whats

My daughter just turned 12. Some all-inclusives consider a child 12 and under, charging a childs price, while others want to charge her as an adult! It makes me crazy to think I have to pay almost double for a child who will a) be sharing the room with us which we have already paid for anyway and b) who barely eats and most certainly will be drinking no alcohol, so what are we paying an adult price for? We are also taking and paying a child's price for our younger child. I am thinking of saying she's 11. And for anyone who wants to lecture me on the immorality of that, save your breath, or keystrokes as the case may be. I think it's immoral for these resorts to charge a 12 year old an adult price unless of course they give us a second room (which they won't). It's clearly the easiest way for them to make a big profit. Anyway, my question is this, do they look at the passports or birth certificates to check ages of children at all-inclusives? Thanks.

Lisa

Have your travel agent give you info on the all-inclusives that do not have a cut off for kids at age 12. Off the top of my head I know that the Tam in Aruba has a cut off of 18.

Gina

I don't have any children, but I think you are being unreasonable. Children eat a great deal, ALL parents will claim their children don't eat alot, do you really expect the hotel to offer thousands of different price plans?!1 <BR> <BR>But the REAL reason they charge is that they are trying to discourage families. <BR>Save for a few places, like the Atlantis, the caribbean is not really child-friendly. Adults need somewhere to go to get away from the unfortunately mostly brats being raised today. Go to Disney, or on a Carnival cruise, but leave the beach resorts to the adults. I'm sorry to be so blunt, I haven't had much sleep, someone's offspring was screaming on the plane!!

anon

One would think that there are resorts out there that your child would still qualify for a child's reduced rate rather than getting into a long debate if it's right to lie or not. Same is true for lap children on planes. Ever sit next to one that was clearly over the limit (it's a treat! NOT) and everyone knows it is much safer to buy a seat for any child anyway. Guess it depends on how much you want to spend on your vacation. A resort, any resort, will charge what the market will bear and sets its own guidelines and I sure don't see any advantage of having to look over my shoulder all the time nor teaching a child it's okay to lie if it works in their favor.

Shameonyou

To Whats: <BR>If you think a resort is immoral, you have that right, but they have the right to set the terms and conditions for their property. You can either abide by the rules or lie and create an awful example for your child. <BR>No wonder so many kids today are screwed up. With parents like these, who care more about money that integrity, we are all doomed. Please don't breed anymore, and stay home if you can't afford an honest vacation. Don't embarrass your child, you've already embarrassed yourself.

mary

There are resorts where children stay and / or eat free (whether or not the adult price is jacked-up, I don't know). The Blue Bay Club in Cancun: kids 12 and under stay for free; Renaissance Grande Jamaica: kids 12 and under stay and eat free; Allegro Resort Punta Cana: kids eat and stay free; Fiesta Americana Cozumel: Kids eat free, etc., etc., etc. Usually these apply to children up to age 12 but check to be sure. In fact, call a good travel agent and ask about these types of resorts and then do some research on their quality. <BR> <BR>How could a resort not charge an adult price for a 12 year-old? Geez, just consider all that booze they guzzle down and all that lobster, cavier, and steak they want all the time. LOL. <BR> <BR>But another poster was right, these places aren't kid friendly and it will be apparent in other areas of service as well. Best to find someplace else.

Obvious

I agree that it's absurd to pay full-price for a 12-year old child. The best option is to choose a resort that is NOT all-inclusive, that way you avoid paying for food and alcohol that your children will not consume. Many resorts also have "kids stay free" offers, if they stay in their parents' room, and some also offer "kids eat free." Check your newspaper's Sunday travel section, there should be plenty of offers.

feelsorryforyourkids

Shame on you! Another self-absorbed baby boomer, shallow and seriously flawed. Just stay at home, why not spend some time with you kid and teach her what you obviously didn't learn? <BR>That when all is said and done, your conscious is all you take with you when you go. Think about it!!

Mellow Out

Holy Sh--! What is so bad about wanting to take your children on a vacation and yet not spend a fortune (Some people just don't have a lot of $$). There is plenty to teach children on a vacation in a foreign land and it has nothing to do with being self-absorbed. Chill out.

readmypostagain

Mellow Out: <BR>I was talking about her lying to save money, not wanting to go on vacation. If you have to be deceitful to get what you want fine, just don't do it in front of your children. She doesn't have to spend a fortune, but if paying her child's fair share is that much of a burden, then apparently she shouldn't be going ANYWHERE!! <BR>She should have had her kid a year earlier and then she wouldn't be in this mess!!

beachman

We have vacationed in the Caribbean with our son at ages 8, 11, 13, and 16. As a previous poster mentioned, different resorts have different policies. Some have a "middle" price that is higher than the under-12 rate but lower than adult.

It is tricky vacationing with kids this age (for MANY reasons!). I agree that it is grossly unfair to charge a full adult rate for a 12-15 year old, esp. if the adult rate includes unlimited booze.

My advice is twofold:
1. Don't lie.
2. Do your research and seek out resorts that offer a reasonable deal for kids in this age group.

Good luck!

whats

If you read my post, I stated that I didn't mind paying for my child (approximately $ 600), for the childrens rate. I DO mind paying $1,100 a week for my 12 year old to sleep in a bed that is already in the room that my husband and I are paying $ 2400 for plus the $ 600 for my other child. If anyone thinks that it is fair to make a 12 year old pay that much to stay an existing room then you're crazy. My child would just be supplementing some adult's bar tab. I don't expect a hotel to offer "thousands" of different pricing plans, just to be reasonable and let any one under 16 who is a child, staying in their parents room pay a childs rate, not an adults. After all, a 12 year old is not an adult, are they?And I am looking at family friendly resorts, with kids programs, not an exclusive adults only resort. I also know my children pretty well and no way do they eat hundreds of dollars of food a week by any stretch of the imagination. When traveling its mostly chicken and fries, or pizza. Yes, there must be something wrong with me if I don't want to pay an adult price for my child!

I guess I'll go with a non-all inclusive or one that realizes that a 12 year old is still a child and should be charged accordingly. I actually found out today that the Allegro's allow a 12 year old to pay a childs price and the Bavaro's make them pay an adult's. I will not be staying at a Bavaro resort or anywhere else that has such a stupid policy. Does anyone know of any other resorts that charge a child the child's rate?

whats

Mary, Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into it. And shame on you, I do want to pay my child's fair share! An adults price is NOT her fair share!!!!

mary

Don't get all over my back. I agreed with you!

whats

Oh Mary, I didn't mean you! When I said Shame on you I was addressing a poster who called themselves "Shame on you" in their e-mail address!! I know you agreed with me.

whats

Actually I just re-read the post and I meant to address the person who used "feelsorryforyourkids" as the email address, and whose first line to me was "Shame on you!

Ang

Try the Beaches chain. I believe they have an under 16 and an over 16 price. They are very nice resorts and are owned by the parent company Sandals. I have never stayed at one as I don't have children and don't want to be around other people's cildren while on vacation (I like the adults only policy of Sandals) anyway we stayed at Sandals Negril in Jamaica and because they are owned byt he same company were allowed to visit Beaches Negril next door. It looked really nice to me, the beach was fab, we didn't try the restaurant but if it is like Sandals it would be good. sister and her family went to Beaches Turk and Caicos and said it was a dream come true for her son. They had a Sega center for video games and children's "bar" that served non-alcoholic umbrella-type drinks and a fifties diner with burgers and old-fashioned shakes for teenagers.

Marla

Hey, I totally agree with you and the outrageous rates that some places can command for kids. Only problem is: they CAN command those rates since it's a private business. Bummer, huh? <BR> <BR>Anyway, IMO it shouldn't be based on how much your kid eats, or how they behave but on BEING a kid under 18. Only problem is that in some countries, kids marry at 12 but that's another story! <BR> <BR>Every place is going to have some kids that pig out and some that won't touch the food, just as with adults. They also will have kids that behave and kids that run wild and are totally out of control, just as with adults! Ever had to stay in the last room available next to the 4 biggest partiers in the place? Or eat at the restaurant having to endure those same 4 loud mouths? It's not just a KID issue guys! <BR> <BR>There are *family* oriented or *couple & adult* oriented resorts around for those who either want to bring kids or for those who wish to be in an adult only environment. Travellers just need to be aware of this. <BR> <BR>Now that I have THAT off of my chest...my point is: everytime I've travelled with my kids (16 & 12), we've had to show their birth certificates as a form of I.D. either at the airline counter or cruise terminal. I dunno, maybe it's only been my experience. I just paid the rates of the resorts under the assumption that they KNEW! <BR> <BR>Good luck, and as always, let your own conscience be your guide. Happy travels!

George

Where will you place your 12 year old daughter if they have a kid's camp. With the "TEENAGERS"?

april

You didn't say where you were going in the Caribbean. This may help some of us let you know where to find a resort that will allow your kids to stay and/or eat free. <BR>I got a terrific deal in Jamaica. My 10 year old will stay and eat for free the entire week we are there. I only had to pay for her plane ticket and taxes. <BR>So, the right resort for you, your family, and your pocketbook is out there. It might not be the one you were planning on staying at, but at least you wouldn't have to worry about the staff finding out your child's actual age or deal with the whole moral dilemma.