You can't possibly be serious that you think you shouldn't have to cover any cost at all, do you? Seriously?? Your kids mess up hotel property because you fail to watch what they are doing, and they should cover the cost? That has to be the single most ridiculous thing I've heard. They are YOUR kids, YOUR responsibility to watch what they do - and if you fail to do that, you are ultimately responsible to compensate for any damage they do to others property. It's the right, moral, and ethical thing to do. You're only a gold as well, so you're hardly an extremely valuable customer to IHG.

Ultimately, the $260 charge does seem high, but there are many instances of hotel linens being fairly more expensive than your average run of the mill ones you'd find at Target, simply because these are meant to last longer due to their constant use. It also depends on what was ruined. If it was most of the bed sheet set (linens, comforter, etc), then I would expect to pay $100 at least.

Bottom line - you SHOULD have to pay, but it's within your right to question that charge and ask the hotel to provide some documentation to justify the extent of the charge. If they are unable to do so, then you do, at that point, have every right to dispute that charge off your credit card (which they will do as the hotel will be unable to provide them with any documentation to back it up), and legally the hotel has very little recourse other than to take you to small claims court to try to prove that they are justified in that charge.