Is there such a thing as a free child place?

daveram1

I booked my family summer holiday for this year with a major tour operator about 3 months ago. I booked early and got a free child place and a discount by booking on their website.

If I was to book the same holiday on their website now, there are no free child places available, yet it is still the same price. I have gone through the booking process to make sure.

I looked through my paperwork, just for the prices of other holidays I looked at when I booked and those too have no free child places left, but they are still the same price, give or take £20.

Someone told us about this last year, but we said to them, no, they are free child places. But now it looks to me like they were right.

So, is there such a thing as a free child place or is it just a marketing ploy?

Not going to tell the missus though, she will be on the phone to interrogate them.

ethansmum

When I have booked online, I have seen the message 'free child spaces available'. When have never received them, but we have had child discounts.

Alikay

Well, technically yes, the free child IS free...but because they won't count towards occupancy of an apartment, the underoccupany fees will often be very high. When I was working as a treavel consultant we always costed a holiday with kids (free or discounted) different ways counting one or both or children as adults, and then again as children/free places and booking what was cheapest for the family. Often it was cheaper to book the same holiday as 4 adults rather than 2ad+2 ch....a free child tended to work out cheaper than a paid one, but not always, and certainly not completely free.

That £20 difference you mention for a "free place" is probably about right from what I recall - still, better in your pocket than Thomson's or Airtours'!