Reward nights not available when I add my child

[Woody]

Hello, has anyone else experience reward nights not being available when you add +1 child, but are available if it’s just 2 adults?

The room that is coming up as available when I just search for my partner and I is a three capacity room, however, when I add +1 child, suddenly no reward nights are available.

Would you still book anyway? Potentially my little one might still be in her travel cot then anyway, or if not can sleep on the sofa.

Just wasn’t sure if it was worth the risk of booking for 2 adults and then just turning up with our daughter.
The hotel is in Dubai, so it’s a bit of a journey to make if they are then going to turn us away?

Thoughts and experiences would be appreciated.

[yonasl]

You shouldn’t use your child to pay for the redemption nights I suppose.

[Aston100]

I would suggest contacting the hotel by email. Contact details are on each hotels website.
At least you’ll then have it in writing that they were OK for you to book for 2 adults and are intending to turn up with a child.

[Rui N.]

Like Aston said, you need to contact the hotel. In some jurisdictions it might be even illegal to have 3 people in a room certified for 2 people only.

[Anna]

+1, this is a very common problem when booking award/free nights.

Even if the room only sleeps 2, a suitably courteous email to the hotel usually results in an extra bed or even an upgrade being offered.

[aseftel]

Assuming that it’s a refundable booking (it almost always is), I’d book the room then email the hotel (details are on the confirmation). They will let you know if there are any issues. Worst case scenario, I’ve never had a hotel refuse to upgrade me to a larger room for the difference in Best Flexible Rate.

Since you’re asking about staying with a child in Dubai, I should point out a great unpublished feature of IC Festival City. If you have club access – in lieu of being able to go to the evening cocktail hour (no children allowed) you get to go to the main buffet restaurant, drinks included. Effectively an upgrade to half board. It’s generally a good property, particularly if you have a small child.

[Benilyn]

How old is the child and what hotel?

[John]

All over Europe I have never added my child (from birth to age 4) and it has never been a problem. In Spain and Italy yes they supposedly have a max number of people per room but, as my child is still able to share a bed if it’s Queen or King they are ok with that. However in Dubai I would want confirmation that it’s OK first.

[NorthernLass]

There was a reader a few months ago who had to cancel her reservation at the IC PL as the hotel insisted that a child could not be accommodated on a reward booking where the room only slept two, so I would always clear it with the hotel first.

[rachyclaire]

I had this situation and I called the hotel and asked if they were able to accommodate a rollaway bed in the relevant room type, they said yes and to email them with the booking number, no problems. This was at the intercon at the o2.

[Woody]

Thank you all. So I ended up booking for just my partner and I, and then I contact the hotel directly (IC Dubai Festival City) and they kindly added on my daughter to the booking without question.

Thank you to everyone who helpfully commented on my post.