I am planning a trip next summer with my husband and two teenage kids. We have another family with us with their one teen. Are there any comfortable and convenient properties that will allow either 3 or 4 people in a room? I can't imagine burning through our whole budget using 4 double rooms each night...
Any hotels in Britain would be of interest because we are spending 2 weeks in the area. Thank you!! Babs

I have recently been researching accomodations in Bath, York and the Lake District. Many of the B&B's and smaller hotels show family rooms available. However, I think many on this board would recommend that you look for a self catering property or an apartment. Most of these rent on a weekly basis though.

Babs,

It would help if you could narrow down the area(s) in Britain that you will be visiting.

In London, for example, there are hotels that have quad rooms...many tend to be tourist-class establishments outside the very central core of the city.

There are also a few "American-style" hotels that allow adults and children to stay in the same room (Holiday Inn Mayfair is one example).

I also second the opinion that you look into renting an apartment ("letting a flat" in Britspeak) in London, or other cities. In the countryside, if you are going to stay in one location for a week, a holiday cottage may be what you need. Search for "apartments" on this message board for more info, or send me an email.

Dave White
[email protected]

We found good, clean, comfortable family rooms for 3 or more at the Victoria Spa Lodge in Stratford-upon-Avon and at the Sudeley Gardens Hotel in Bath. Despite their names, both are B&Bs. Both places offer standard huge traditional English breafasts with healthy stuff on the side, ensuite baths, free onsite parking, and quiet scenic locations a few minutes' walk from the town center.

Many B&Bs all over the UK have triple and family rooms. they are very common. Fewer have quads but they do exist.

In London renting a three bedroom flat would be a lot cheaper than booking multiple hotel rooms.

depending on what/where you plan, renting a holiday cottage also would be good option.

London flats are often available as nightly rentals, but cottages generally rent for full weeks except during the off season.

Bur a 3 or 4 bedroom cottage in a tourist area would give you a LOT more space, a garden, a washer/dryer, and be cheaper than many B&Bs. Plus there is no packing and moving to a new B&B every day or so.

And staying in one place for 7 days is not as limiting as it might seem. For example - a cottage in the Cotswolds would work as a base for Bath, Oxford, Warwick, Stratford, S. Wales and all the Cotswolds villages.

Or one near Stirling would work as a base for seeing Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oban, Glen coe, Perth, the Trossachs, St Andrews and a hundred other places.

So after you have an idea what area(s) you want to visit we can help you locate places . . . .

We are staying at the Thistle Victoria in a family room next week. I'll tell how it works out when we get back.The location seems very convenient.
We will be renting a flat in Oban on the sea.
You should have so much fun planning your trip. Years ago we would go to the bookstore and buy loads of books before every place that was new to us.Only buy half as many books now. We relied heavily on Karen Brown's B&B Guides. Now I wouldn't book a reservation without seeing pictures of the rooms.
This board is such a bounty of experience and knowledge, I feel like I would be selfish if I didn't share after a vacation since it will have been enhanced by the input of these other travelers.
Bon Chance,
emily

I will also be in Scotland next summer for about 4 days with 4 kids. While I've seen various sites for London rentals, I would appreciate input for a base to explore Glasgow, Loch Lomand, Stirling and Loch Ness from.

There is a post about a $520/night family room (it's 2 connecting rooms with 2 bathrooms) special at the 5* Browns hotel. Personally that is alot of money for me to spend on a hotel room but I guess the rate's relative to the hotel being a 5* hotel. I can't afford that rate but if you can it seems really good. It does work out to be $260/room/night.

Taxman, someone at Fodor's recommended www.aberfeldycottages.co.uk/. They look great and they are in a pretty central location. However, I do believe most of them are weekly rentals, but it couldn't hurt to check them out. I'm sure there are many others also. Have you tried doing a search on google.com for Scotland Self Catering. I came up with many websites this way.

We took our two kids to London two summers ago and we stayed in the following hotels/B&B with quad rooms:

1. Dorian House - Bath - 1 room, 1 double bed, 2 twins. Small B&B
2. Comfort Inn Hyde Park - London - 3 bedroom aparmtent with kitchen and 1 bath.
3. Four Seasons Hotel - York - 1 room, 1 double bed, 2 twins, small B&B.
4. Castle View Guest House - Edinburgh - 1 room, 1 double bed, 2 twins, small B&B.
5. Thistle Marble Arch - requested quad room but received 2 adjoining rooms, 1 with king bed and 1 with 2 twins.

We would stay at any of these places again. If you do a search on these hotels/B&B's on this board you'll see my more detailed comments on each.

Have a blast with the kids. Great Britain is the best.

Fletcher--

Harrington Hall in Kensington ( London) does have triples and quads...Rates are very reasonable, incl. bkfst and taxes..

Sis stayed there over Xmas with 4 kids in one room and she and hubs in other...said hotel was super nice, great area, close to EVERYTHING or close to transportation to everything..Safe,clean and great staff..

I stayed in quad rooms in Stratford and London. Ask for 'Family Rooms' which is usually a double and two twin beds.

Check the info on the tourist office site

We had an unusual group of 4 single people (2 male, 2 female) traveling together so had difficulty finding places but with some research found wonderful B&B's and flats.

We enjoyed our apartments for more space and a kitchen, it really helps to eat in for breakfast and other meals occasionally.

There are lots of holiday rentals out there just look on the web.

We just spent 4 nights in London with two teenagers, a boy and a girl and we had a large quad room with a king size bed and two twins at the Euston Plaza Hotel. It's just been remodeled and the room rate included a nice breakfast. It was super convenient, only one block away from Euston Station.

Do not stay at the Kensington Park Apartments whatever you do. They are a scam! We had a nice stay at the Holiday Inn in Kensington on Cromwell Rd. Executive Quad Room was two double beds with a large/clean bathroom. Great location and very accommodating staff!

The Park International Hotel, 117 Cromwell Road South Kensington have triple and Quad rooms. Fridge, AC, Safe, en-suite bathroom etc and it's cheap!
Its about 200 metres from Gloucester Rd Tube Station. You can reach this tube station direct from Heathrow Airport.
I've booked this place for my daughter and I as it is very convenient...another plus for families is that there is a coin operated laundrette in Gloucester Road, which not far from the hotel.