My wife and I are taking our 2yr old with us to Paris and London this summer. Many of the Paris hotels list 2-person max for a double room. Given that there will technically be 3 of us, I'm curious if this means we'll have to get a double or triple room. Is there is a general rule of thumb in Europe on how old a child can be before you must "pay for them" as a regular person in your room?
Posted by
Great Lakes Region, Michigan, USA
81 posts
We travel with our 7 yr old. Often on hotel websites children under a certain age are free when they share the parents' bed or the hotels will offer a small fee for a cot/sofa bed for a child. I had the best luck sending emails to hotels with our situations of two adults plus one 7 year old and asked what they could offer. They often come back with a package deal that wasn't on the website. We knew we didn't want to share a bed with her, so we always wanted an extra bed. I never needed to rent a triple room with her. We have a much older son and we he traveled with us before she was born, we booked triples once he was 14.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23622 posts
When booking the reservation you need to make sure that the hotel knows that you have a 2 yr old. In Europe, pricing tends to be per person as compared to the US where is the room. A double room in the US will often have two double beds and plenty of room. You book a double and you will get a room with a single double bed and no place for the child. A triple room will have three beds, most likely three twin beds. You might also ask for a family but it is important for them to know that it is two adults and two year old. How they price it, I do not know.
Posted by
OP
Williamsburg
3 posts
Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely make it known we have a small child and see what the hotels suggest.
Posted by
Atlanta
1358 posts
Yep. Agreeing with the others. When our son was 2 (and again when he was 3), we booked doubles, letting the owners know we had a small child. It's just a good thing to do, especially if breakfast is included. One question, though what is your child going to be sleeping in? We brought the portacrib for our son when he was that age, so we had to be sure that it would fit in the room. We usually stay in mom-and-pop establishments, and they've always been so nice to our kids. In France, when our son was 2, we arrived on a Sunday, so the stores were closed (our room had a kitchenette). The owner gave us a carton of milk and brought out her kids' old French board books for him. It's like having an extra set of European grandparents.
Posted by
OP
Williamsburg
3 posts
I know beds are a little smaller in Europe, but more than likely we'll just get cozy in the bed together. It happens most nights at home anyway when our son decides he doesn't want to sleep in his own bed. Thanks to all for your help on this.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
Be aware that many 'doubles' are actually just 2 twin beds pushed together; I'd hate for your little one to fall through the crack (and so would he!)! I've had beds that would split if one of us got too close to the center...8^O