Maximum Occupancy: 4, means for free?
 

Rate rules for some rooms at hotels in Vancouver read Maximum Occupancy: 4 but, when I select 4 people per room, bookings show an "Extra adult charge (children may be exempted)" for 2 people. This never happened to me before at any Marriott hotel.

In my case the additional passengers are a 14 yo boy and a child. Questions are: Should I book 2 people per room to avoid having the surcharge already in my booking and show up with the kids? Should I book 4 people and negotiate at check-in time? At which age Marriott considers you an adult?

It's a complicated issue, but maximum occupancy is the total number of people in the room. Infants, newborns, children, and teenagers all count towards the maximum occupancy, regardless of age or size.

As for extra person charges, most hotels do not levy them on guests of a certain age (which varies by location unfortunately). I would think 14 would be considered a child, but the hotel front desk can tell you for sure. The exceptions may be resorts or certain packages (like all-inclusive packages).

The proper reservation proceedure would be to select four guests for the room. If you want, you can put in a note on step five of six that says the third and fourth guests are under 14 years of age.

I could give you my best guess, but it would just be a guess. If you want to find out the real answer, give Marriott Reservations or the hotel itself a call and ask them. They should be able to give you a definitive answer.

IE's answer is correct, it is the maximum number of people allowed by local code, has nothing to do with the cost of the room, nor does it have anything to do with the cost for extra adults in the room

I've seen this as well when paying, but when we look at a room using Marriott points, I haven't seen a 3rd person fee (even if we put Occupancy: 4)

If more Marriott hotels begin to charge for the third and fourth adult in a room, they should clarify at which age they consider you an adult. Besides, they should copy other reservation sites in which you type the age of the other 2 passengers so you get an accurate quotation in your booking. I don't feel comfortable getting a booking for 4 people with 2 x $50 surcharges already showing in it. I need to have the certainty of which my cost will be well before check-in to compare against other options, Marriott or else.

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Did you check the Rate Rules for various options at the hotel of your choice? For example, one such Rate Rule for the Residence Inn Vancouver Downtown specifies:That would mean no extra charge in your situation.

Thanks Dave. Actually I made reservations at the other 2 Marriotts which don't specify any age. I finally decided to book for 2 people and let them try to charge me for the children.

Its not like they do midnight room audits to see how many people you have in your room.....

A related question: I booked two rewards rooms at the Marriott Liverpool. My husband and I occupied one and the four children the other (ages from 8 - 21). The rooms listed maximum occupancy four.

The concierge lounge was closed on Saturday morning, so they said we could get a discount rate for breakfast in the restaurant. When we went down to breakfast (a buffet), we were first told that only one room got free breakfast based on my status. Then they agreed that both rooms would, but after we were seated and took a plate of food at the buffet, the hostess came back and said only four of us could get the discount.

My youngest was not eating (he brought a Pop Tart with him) and we had informed them of that before being seated. I was pretty annoyed at being told I would pay full price (which was quite expensive for what little I would eat) after getting a plate, so since I hadn't taken a bite, I pushed it back and informed her that I wouldn't be eating after all.

In the end, she backed off and we all got the discount, but was I right to be upset? I don't usually stay in Marriotts with the family, so I have no experience with this.

I also didn't get reward points for the breakfasts, which were charged to my room and paid for with my Marriott Rewards VISA. I guess I need to work on that.

Sheila

The few times I have reserved more than one room, the hotel has been gracious enough to allow breakfast for both rooms. The latest was both the Crystal City and Crystal Gateway Marriotts in DC. They didn't have any issues with giving CL access to everyone in both rooms and the Gateway provided breakfast coupons for everyone on the weekends. (We were traveling with friends.)

I suspect that per the rules, only the room with the elite member has to be provided the elite benefits. But my experience has been that the majority of the hotels tend to provide it to all the rooms.

Now your second issue of them telling you one thing and then changing it after you had got your food was a little lame. Even if they changed their minds, I would have expected them to say, today we will honor what we told you, but starting tomorrow no free breakfast for the other room. Personally, I think you handled the situation pretty well by saying you weren't going to eat after all then. If they can change their minds, why can't you? So good for you on doing so. ^

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

My husband couldn't believe I said that. You'd think after 23 years of marriage he'd be used to me.

Luckily we were only staying one night and moving on. I would have never been able to drag him into the restaurant for another meal.

He did enjoy telling his friends he slept in an abandoned airport, though. He always let them think about it awhile before he admitted it had been converted into a Marriott.

Sheila