Travelling with more than 2.3 kids...

[harvyk]

I guess this is a question which is directed towards Princess Fiona, although anyone whom has travelled with more than 2.3 kids could answer.

Looking at a trip to either AKL or SIN with the family later this year (this is so I can get permission for harvyk Asian adventure, I promised the missus I would take her on a trip as well). One of the problems we are facing is that most hotel options on places like wotif are very limited, either out in the sticks and thus public transport into places of interest will be hideously expensive, or the hotels themselves are extremely expensive which put it outside what we can afford...

The big problem with us is we've got 4 kids all under 5, with the youngest will be around 6 months when we travel. Any thoughts or suggestions how you guys get around this little problem?

(and no, leave the kids at home is not really an option)

 

[Tooner]

Your only hopes are 1) apartment hotels / suites and 2) adjoining rooms. Most places only allow 3-4 persons per room, so you need 2 rooms. It can be hard to book online; best find out if the hotel has adjoining rooms and ring and book. SIN should be good, though AKL I'm not so sure on. Another alternative is airbnb, though not sure on coverage in your favoured locations

 

[Princess Fiona]

Just saw this post Harvyk.
Will get back to you tomorrow

 

[markis10]

The big problem with us is we've got 4 kids all under 5, with the youngest will be around 6 months when we travel. Any thoughts or suggestions how you guys get around this little problem?

(and no, leave the kids at home is not really an option)

Well the parents would not need a bed, they are obviously used to a lack of sleep :mrgreen:. On a serious note, suites could be a good option with roll aways or as mentioned a twin room adjoining a king. Novotel are good with this considering they also throw in Breakfast:

Do you need more space for your family? Book a second room for your children at half the price of your own room. The reduction will be made on the "Best Rate without Conditions." Breakfast is free for children up to the age of 16.
Offer subject to availability
This offer is not available in the following destinations: Indonesia, Bulgaria, USA, French Guyana, Sweden, Novotel Thalassa sea & spa, Novotel Al-Anoud, Novotel Kuala Lumpur.


Another option is the YHA, with it's 4 bed rooms in AKL and SIN.

 

[NM]

The biggest issue is likely to be hotel rules regarding the number of people in the room. We found that with under-fives they can sleep very well either on a thin mattress on the floor or "top&tail" sharing a single bed. Some hotels enforce their "max occupancy" rules and some don't.

Personally I would be looking to book two adjoining rooms. We have been doing that for our family of 6 for years. When the kids were very young we would sleep one adult in each room with the kids shared between us. As they got older, it was a kids room and an adults room.

But do some research regarding serviced apartments as that can work out cheaper, especially for stays of more than just one or two nights. With 4 little ones, you really want to be staying close to the places you are going to visit and not be relying on public transport through the city.

 

[juddles]

... we've got 4 kids all under 5...

I take my hat off to you!
Even with just a couple of kids the options are reduced substantially, so I understand the difficulties you face. That is half the reason I live in the Third World - just book second room for the nanny and kids

 

[GCC]

Are you with HH or SPG? You could use points plus pay to get 2 interconnecting rooms at a good rate, and if you have status get an upgrade or other benefits as well.

We just did this at HOTP Melbourne. As HH Diamond it ended up as $140 per night + 40k HH points for a suite + interconnecting room, plus breakfast, plus internet, plus lounge access.
Last time I was in Singapore we used points + pay and stayed at the Sheraton - a bit out of the way but nice rooms, not that far from Orchard Road and had free shuttle.

If you have the Amex Plat charge card try their travel service, they sometimes have good deals that might include a second room cheap / free.

Good luck with it. Baby G number 2 is due in October and we'll be facing the sames sorts of challenges.

 

[amaroo]

I agree with connecting rooms. You two + cot in one room the three others get to share a twin set up with a roller away.

Transfers will be something else that will require attention.

 

[harvyk]

No hotel loyalties, I don't stay in the one chain often enough to warrant it. For the most part, unless it's a proper resort, we usually treat a hotel as a place to sleep in at night and that's about it. So provided the rooms are clean, we're not too fussed on additional amenities.

For beds the boys are more than happy to share one, we'd need another for our eldest daughter, as well as a cot for our newest. It's not really getting enough beds that's the problem as most places have rooms with a queen bed and two singles, and most of them have portable cots for hire. The issue is getting a place that doesn't get get upset due to fire restrictions. IME most places are suited for two adults and two children, finding places that accepted three children was more difficult but not impossible (often meant a slightly more expensive room than normal, but still most places could do it), but a fourth is really making life difficult.

No doubt in years to come, we will get two rooms and have an adults room and a kids room, and thus it will be expensive, but easy enough. But right now the kids would trash a room if left by themselves overnight as well as any rock star could...

 

[harvyk]

Transfers will be something else that will require attention.

Not normally such a problem, IME buses and taxi's don't require kids in car seats... Also when we are in a city with trains, it's an ideal way to get around as the platform is usually at the same level as the train and the doors are big, thus no folding up of prams like you need to do with buses or taxi's.

 

[docjames]

I think you're really looking at two rooms at most places. 2BR Serviced apartments (vs hotel) could be a good option.

 

[harvyk]

I think you're really looking at two rooms at most places. 2BR Serviced apartments (vs hotel) could be a good option.

That's what we did in PER last year, which worked out well. Again, it's the new addition which has started causing this problem...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I have three daughters and so most travel has been with 5.

In "first-world" countries apartments are often the way to go as you actually get more for your money, and when you have young kids two hotel rooms can be a poor option unless there is door between them. When your kids get older the adjoining door becomes handy rather than vital.

Some properties will have 2 bedroom suits, but are often in short supply and are booked out well in advance at popular times.

"Third -world " countries are often less rigid on number per room...and "family" rooms can be had. Look beyond the chain hotels.

Given the age of your kids when such common doors are not available, and given the age of your kids you may be forced to have 2 hotel rooms with 1 adult and 2 kids bunking in each room.

 

[ckck]

My sister has three children so they are always travelling as two adults and three children. They have always found that serviced apartments works the best for them. They find one close to "everything" and they take it from there. The serviced apartments they have stayed in also have a laundry with washing machine/ dryer in the apartment which helps them a lot.

hths,