Children travel by their own rules — and each hotel sets them differently. At one property a child stays free until 12, at another the free age ends at six, and an extra bed is almost always charged separately. Here's how to read a children policy and work out the cost before you book.
Many hotels let children up to a certain age stay free of charge when the child sleeps in the existing room beds together with the parents. A separate extra bed or a cot usually comes at a surcharge, and the age thresholds vary from one hotel to another. The exact terms are always in that specific hotel's rules — shown on the room page and in your bookings.
01 / FreeWhen a child stays free
The basic rule at most hotels: a child up to a certain age stays free if they don't need a separate bed — that is, they sleep in the beds already in the room. Each hotel sets its own age threshold: most often it's somewhere between 5 and 12 years, though other limits exist. Go by the rules of the hotel you've chosen, not by any "general practice".
- Free — usually when sharing the existing beds with the parents and within the stated age.
- Discounted — some hotels charge a reduced child rate instead of a full adult one.
- As an adult — if the child is over the free-age threshold, they're counted at the adult rate.
02 / Extra bedExtra bed and cot
If a child needs their own bed, the hotel adds an extra bed — and it's usually charged separately. The surcharge may be a fixed amount per night or a percentage of the rate. A cot for infants is often provided free of charge, but hotels keep only a limited number of cots, so it's best to request one in advance.
03 / Where to lookWhere to find the children policy
Open the hotel page
The "House rules" section lists the age thresholds and child terms specific to that hotel.
Enter the children's ages in the search
A child's age on the check-in date affects the rate — enter it exactly, not "roughly".
Check the final price
The price breakdown shows whether the child is free, discounted or counted as an adult.
Request a cot in advance
Add a cot or extra bed in special requests — the hotel will confirm availability.
04 / HelpIf the terms are unclear
Children policies can be worded in many ways, and sometimes it's easier to clarify in advance than to sort it out at the desk. Find your booking in your account, message our bot @sales_travel_bot, or call the hotline 8 800 1000-646 — we'll ask the hotel for the exact age threshold and the extra-bed surcharge.
05 / FAQFrequently asked questions
Up to what age does a child stay free?
There's no single threshold — each hotel sets its own, usually between 5 and 12 years. Check the rules of the hotel you've chosen: they appear on the room page and in the price breakdown when you book.
Is an extra bed always paid?
Usually yes — a separate bed most often comes at a surcharge, either fixed or as a percentage of the rate. A cot for infants is often provided free on request.
Do I need to list the child when booking?
Yes, always. State the number of children and their ages for the travel dates — this affects the rate and whether you stay within the room's occupancy limit. An undeclared child can lead to a charge at the desk.
Are the child's meals included?
Not always. A free stay covers the room; on breakfast, half-board or all-inclusive plans, a child's meals may be charged at a separate child rate. Check the hotel rules or ask our support team.