" where there are vacation homes for rent, and (2) you'll be there more than one night, since they usually have a minimum stay requirement (though this is definitely negotiable). Just wanted to throw the option out there!
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Aagot
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| Posted: July 13 2012 at 10:21pm | IP Logged
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I have been told (by every single reservation person that I bothered to call) to "lie". Real people understand that 3 kids can sleep together or that one sleeps with the parents, or that you can push two chairs together for the smallest one, computers don't get it.
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stacykay
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| Posted: July 14 2012 at 9:52am | IP Logged
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When we had fewer children, we just didn't mention the extra one.  Then we found Comfort Suites, with rooms that can fit 5-6 people.
Now, with the ages and sizes of our boys, we are back to two rooms, that sleep four, each, that is, when the oldest are free to "travel" with us. But we really haven't done a big family vacation in years, ...but that is another story!
Good luck in your travels!
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Motel reservations
