Family rooms in hotels are essential when you have little ones but when your children are older, being all cosy together has distinct disadvantages. Our 15 year old son has no wish to sleep with us when we’re on holiday and vice versa. So why don’t more hotels offer connecting rooms so our children can be accessible but privacy for all can be maintained?
When I search for hotels for city breaks I very often struggle to find ones which have connecting rooms. Even those that do supply them seem reticent to publicise it. They happily provide junior suites which are, quite frankly, just bigger rooms with a couple of uncomfortable ‘comfy’ chairs in the corner. Suites are very expensive and even then our son, a gangly six-foot teen, would be hanging out the end of a put-me-up. If he does get a decent bed, it still doesn’t alter the fact that he is still in the same room as us. He doesn’t sleep with us at home so why would we want him grinning at us from a few feet away when we’re on holiday.
Connecting rooms are bliss. It’s like being in an apartment: plenty of space, an extra bathroom and the knowledge that children are safe in the next room which you can access at a moment’s notice through the inter-connecting door. Everyone can come and go between the two rooms but when bedtime arrives, we don’t all need to be looking at each other, moaning about who’s snoring or snuffling.
Having two rooms next to each other is not the same thing. We have done this on occasion and it’s not ideal. Too often I’ve been caught in a hotel corridor, in my dressing gown, knocking on our son’s door urging him to get up in the morning. Asking the hotel for an extra keycard does help but I still seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in the corridor as I take the keycard for my son’s room but forget to take my own so I can get back in again.
We’ve also had the situation where we’ve been promised adjoining rooms, only to discover the hotel has been unable to cater to our request, so our son is half-way down the corridor. I know he’s a big lad but I want him near me. I’m a mother and I whittle.
Hotel resort complexes seem to have this sussed: many beach hotels abroad are aparthotels so that everyone has their own bedroom, with a kitchen, occasionally an extra bathroom but still having access to hotel facilities. This often isn’t possible in city hotels for obvious reasons of space and the design layout of the original buildings. But surely there must be a market for considering the needs of families with older children? Can they not just alter a few rooms to make them interconnecting?
A few hotels which we have used in the past which have this facility:
Palais de la Mediterranee, Nice
Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle upon Tyne
In Paris we settled on an apartment, which is maybe what other families do. It was good but a bit functional and I missed some of the facilities of a hotel, like the bar!
We have just booked two connecting rooms at the family-friendly hotel, Old Swan and Minster Mill in the Cotswolds, with a reduction on the price of the second room, which is even better. Will report back on that hotel in a few weeks time.
I’d be interested in your views on this. Are there hotel brands which do offer connecting rooms which I should be considering? Suggestions please.
I am starting to think that connecting rooms are the way to go. We have avoided hotels and B and B's for this reason and resorted to caravans!
@The Mad House – I do think hoteliers are missing a trick. They must see the potential when so many families look to caravans and other self-catering accommodation for their holidays because they want their children in separate sleeping quarters!
It's not a problem I've encountered much as I rarely stay in hotels with the boys.
The B&B we went to this summer had connecting rooms if I remember but they were already taken so we had separate rooms. The boys didn't mind at all especially as the place was full with us plus the other guests.
The only other hotel I've been to was at the ski resort at Prat Peyrou where we had connecting rooms and that was brill because the boys were that bit younger. It was a bit of a rough joint though.
@Sarah – It's maybe more of a problem for me with Rory being an only child. Once when Rory was way down the hall, he and his dad ended up watching the footy on the telly in one room and I was miles away stuck on my own in the other. Connecting rooms would have been more sociable.
When I was young I always shared a room with my brother and it was fine – though I think my parents worried we might fall over balconies or do something silly.
Hiltons are quite good. We've had a few interconnecting with them. Stayed at a good one in Sheffield but can't remember the name. Big place. Great gym. It'll come to me! (we had a good holiday there). We created such a fuss at the Belfry in Birmingham we got moved to th St Andrews suite overlooking the 18th. But I agree they are hard to get.
@kelloggsville – Thanks for the tip; the Hilton's rooms and for kicking up a fuss to get a posh suite!
Yes good topic, we've spent the 13 years researching this…and you would think its nothing to install a door between. Its a matter of booking way ahead and so random from place to place
I agree. Connecting rooms are a hard-to-find commodity. Anyone would think hoteliers didn't want to cater for children…
@About Last Weekend – I agree, installing the door makes all the difference in the world for a family yet makes no discernible difference for customers booking the rooms separately.
@Steve – Is that their plan?! Surely my child is perfect.
We've found the same problem in the past when the children were younger. We usually ended up getting an apartment which was a great success n both Boston and New York. Perhaps the Americans are just better geared up for spacious living?!
We usually stay in condos or apartments, but the last time we stayed in a hotel (right before leaving the US for Seoul)there was no problem getting adjoining rooms. Maybe Curry Queen is right!
@Curry Queen and @Ms Caroline – I think that's probably the thing to do in Europe too: there were some great apartments to rent in Paris but we just didn't choose well.
When we were travelling round Canada all the hotel rooms had two double beds – plenty of room – and I suspect if we hadn't been on a 'one room' package holiday we'd have found plenty of connecting rooms.
Can't tell you how often I've bemoaned the lack of connecting rooms in a hotel. Best hotel for this facility we've been to was in Oman. They had a whole wing of the hotel with connecting rooms – a double and a twin – and twin was equipped with board games, Wii and other kiddy treats. Best sleeps we've had in ages! They also had a great room service menu where the kids could order mix and match meals (meat/fish from one column), choice of veg from another etc. Excellent.
@Kate – Glad I'm not the only one to struggle. The hotel is Oman sounds brilliant; someone with their finger on the pulse as to what families enjoy.