Cheaper To Book Childern on Holiday as 'Adults'. Has Anyone Done This.

stressedoutmum

I have been pricing some holidays and there are 2 adults, 3 children ages 14, 11 and 8. Its often cheaper to book 4 adults and 1 child instead of 3 adults and 2 children. Has anyone done this and how do you get around the dates of the birth for the children? Have you been re-invoiced and asked to pay the difference. I find it annoying that it costs more to take the children and want to book the hols as cheap as possible please.

Alikay

Yes, its quite common for it to be that way. When I was a travel consultant we'd always cost a family of 2 ad+ 2 ch as 2+2, 3 ad + 1 ch and 4 ad and book the family whichever way worked out cheapest! Make sure you do the complete costings though, as sometimes the inflight meals are cheaper for kids...so what you may save on the basic package could go up when you add the various extras on.

The main costing problems we encountered were with ski bookings, where if you book a child as an adult for the purpose of the package, you can't then revert to them being a child for the ski school etc. Just do your costing using the various combos of adults/children and go for the cheapest.

Travel agents use a booking system called Viewdata and I don't recall it asking for DOB for adult passengers on the regular med packages. Not sure about online bookings.

stressedoutmum

Thanks. On line you are asked for everyones dates of birth which is why I was wondering if they would check. Hmmm not sure what to do now.

Alikay

Can you ask a travel agent to price-match and do the booking on viewdata for you? If the holiday is with Thomas Cook, Thomson, 1st Choice or Airtours/going places their own travel agencies might be the best bet.

satan666wayne

we did that with TCook this year,
for 5 adults and 1 child in 3 rooms it was £1750.

For 6 adults in 3 rooms it was £1030.

saved us £700.

tiamaria

as far as i know you can book them as adults and still put their correct date of birth in when booking and the system accepts this.

3XsAlady

I'm encountering the same problem, cost of holiday £413 per adult & wait for it........... £549 for a 3yr old, just doesn't make sense.

sparkleworld

Absolutely fine!

We booked our son as an adult this year and saved a fortune!
We would have booked both of our children as adults but you had to have at least one child to stay in the hotel/ aprtmants that we booked as it was a family hotel only..... One thing to beware of though is many now state 3rd or 4th bed only suitable for a child up to the age of 16...
The child price is sooo expensive not only because of the under occupancy surcharge but also because you are paying for the service of the Kids Club.
The so called "free hat & T-shirt!" So if you want to take advantage of the kids club you will be unable to register them unless you paid a childs price..(Overheard a women arguing over this with one of the reps as she too had booked her eldest child as an adult)
Flight meals etc may be a problem too as online you will only be able to book an adults meal.
( Booked through Thomson if that helps!)

Regards
Sparkleworld

stressedoutmum

thanks to everyone. think I will chance my luck and put correct dates of birth but book as adults