Euro Hotel Kid Policy/kid police

**uglymoney** · 08-28-2019, 06:37 PM

Trying to book a couple places in Portugal. They do not want to rent me a one bedroom hotel with a pull out couch because my 17 year old is considered an adult. If I enter him as a 12 year old and my daughter as the nine year old she is we are good.

He is 6 2 so lying about his age is out.

I wouldn't mind paying a fee for him but they won't do that. Basically they want to upgrade us to a much more expensive 2 bedroom suite. I really just need a tent to sleep but want this place for the ocean views etc.

Should I smuggle him in inside a suitcase or does that make me an ugly American? We go everywhere with one of the kids sleeping on the floor and always disclose here in the US.

Any Euro family traveling pros here?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

**iceman** · 08-28-2019, 06:57 PM

What if you say he's 16?

**dookeyXXX** · 08-28-2019, 07:02 PM

wait. you already told them that he is 17?
How can you change his age now that you've already alerted them of his age?

While not having kids, in college we used to do the whole sneak extra people in the hotel/motel thing all the time. I recall only getting caught once. My buddy and another checked in, then we snuck the other two of us into the room. The manager came by the room and asked why there were 4 people when only 2 had registered. I think we told him that they were local friends just visiting for dinner. We may have ended up paying extra, I don't recall. But they didn't kick us out.
The trick is to always ask for a room in the back, away from the office.

Also, I don't know what the age policy is everywhere else, but at many of the ski resorts in Tahoe, 13 is considered an adult...

**uglymoney** · 08-28-2019, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

What if you say he's 16?

He is 16 now but will be 17 then. 12 is the cutoff.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

**uglymoney** · 08-28-2019, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by dookey67

wait. you already told them that he is 17?
How can you change his age now that you've already alerted them of his age?

While not having kids, in college we used to do the whole sneak extra people in the hotel/motel thing all the time. I recall only getting caught once. My buddy and another checked in, then we snuck the other two of us into the room. The manager came by the room and asked why there were 4 people when only 2 had registered. I think we told him that they were local friends just visiting for dinner. We may have ended up paying extra, I don't recall. But they didn't kick us out.
The trick is to always ask for a room in the back, away from the office.

I talked to some random guy on the phone. It is a bigger hotel.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

**dookeyXXX** · 08-28-2019, 07:07 PM

The 12/13 as adult is ridiculous if you think about it.
They can't smoke, drink, vote, or drive at that age...so what makes them an adult?

**iceman** · 08-28-2019, 07:08 PM

I meant, can't you get away with saying he'll be 16 at the time of the trip? I don't recall having to show my kids' passports at hotels in Europe and we've stayed at quite a few. But maybe I wasn't paying attention and my wife took care of showing them. It's quite possible.

edit: oh sorry, 12 is the cutoff? That's wack

**Flyoverland Captive** · 08-28-2019, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by dookey67

The 12/13 as adult is ridiculous if you think about it.
They can't smoke, drink, vote, or drive at that age...so what makes them an adult?

Wear and tear on the plumbing?

**uglymoney** · 08-28-2019, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by dookey67

The 12/13 as adult is ridiculous if you think about it.
They can't smoke, drink, vote, or drive at that age...so what makes them an adult?

At some point we all become walking profit centers I guess. But exactly. Do the Euros really pay this kid tax or do they just ignore it? I just do not know. Searches on travel sites suggest I should be honest and about it, but that means staying at an inferior property or booking two double rooms I guess is a possibility.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

**uglymoney** · 08-28-2019, 07:13 PM

The hotel advertises itself as kid and family friendly.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

**dookeyXXX** · 08-28-2019, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by uglymoney

The hotel advertises itself as kid and family friendly.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

It sounds as if they are indeed "kid friendly" as long as your kid is under the age of 12!

But also "kid friendly" just means that they allow kids. It doesn't have anything to do with pricing. I mean a "dog friendly" hotel just means they allow dogs. But it doesn't tell you anything about whether they charge more for a dog staying in a room.

Also, as much as I disagree with it, it seems that considering a kid of the age 12 and older an "adult" is pretty common practise in the service industry (hotels, ski resorts, theme parks, etc.).

**powcom** · 08-28-2019, 08:02 PM

It likely includes a meal no?

**uglymoney** · 08-28-2019, 08:09 PM

Just breakfast. I asked over the phone if I could just pay a fee and it was still a no go without the $100 room upgrade pushing it out of my budget. The one bedroom suite I am talking about is big. Plenty of room. Sigh. For a few bucks over the one bedroom we can rent two basic doubles and split us up. Probably just do that. Ridiculous.

**dookeyXXX** · 08-28-2019, 08:10 PM

Have your kid pull a Dorf, so he looks smaller and younger...

**PNWbrit** · 08-28-2019, 08:14 PM

Complain vociferously that's not how it's done in America.

**dookeyXXX** · 08-28-2019, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Complain vociferously that's not how it's done in America.

Except for the simple fact that is how it's done in America.

12+ is considered an "adult" (at least in terms of prices) at most restaurants, hotels, ski resorts, and theme parks...

I vote going hostels. They tend to be really cheap.

This thread is reminding me that I need to re-up my passport, though...

**hutash** · 08-28-2019, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by dookey67

The 12/13 as adult is ridiculous if you think about it.
They can't smoke, drink, vote, or drive at that age...so what makes them an adult?

Its Portugal, they do all of that at that age

**hutash** · 08-28-2019, 08:22 PM

Well, maybe not vote.

**uglymoney** · 08-28-2019, 08:23 PM

All accurate.

Part of traveling abroad is learning it doesn't matter how we do shit over here

I do love Hostels and as a family we do use them.

Just trying to figure out how to have a rare couple nights at a super nice place during the off season.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

**Vt-Freeheel** · 08-28-2019, 08:24 PM

gaijin isn't eating and you're worried about a Benni a day on a Euro trip.

**dookeyXXX** · 08-28-2019, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by uglymoney

Just trying to figure out how to have a rare couple nights at a super nice place during the off season.

Make the kids sleep in the rental car?

**dookeyXXX** · 08-28-2019, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Vt-Freeheel

gaijin isn't eating and you're worried about a Benni a day on a Euro trip.

Dude!

Wrong country! He's going to Portugal, not Japan...I believe we're called "pessoas brancas" there...

**Vt-Freeheel** · 08-28-2019, 08:31 PM

My bad.

**Sandbox** · 08-28-2019, 08:39 PM

Thats pretty stupid... How many nights are you staying? What would stop you from checking in without the kids and once you get into your room bringing them in a side door to the room? if you leave for the day they go out the side and you go out the front lobby? I've never seen any hotel staff that are too switched on/care enough to notice things like numbers in a room but what the hell do i know?