One of the most common requests from families when planning their vacation is connecting rooms. It’s often because they are a family of 5 or more that can’t be accommodated in a standard hotel room. But sometimes even smaller families just want extra space and privacy. And suites with a separate bedroom are often more expensive than two standard rooms.
Most hotels and resorts will not guarantee connecting rooms, they will simply note it as a request. They do give preference to families with young children. But it’s still stressful for parents if they won’t know until check-in if they will even have adjacent, much less connecting, rooms. (Important note: “Adjoining” does not necessarily mean connecting.)
Here’s what I do when connecting rooms are a “must have” for a client.
Recommend a hotel that offers connecting rooms as a specific room category. Several all-inclusive brands, such Karisma, AMResorts, and Club Med actually list connecting rooms as an option to book (may be referred to as a 2 room suite), and often for less than the cost of 2 rooms. These are usually located in the “family section” of a resort, so it’s not recommended as a way for 2 couples to shave costs while traveling together.
Recommend a hotel that will block connecting rooms for families at the time the reservation is made. In Hawaii, the Grand Wailea will guarantee connecting rooms for a $50 per night fee. Hyatt Resorts worldwide has a policy of blocking connecting rooms for families with children age 12 and under for no fee, if they are available. If kids are older, then connecting rooms are “on request” only.
Reach out to a supplier who has personal contacts in my client’s destination. This might be an independent sales rep, a wholesaler, a tour operator, maybe a small local company with whom my agency has developed a strong relationship. (Some are so small they don’t even show up on TripAdvisor, so you have to be “in the know." And some only work with travel agencies.) I network at trade shows with sales reps and hotel managers, and some offer to personally block rooms for my clients.