3 people traveling

You'll find that many hotels in Europe will have family rooms which sounds like a better deal for you than trying to cram 3 people in a double room, even if you could. Many hotel properties also have small apartments if you plan to stay in one place for several days or longer.

You have to declare the number of people and pay by that number. It might be a double with an extra bed drug in, but probably not. More likely a triple.

The double rooms we stayed in with three people were beyond cramped. They had a double bed and then a single squeezed along side, barely enough to get out of bed. Have found the hotels we stayed in were all very small compared to what we are used to in the US. It is doable but just be prepared.

Thank you for your replies. They are so helpful! We plan to visit Italy, France, and England for four weeks in June and July. We may include Germany in our itinerary. We plan to do everything on our own instead of doing a group tour. We will fly from Chicago to Rome and use trains in Europe, and then fly from London back to Chicago. Does anybody know of good resources in using trains in Europe? What is the best way to travel from airport to hotel, and from hotel to train station in Europe? This is our first visit to Europe, and I begin to feel nervous about all the details to be planned!

Hi Hy. Strongly suggest you get Rick's book Europe thru the backdoor. It will answer these questions and hundreds more. Enjoy your trip!

In the US you tend to rent the room regardless of the number of occupants. In Europe it is the reverse. A few of the large, five star hotels may rent the room but for most of the smaller hotels it is strictly per person. Plus in many countries, especially Italy, each room occupant must present a passport so that you can be registered with the local police department. So don't be surprise if they ask to keep your passport for awhile. Transit between hotel and airport, train station, etc. will vary depending on cities and locations. Generally public transportation will be best BUT with three people a taxi can be as economical. However, scam can be a problem with taxis. Make sure you know the fare before you get in and that a meter is being used. Make inquires about the taxi service with your hotel. Read the guidebooks as they will give points on the local transportation.

Se travel a lot and need triples (teenage son). Use tripadvisor.com to find hotels. Poke around the hotel websites. We almost always use the train getting from airport to hotel. Learn the bus/metro in your cities. What cities? Price?

Maybe someone else can help you with this, but if you can avoid the Heathrow departure tax, that will save you money. I am not sure if you fly into London and down to the Continent, it would help. All I remember is that we paid about 80.00 dollars apiece but that was maybe because we flew free and first class. Not sure how it works but am sure someone here can help.

Thanks!!! I just ordered two books on Europe by Rick Steves. I am so glad that I found this website. Thanks again!

Hy , this is how it is in France. You will and must book triples. You do not book doubles. Occupancy rules are strict and I have heard of couples arriving with 18 month old baby being sent away as they booked a double, and when they arrived with baby were not able to stay, double rooms are licenced for only 2 people, period. This is due to strict fire code laws.
Yes, some triples are tiny, literally a double bed with a single crammed in, but since the room will is a legal triple that is ok, they will NOT haul a spare bed into a double for you. Triples are not as hard to find as quads so thats one good thing. The other issue with triples is they often are a double and a single, so if you want three seperate beds you must check on bedding set up. Do not assume. Queens are not the most common in budget-moderate category, so assume a double sized bed. We stayed at the Hotel Diana this summer in Paris, excellant location, we were only 2 people but they put us in their triple room . .It was a queen bed and a pull out bed.

Use the likes of www.booking.com where you can enter the number of people and a list specific will be returned.

'They will NOT haul . . . ' The problem with emphatic absolutes is that they're so emphatically absolute. I only write what I've seen and am very careful with my words. For some reason I was picturing France when I composed my previous reply. 'Rarely' was changed to 'probably' based upon once sleeping in a roll away and having seen a couple more in hallways and storage rooms at various places. However, I've only spent a few hundred nights in France and, since Pat has spent many more (and undoubtedly canvassed every hotel in the country in composing her most learned response) we can only assume that she is correct and that things have changed. Another bed will NOT be hauled in. Unfortunately the Marriott up on the Champs (Paris is still part of France, right ?) did not get the scoop since a few weeks back I tossed the grand kids in the big bed and slept on one that had been hauled in. I've no doubt that I paid for all three of us.

Ed, stop being a rude know it all who chooses to challenge my posts on any minute point, I have spent more time in France then you , and yes, they will NOT haul a bed for a third person into a room that is a designated double. That is the law based on fire codes and all your snorting and fussing makes no difference at all. The fact your room at the Marriott did simply means that room was licenced to hold more people. My advice and others here, is never ever book a double room when you are three people, always book a triple.

The question is whether Ed booked a double or a triple. Or maybe the 5-star Marriott Champs-Elysees has different policies, like small kids are free.

Sasha , there are hotels that will allow small ones free, but you still have to book the number of people in the room, if it is an infant they may permit a cot( and some supply them) but it is required for you to let them know how many people in the room. What people will do is contact the hotel and let them know their numbers.
I have found they view young children( for hotel stays) as under 4 or 5, sometimes even just under 2, nothing like North America where we often call "kids" ( as in "kids free") under 12, or even 16, some even 18!! There was a thread a few months ago, furious couple, arrived at a nice hotel, with their young child ( believe child was under 18 months) and when they checked in they were refused, because they had booked a double room, and had not mentioned the baby,, and they had no triples left to give them instead. They had to leave and let me tell you they were mad as hornets and quite indignant. I understand it would be horrilbe ( tired after long day of travel then having to find another hotel) but the law is the law, and most hotels are very strict about it. If you book a double you should be party of 2, if you book a triple, party of 3, etc etc. I am not saying that somewhere, someone may turn a blind eye, but I won't give out advice that will likely put someone in a real pickle. Book for the amount of people in your party.

I was just curious cuz we've never stayed in a 5-star hotel and I wondered if the policies were different. The hotel website says nothing about kids, free or otherwise. It does say that maximum people in standard and deluxe rooms is 2, no rollaways allowed. But they don't say if kids count, or at which age they are consideder adults. They do allow cribs. We have only traveled with little children in the US and Canada, no Europe until they were past ten, and then the small places we choose might or might not have a reduction for kids under 16 or so. But these were small family-run 2 or 3- star places, not chains and not 5- star. Apparently what the website says does not reflect reality. But in any case, the OP should book triple rooms as the daughters are not infants. Also since breakfast is included in many places, you want that for 3 not 2.

Dear everyone, This has been so helpful. This is my first visit to Europe, and I have so many questions. It has been great to get your responses. I also have been reading other posts. Even though they may not be directly related to my trip, I just found it so helpful to hear from others. I definitely have a lot of research to do before I start making reservations. Thank you so much!!!

Hy, keep coming back to this site. Some of us agree to disagree but overall the advice is spot on. I recently looked at another travelers website and the comments were horrible. IMO, this is the best site for constructive advice.

We generally stay in B&B's or small hotels and always a triple. We have found that in some places it is the same price per person ( and in those cases we get a single and a double room for the same price), or if you get a triple room it is often the price of a double and an addition cost for the third, which is less than another full person. We have never been jammed into a small room, they are always set up as a triple and at times are more like a suite. Maybe we have just been lucky.

"I was just curious cuz we've never stayed in a 5-star hotel and I wondered if the policies were different." I've never stayed in such a top-tier hotel either, but I have lodged in some lesser luxury hotels. The pricing system is the same- you pay per person, not per room, although the price for two people in a double is often less than 2x the cost for one person in the same room.

HY -- as far as a good resource for using the trains in Europe, there is the information in Rick's books and on this website, and there's also the wonderful website called The Man in Seat 61. Google that phrase and you'll find his site. Sometimes it's a little trickier reserving triples than doubles, but if you give yourself plenty of time, you shouldn't have any problem. You're in for a wonderful adventure!

Thank you for all your helpful comments! I appreciate the information on the Man in Seat 61 website. That is an amazing website on train trips!