Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
IMO it's downright fraud to book a hotel for fewer people than will actually stay in the room. If OP knows that children will be traveling, it's wrong to deliberately reserve a rooms for less than the actual number of people who will arrive.
Someday one could arrive to a full hotel in an overbooked city where the reserved and assigned room cannot legally allow so many occupants. I don't see why when would want to take such a risk when traveling with children. At best one should be forced to pay the rack rate for the presidential suite or whatever high room category can officially accommodate the entire group.
It's not fraud. If the guest shows up and demands more than what was reserved and expects the rate reserved, THEN there's an issue. I did not read that at all in the OP's post. However, many times my travel plans have changed and people have joined me on a trip at the last minute. Since most sites require a cancel and rebook to change a rez, I won't risk losing my rez if they are fully booked already. Now if I need a larger room or the such then it's up to me to make arrangements. That's why I usually book a room for two from the get go to hedge the bets.
Sounds like the OP has no qualms with making rooms work for his family. And from what I read OP did declare the kids at check-in. So if the FDC did not update the folio properly showing the two kids just like you would expect them to do if your check-out date is different or you wish to add names to the folio for charging.
A friendly chat with the manager should resolve this issue and may educate the property or guest how to make things work right. This is not a clear cut case and I can understand the property not getting it right, but management should be able to correct it.