Are “Free Child Places” really a good deal?

angela.lloyd12

Hi- I’m looking at booking a summer holiday when my child will be 2 years old.
Thomas Cook offers no child places or a reduced rate- so you end up paying the same cost a 2yo as an adult.
TUI and first choice seem to offer ‘free child places’ however when I search for a holiday without in putting a child- a week away is
About £550... Input a child on the ‘free child place’ it’s about £750 pp for the same holiday!
So it’s not really free.... £1650 for opt a booking three different places, or £1500 with the free child place. Can anyone help explain this?!

Thanks!

zagfles

I remember in the old days the usual con trick with "free child places" was that you paid "underoccupancy" charges instead. 2 adults and a child need a room/apartment that sleep 3. If there's only 2 paying adults in a room that sleep 3 then they'd pay an "underoccupancy" charge. If there's 2 adults and a "free" child then the child doesn't count - so you'd still pay the underoccupancy charge! Maybe they're still pulling this old trick?

It's a bit like "commission free" currency where a big commission is hidden in the rate.