Why do suites allow fewer people than regular room?
Apr 12, 2019, 7:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
Why do suites allow fewer people than regular room?
Self-explanatory question. I'm trying to book a Sheraton for a vacation, and because my husband snores, we normally put him on a sofa bed, while our two year old and I share the bed (or vice versa, just depends). I'm run into the issue that while the queen/queen rooms allow four people, the king/sofabed suites and all regular rooms on the concierge level only allow two (including queen/queen). Is this to discourage children? Or something else?
Apr 12, 2019, 7:56 am
#2
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
It could be from fire codes. I'm guessing each room type has a "fire code" associated with it. Also, suites quite often tend to be mostly King beds rather than 2 queens or doubles.
This isn't just a Marriott "issue". I just booked a stay at a Loews hotel (Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando) for later this year. In looking at options, their standard 2 doubles room (335 sqft) can have 5 persons staying in it, but their Captain's Presidential suite (1340 sqft) says it will hold only 2 persons. And the Loews Portofino Bay Resort has a Governatore Suite (2265 sqft) that only allows 2 guests.
This isn't just a Marriott "issue". I just booked a stay at a Loews hotel (Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando) for later this year. In looking at options, their standard 2 doubles room (335 sqft) can have 5 persons staying in it, but their Captain's Presidential suite (1340 sqft) says it will hold only 2 persons. And the Loews Portofino Bay Resort has a Governatore Suite (2265 sqft) that only allows 2 guests.
Apr 12, 2019, 8:13 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
The strange part is that it has a queen sofabed. Who exactly do they expect to sleep on it? It's frustrating, because we stayed at the same hotel six months ago and didn't notice the restriction (I tend to forget to update the number of guests when I do a search, so I had no idea). No one said a word.
Apr 12, 2019, 8:18 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
I am finding this frustrating too. I have a family of 4 and I have 5 suite night awards expiring this year and I can't seem to use them!
I tried twice traveling with a friend (they didn't go through) and now I'd like to try again a couple of times this summer for a weekend away, but most suites just have a high floor and a king bed! What gives?
I tried twice traveling with a friend (they didn't go through) and now I'd like to try again a couple of times this summer for a weekend away, but most suites just have a high floor and a king bed! What gives?
Apr 12, 2019, 8:21 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
Apr 12, 2019, 9:51 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Apr 12, 2019, 10:11 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
Apr 12, 2019, 10:41 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,468
Apr 12, 2019, 10:44 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,409
It could also be the case that the suite layout doesn't permit a rollaway bed or perhaps the property doesn't want the wear and tear of taking rollaway beds in and out of their specialty suites, or even from just having so many people staying in the suite. Some suites have special furnishings that would be difficult to fix/replace if they were damaged or destroyed.
Apr 12, 2019, 10:52 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
Why don't you call the hotel? I had this issue with a stay at a luxury property last month. None of the king bedrooms had occupancy for more than 2 people. We do not like 2 double beds - it just doesn't work for us. We prefer one bigger bed and a sofa or sofabed or rollaway (all of which were available but the room didn't let us include kids in the booking). Anyway, a quick call and the front desk supervisor noted the reservation with kids and it was not a problem at all. Worst that can happen is they say no.
Apr 12, 2019, 10:55 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
It could also be the case that the suite layout doesn't permit a rollaway bed or perhaps the property doesn't want the wear and tear of taking rollaway beds in and out of their specialty suites, or even from just having so many people staying in the suite. Some suites have special furnishings that would be difficult to fix/replace if they were damaged or destroyed.
Apr 12, 2019, 10:57 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,468