Two adults, two kids in European Marriott?
#16
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a good point. Fortunately many, if not all, SPG properties have a policy that two children under 12 are free in the room with existing bedding if allowed by the occupancy rules, so it often works out. But when you contact the property, they’ll let you know their specific policy regarding children.
Make a reservation for 2 and follow up with an email to property. Let them know if extra beds are needed - we use airbed for kids and it almost always worked out well.
#17
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
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Again, while that might work in the US, it will not work in places like France and Italy where the laws prohibit extra people in the room, which often includes children over the age of two. An airbed will not be allowed in those locations, nor will there be space to set it up. Nor should you want to put your children in a room where the laws are often established because there is a safety reason for not having additional people in a room. Not only do you have the safety concern, but do you really want to send a message to your children that they shouldn't follow safety standards or laws?
#18
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Again, while that might work in the US, it will not work in places like France and Italy where the laws prohibit extra people in the room, which often includes children over the age of two. An airbed will not be allowed in those locations, nor will there be space to set it up. Nor should you want to put your children in a room where the laws are often established because there is a safety reason for not having additional people in a room. Not only do you have the safety concern, but do you really want to send a message to your children that they shouldn't follow safety standards or laws?
In most cases in our experience the problem is reservations system IT that is not particularly flexible for example to differentiate 4 yr kid from 16 yo. Lets leave this up to hotel to decide.
#19
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,461
I really wish I had bookmarked the story I read years ago. I can't recall if it was on here or maybe TripAdvisor.
Anyway the entire rant was some person who assumed what posters on here keep saying "They will look the other way" and showed up at the Courtyard in Paris with kids only to be told "NO" Lots of screaming apparently, calls to Marriott with "DYKWIA" announcements etc.... and they wound up paying an inordinate amount to upgrade> Marriott pointed out "you booked a room for two and showed up with 4, we did nothing wrong"
And one of the points the storyteller kept screaming about is that they were LITTLE kids so they could sleep in his bed. Hotel said NO!
Don't risk it!
Anyway the entire rant was some person who assumed what posters on here keep saying "They will look the other way" and showed up at the Courtyard in Paris with kids only to be told "NO" Lots of screaming apparently, calls to Marriott with "DYKWIA" announcements etc.... and they wound up paying an inordinate amount to upgrade> Marriott pointed out "you booked a room for two and showed up with 4, we did nothing wrong"
And one of the points the storyteller kept screaming about is that they were LITTLE kids so they could sleep in his bed. Hotel said NO!
Don't risk it!
#20
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
Doing a search on the Marriott site for four guests when you have two adults and two kids will yield an appropriate room. Doing a search for two and emailing/calling the hotel may work, as long as you get a response from the hotel. Doing a search for two and just showing up thinking the hotel will look the other way at kids or make an adjustment on the spot is setting yourself up for disaster. The hotel will not, cannot and doesn't have to make an adjustment to accommodate the two extra guests, even if those guests are kids.
#21
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We’ve done this many times, you just book the room for two adults, and show up with two small children. The key is that the children are small. And it’s not a problem. Or you don’t have all the kids with you when you check in at the front desk and you and your wife check in separately. It’s an absurd notion that you’d have to get two rooms with two small children, so there are many ways around this.
I'd do some research before assuming you can get extra people into a room.
#22
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We’ve done this many times, you just book the room for two adults, and show up with two small children. The key is that the children are small. And it’s not a problem. Or you don’t have all the kids with you when you check in at the front desk and you and your wife check in separately. It’s an absurd notion that you’d have to get two rooms with two small children, so there are many ways around this.
#23
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I've stayed in a lot of European hotel rooms that were max 2 and there would have literally been nowhere for the two kids to sleep. 2 twins, a little room to walk between them, a few square feet to place your bags, and that's it. Even if you had sleeping bags, you'd be placing the bags right where you'd walk to get to the toilet.
I'd do some research before assuming you can get extra people into a room.
I'd do some research before assuming you can get extra people into a room.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DCA
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Posts: 1,366
I really wish I had bookmarked the story I read years ago. I can't recall if it was on here or maybe TripAdvisor.
Anyway the entire rant was some person who assumed what posters on here keep saying "They will look the other way" and showed up at the Courtyard in Paris with kids only to be told "NO"
Lots of screaming apparently, calls to Marriott with "DYKWIA" announcements etc.... and they wound up paying an inordinate amount to upgrade> Marriott pointed out "you booked a room for two and showed up with 4, we did nothing wrong"
And one of the points the storyteller kept screaming about is that they were LITTLE kids so they could sleep in his bed. Hotel said NO!
Don't risk it!
Anyway the entire rant was some person who assumed what posters on here keep saying "They will look the other way" and showed up at the Courtyard in Paris with kids only to be told "NO"
Lots of screaming apparently, calls to Marriott with "DYKWIA" announcements etc.... and they wound up paying an inordinate amount to upgrade> Marriott pointed out "you booked a room for two and showed up with 4, we did nothing wrong"
And one of the points the storyteller kept screaming about is that they were LITTLE kids so they could sleep in his bed. Hotel said NO!
Don't risk it!
#25
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
We’ve done this many times, you just book the room for two adults, and show up with two small children. The key is that the children are small. And it’s not a problem. Or you don’t have all the kids with you when you check in at the front desk and you and your wife check in separately. It’s an absurd notion that you’d have to get two rooms with two small children, so there are many ways around this.
#26
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,909
It is very amusing to see strong opinions from folks who i suspect never traveled with kids but who firmly believe they know what others should do...
having stayed with kids at numerous hotels that could not be booked for 2+2 i respectfully disagree with those statements and urge anyone in similar situation to contact individual properties after initial booking...
having stayed with kids at numerous hotels that could not be booked for 2+2 i respectfully disagree with those statements and urge anyone in similar situation to contact individual properties after initial booking...
Last edited by azepine00; Nov 13, 2017 at 7:40 pm
#27
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
I've traveled to Paris and elsewhere in Europe. With children. Often posted about it at the time. In two rooms where necessary. I've had people call me from the front desk when they were denied entry with their children. I've been in the small rooms with one bed and know there is no room for air mattresses on the floor. I respect the local hotel rules and laws and wouldn't sneak people into the room and cannot believe anyone would advocate doing that.
#28
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: AC SE, Marriott Platinum Lifetime, Hilton Diamond, Priority Club Platinum,
Posts: 161
A decade ago I chose Marriott over Hilton in no small part due to the increased availability of hotels which accepted two adults and two kids. I have had platinum status for most of this period. I research hotels with two double beds (true doubles, not twin beds). If the hotel website does not allow me to enter 4 guests in the reservation, I will call Marriott customer service and ask them to contact the hotel front desk to see if they will accept two kids and two adults in one standard room. Over the years we have stayed at Marriott brands (on points) in London, Swindon, Bexleyheath (don't do it), Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, and Vienna. I was not able to get hotels anywhere in Italy, France and the rest of Germany this way.
Outside of Europe we have booked 4 in a room on points with Marriott in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Beijing, Sydney, Brisbane, Costa Rica, Dubai and Hawaii.
I realize four in a room isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it allowed us to travel many places as a family we never otherwise would have gone to.
Outside of Europe we have booked 4 in a room on points with Marriott in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Beijing, Sydney, Brisbane, Costa Rica, Dubai and Hawaii.
I realize four in a room isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it allowed us to travel many places as a family we never otherwise would have gone to.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AA EP; HH Diamond; Marriott Plat; IHG Plat; National EE
Posts: 342
There are some reasonable points and cash rates (e.g. standard award plus 60 EUR/night) in some cities around Europe for rooms that will fit four, although in most cases hotels only have suites that can fit four so the cash portion is very high.
Given that European locations are more likely to provide status upgrades than the US, the advice to email management for what they can arrange is good. Might be tough at peak times, but May is shoulder season in some areas so it is more likely.
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 38
This is all very helpful. I have absolutely no plans to just show up, which is why I'm planning six months out and asking on forums what the recommendations are. We also have no desire to attempt to skirt policies, nor do we want to stay in the typical matchbox sized European room. As you know, with kids, there needs to be at least a little bit of room to roam.
We would love to go to Italy, but we may look at Airbnb and apartments instead of hotels, though that removes the opportunity to use a whole bunch of hotel points that we haven't had a chance at yet.
Since we haven't decided on a specific location, the successful experienced mentioned on specific properties are extremely helpful. No point in me calling up every Italian and German hotel if none of them are going to allow for an option at all--so I appreciate the notes on those countries.
It sounds as though SPG might be a better way to go than Marriott, at least with what we're trying to do.
We would love to go to Italy, but we may look at Airbnb and apartments instead of hotels, though that removes the opportunity to use a whole bunch of hotel points that we haven't had a chance at yet.
Since we haven't decided on a specific location, the successful experienced mentioned on specific properties are extremely helpful. No point in me calling up every Italian and German hotel if none of them are going to allow for an option at all--so I appreciate the notes on those countries.
It sounds as though SPG might be a better way to go than Marriott, at least with what we're trying to do.