Why should travelers without children subsidize other people's kids?
Jun 15th, 2009, 05:36 PM
#61
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,965
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HTTY <We're both a long way from Medicare coverage.> nytraveler
Then perhaps you resent those who get a discount on hotels, restaurants, buses, etc. because they are in their "twilight years".
It is often the case that children receive a reduced price or a free service when they are accompanied by an adult.
Tax payers subsidize children's education and, often, their health care. Do you resent that as well?
Are you annoyed that you subsidize children's movie attendance?
PS Since last I wrote I have read your restaurant advice on page 416 of the beautiful new Fodor's guide to New York City. That makes good sense,
HTTY
Then perhaps you resent those who get a discount on hotels, restaurants, buses, etc. because they are in their "twilight years".
It is often the case that children receive a reduced price or a free service when they are accompanied by an adult.
Tax payers subsidize children's education and, often, their health care. Do you resent that as well?
Are you annoyed that you subsidize children's movie attendance?
PS Since last I wrote I have read your restaurant advice on page 416 of the beautiful new Fodor's guide to New York City. That makes good sense,
HTTY
Jun 15th, 2009, 06:03 PM
#62
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are lots of discounts in all walks of life for young people and the older crowd...restaurants, movies tix, teetimes, hotels, sporting events, education, amusement parks, education.....
We subsidize...it's what a civilized society does!!!
And to the OP..get the chip off your shoulder and the drop the haughty attitude.
We subsidize...it's what a civilized society does!!!
And to the OP..get the chip off your shoulder and the drop the haughty attitude.
Jun 16th, 2009, 09:08 AM
#63
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One of the earlier posts indicates that taking kids on vacation is a luxury. Agreed, but it's also a valuable learning experience for them, that I for one could probably not afford if I had to pay for 2 rooms. In a recent trip to DC my DH and my 2 children (10 and 15) all shared a room. My 15 year old was the one telling me to turn the lights out etc whenever we left the room, so probably actually spent less on utilities for the 4 of us than since she is so energy saving conscious. The "extra" cost for the 2 kids is so small - perhaps the cost of washing extra linens and towels (esp since we generally don't use the hotels soap etc) that I have a really hard time understanding the OP's concern about subsidizing me. If I hadn't been able to have the kids in the room with me, we simply would not have taken the trip. So.. an empty room at the hotel, which means they make less money, which means prices go up to maintain profit margins...
Jun 16th, 2009, 09:13 AM
#64
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My two cents...today's children are tomorrow's adults and if their parents can instill in them a love of travel when they are young, they will be the travel industry's customers in the relatively near future.
Jun 18th, 2009, 01:58 PM
#65
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dear OP:
Please consider new or adjusted meds. This thread is preposterous. If you don't want to "subsidize" kids to the tune of maybe $3 out of your pocket per night, go stay at Club Med type places that don't allow them.
I've been subsidizing the oldies for years, but considering what my own parents did for me, I will wish I had such discounts and travel advantages instead of wishing they did not.
Please consider new or adjusted meds. This thread is preposterous. If you don't want to "subsidize" kids to the tune of maybe $3 out of your pocket per night, go stay at Club Med type places that don't allow them.
I've been subsidizing the oldies for years, but considering what my own parents did for me, I will wish I had such discounts and travel advantages instead of wishing they did not.
Jun 18th, 2009, 03:14 PM
#66
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Look I do tour work with groups and I have to tell you that adults are more trouble than the kids. They complain about EVERYTHING even to the point of, in my opinion, making up things.
Let me tell you an old tour director story. There you are at the hotel. There are no more rooms and one couple is loudly complaining about theirs. So, you quietly go to the desk and talk to the management about the problem. Quietly (so no one in the group knows you are doing this), you have them switch the kvetches into your room and you take theirs. Since good tour directors NEVER give their room number to the group and almost always stay away from the group (to enhance the ability to sleep and avoid silly calls), no one is the wiser and the kvetches are happy.
I have had self entitled people complain about EVERYTHING and the adults are much worse than children. So there. I go to the desk with complaints but I am nice about it and explain that (a) this is what they are saying and (b) I am not saying whether it is true or not because I don't know. Kids, by the way, will complain that maids are stealing their clothes (valuable items such as "hoodies"). The "valuable items" are certainly not appropriated by the maides. They are taken by other kids in the group--and/or mislaid by the complainers themselves. Unbelievable!
It all boils down to who is polite and who is not. It is not families staying in the hotel with me that I mind at all. It is people with bad manners--some of whom have posted on this thread. It doesn't matter what age they are. If a chain has a group of school kids staying at a hotel while I am there and it is not work, for the record, I'd rather stay somewhere else. Kids staying with parents have never been a problem for me.
Insofar as prices for hotels are concerned, it is all in the business model. If they do not need family business, they do not have to entice it with "kids stay free" promotions. If everyone is staying in the same room, I don't see the issue. What do the families use? A few extra towels? Give me a break. In any event, I don't go around comparing what others paid for a room. I worry about what I have to pay and that's that.
Let me tell you an old tour director story. There you are at the hotel. There are no more rooms and one couple is loudly complaining about theirs. So, you quietly go to the desk and talk to the management about the problem. Quietly (so no one in the group knows you are doing this), you have them switch the kvetches into your room and you take theirs. Since good tour directors NEVER give their room number to the group and almost always stay away from the group (to enhance the ability to sleep and avoid silly calls), no one is the wiser and the kvetches are happy.
I have had self entitled people complain about EVERYTHING and the adults are much worse than children. So there. I go to the desk with complaints but I am nice about it and explain that (a) this is what they are saying and (b) I am not saying whether it is true or not because I don't know. Kids, by the way, will complain that maids are stealing their clothes (valuable items such as "hoodies"). The "valuable items" are certainly not appropriated by the maides. They are taken by other kids in the group--and/or mislaid by the complainers themselves. Unbelievable!
It all boils down to who is polite and who is not. It is not families staying in the hotel with me that I mind at all. It is people with bad manners--some of whom have posted on this thread. It doesn't matter what age they are. If a chain has a group of school kids staying at a hotel while I am there and it is not work, for the record, I'd rather stay somewhere else. Kids staying with parents have never been a problem for me.
Insofar as prices for hotels are concerned, it is all in the business model. If they do not need family business, they do not have to entice it with "kids stay free" promotions. If everyone is staying in the same room, I don't see the issue. What do the families use? A few extra towels? Give me a break. In any event, I don't go around comparing what others paid for a room. I worry about what I have to pay and that's that.
Jun 18th, 2009, 04:19 PM
#67
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you also get upset by people who take more baths, use more towels, visit the ice machine more than once, eat lots at the breakfast bar, etc., all things that could make your stay cost more.
I would just rather enjoy my trip and not worry about others.
I would just rather enjoy my trip and not worry about others.
Jun 18th, 2009, 06:32 PM
#68
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nytraveler--If that's how you feel, then please boycott any hotel that offers a free stay for children. I won't have to worry about running into you.
As a parent, I don't "expect" anyone to subsidize my child's stay. But if the stay if FREE for children, I'm certainly not going to volunteer to pay for them.
*eyeroll*
As a parent, I don't "expect" anyone to subsidize my child's stay. But if the stay if FREE for children, I'm certainly not going to volunteer to pay for them.
*eyeroll*
Jun 18th, 2009, 07:34 PM
#69
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 793
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
charsuzan, I could not agree with you more. You take your trip and I take my trip and we both mind our own business and we both have a great time.
My next trip is going to be a home exchange in Finland. Since I travel mostly with home exchanges, I don't worry about staying in hotels much on vacation. I stay free!
My next trip is going to be a home exchange in Finland. Since I travel mostly with home exchanges, I don't worry about staying in hotels much on vacation. I stay free!
Jun 21st, 2009, 12:37 AM
#72
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Um. I travel with kids. A lot. I guess I never really thanked everyone else who travels for helping to pay for their uh, soap (God, I wish they used soap....) and for waiting that extra few seconds while my kid "pushed the button" on the elevator. Sometimes staying home might be better if you are at all "prickly" about stuff, you know?
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Rosanne
United States
13
Sep 18th, 2002 06:47 PM
