HELP - 5 people in a 4 person room
 

We have a room booked at the Holiday Inn that has 2 double beds and a roll away. We told them 5 people. The confirmation says 4. When we called about the error, they said only 4 people to a room so now we need 2 rooms! Double our cost! Any ideas on what to do? They said we could have the roll away still. Do we sneak a kid in? We are 3 weeks away! Help!!!

Unless you plan to sneak past the front desk every single time you go in and out, reception is fairly likely going to notice you are a family of 5, not 4.

They already know you are five people, and have sted their policy that there is a maximum of four people in a room. However, a single room or a double, in addition to a quad, should not *double* your room cost.

Seems to me your alternative at this point is to book different, cheaper accomomdations (in Rome, right?) You received some good ideas on this thread:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34795668

Where in Europe is this hotel dean?
Can you find another hotel room that will allow 5 people (I am assuming two adults and 3 children/teens) and consequently cancel the reservation with the Holiday Inn. I agree with suze regarding trying to sneak one extra kid in and out of the room all of the time. What a shame..you told them 5 people and they confirm the reservation evidently but only for 4 people. I would immediately start researching other hotels in the area..wherever that may be. Best wishes.

The hotel is in Rome. We will be there for 2 nights and then leave for 3 nights and then back again for 6 nights. Sneaking in and out and using the shuttle bus isn't going to work. In looking around today for rooms everything seems to be booked or way out of budget.

Is this the Holiday Inn sort of close to the airport? I am wondering as you mentioned a shuttle bus.

Yes, by the airport.

Hi dean,

Find out the cost of a double and a triple.

You might be able to get 2 doubles with a connecting door and a roll away bed.

How old are the kids?

((I))

twins age 12 and an 8 year old.

Europe is very different from the US regarding how many they will allow in a room.

Do you have any idea how many teens are packed in a room in Ocean City Maryland over Senior Week? that would never be allowed in Europe.

I once made the mistake of having my son and daughter in a Paris hotel room for half of a night with me without changing to a bigger room. The front desk questioned one of my sisters traveling with me as to how many people actually were in the room with me. I thought they might come pounding on my door in the middle of the night ;;)

I would recommend getting enough beds for each person in your family. Deborah

Do you really want to have 5 people and only one bathroom?

How about an apartment for the six-night stretch?

Frankly I cannot even imagine 5 people in one room ... and one bathroom ... Like another poster said, look into an apartment, with that many people you need one (or 2 hotel rooms). I understand trying to save money, but if you are spending a fortune going to Rome (and I am sure it is big bucks) why not get 2 rooms. I'd even go for a 2 or 3 Star hotel to lower costs if it meant two bathrooms !!! Think about it.

This post gives me flashback nightmares of growing up and on the road to Florida -- always staying in one room motels -- all 5 of us. It's a miracle I ever wanted to travel again. Yea, that single bathroom was the worst -- especially since Dad always wanted to be on the road no later than 6:30 to beat the traffic. Sigh.

Hi D,

Maybe the hotel will make an exception for your 7 (not 8) year old.

((I))

PS,

For your 6 night stay, try to get an apartment in Rome.

See http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34792021

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34800428

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34795668

((I))


((I))

Do I have this right - you are staying 8 nights (2 nts and 6 nts later on) in one hotel room for the five of you - <u>near the airport</u>??

It doesn't make ANY sense to me to stay at the airport for 8 nights. or even 2 nights unless absolutely necessary. I'd book a 2nd room at the HI for the first 2 nights and then find a centrally located apartment for the other six nights. A LOT more space and probably cheaper.

I can only think of two possible reasons to stay at the Holiday Inn near the airport for that length of time.
A) it's right next door to your relatives you're planning to visit with most of the time
B) the room is free because one of you works for Holiday Inn.

If neither of these are the case, I strongly urge you to rethink this whole thing. Why do you want to stay near the airport? Why a Holiday Inn?

Trust me, they notice. It's different there. I had three in a two room and two of the hotels forced me to upgrade to a suite. A completely unexpected expense. In the US, they really don't care, but over there you better plan on it.

Hi dean, I just got back home and saw your answer.

Is there a good reason why you have reserved a room at the Holiday Inn by the Rome Airport?