We are planning a trip to Ireland in April 2016. When we book family rooms, it is typical that they count 2 of the 4 as children. If we book these and show up with 2 adult children, will we be denied our room? The rooms have booked so far have been 1 queen or 1 double with 2 singles.
Any advise would be appreciated.
I would consider renting an apartment through homeaway.com or Vrbo.com. You can often find a two bedroom apartment for a reasonable price. We rented some nice apartments in Italy in May 2015 for around $175 per night. They each had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms along with a kitchen and living area. While you consider your 23 year old your child, I doubt many folks in the hotel industry would agree. Same with the 18 year old. 😀
Thanks for the reply, we are still working on it. If there are surcharges, I wish they would state so. I don't mind paying a surcharge, my children are 2 girls and don't need a huge bed.
Greetings form Ireland.
I'll take off my tour-guide hat here and speak as B&B owner. If you book a family room online it should always give you the option of naming the ages of the children, and if it doesn't then its not really your fault and I certainly wouldnt charge you anymore and most hotels wouldnt either.
Id you haven't already booked my advice would be to email the hotels/B&Bs listed in Ricks book that you want to stay in, be sure and emphasise you are a Rick Steves reader and that you'd like prices on the family room for 4, but also like the option of a good deal on a twin and double room. Most accommodation will definitely want to help you and the Rick Steves link goes a long way in Ireland.
le meas/with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland Tour-Guide
Dingle
Hi. We have traveled in Ireland and in Europe and they definitely do not categorize young adults as children. They will not be comfortable in one room as they may in the states. Rooms are much smaller there. We researched this and found that either two rooms or a small apartment worked much better than one. When traveling as a family with young adults they would be considered as adults and I would recommend either a small apartment or a separate room for them. You will all enjoy your trip much more.
We have a similar family makeup, and I always specify that we are traveling with our two young-adult children, and ask for either a family room for 4, or two rooms. I have always had that work well.
