A party of guests might request adjoining rooms to ensure that they are situated in the hotel in close proximity to each other. Guests should remember that adjacent rooms does not necessarily mean that they are adjoining rooms (see below).
Adjoining Room
Some hotels consider adjacent rooms to be simply near each other, such as across the hall. This is not technically the definition of adjacent rooms, but most likely due to the fact that the room numbers are adjacent (odd numbers on one side, even numbers across the hallway).
Most of the time, they are also adjacent rooms, with a door or entryway connecting the two; however, they may be adjoining rooms without being adjacent rooms, perhaps through the utilization of a hallway, stairs, or some other passage.
Often, there is a door on both sides, opening inward to each room and able to be locked on either end, so that privacy can be ensured in either room. Having doors that lock on each side allows the hotel to use the rooms separately for two different sets of guests.
Parents often request more than one hotel room from us when making their family hotel reservations. It may be that they have 3 or 4 children and need a family of five or six hotel room. It could be that they have young children with early bedtimes and they want a separate space so that the kids can sleep undisturbed. They may have teenager and need an extra bathroom for sanity sake. Mom and Dad may be looking for some "adult" time and "need to ensure extra privacy for themselves so that their family vacation can also become a romantic escape."
I used this gentle explanation once during a consultation with a hotelier. He wanted my opinions while desinging blue prints for construction of his family friendly resort. I could tell he just wasn't grasping what I was trying to say. Finally I was forced to spell it out for him and I said..."Listen, you need to build more connecting rooms because parents want to have sex while on vacation and do not want to worry about having their kids watch." Brutally honest and perhaps a bit too graphic, but at least my honesty got more family connecting rooms from that hotel chain that are now available to parents in need of a great vacation!
This does bring up a VERY important distinction in travel industry jargon that most travelers simple do not understand. When speaking "hotel -ese", there is a HUGE difference when asking for "connecting rooms" and "ajoining rooms". 9 out of 10 times, our parents will ask us for adjoing rooms. By industry definition, an ADJOING room means two rooms next door to one another...adjoined by a wall. Many hoteliers take the liberty with adjoining rooms to stretch this definition to include rooms NEARBY to one another, say across the hall from each other. Our vacationkids agents understand that what our parents REALLY want are "CONNECTING rooms". A connecting room is defined by two adjoing rooms CONNECTED by a door. Can you see why getting the hotel lingo straight is half the battle in getting what you really want?
2. Unlock the door connecting the two rooms and voila....you've turned two adjoining rooms into a CONNECTING ROOM which can be assigned on a reqest basis This means you paid for two rooms and you are asking "pretty please" Mr. hotelier, PLEASE keep us all together.
3. The resort can also sell both rooms connected together with the door open as a separate category room called a FAMILY SUITE. Generally, there is a higher price tag for the suite category but parents paying this price would be 100% GUARANTEED to get two rooms connected by a door.
If you're traveling with grandparents or other family members or friends, and simply want your rooms to be fairly near to each other, then ask for adjoining rooms. If you want two rooms connected with a door to keep your children safe and close, then ask for connecting rooms. It is important to use the correct terminology when making your hotel room REQUESTS.
To complicate matters even more, the word "request" also needs to be defined for most travelers. The definition of a "request" means you are ASKING for something. No where is it GUARANTEED that your request will be honored. Things like One large or two smaller beds to sleep in, smoking or non, additional cots or cribs, adjoining or connecting rooms and room locations are all things you can request but it is up to the discrepancy of the hotel at the time of check in as to whether you will get it. Hoteliers try their very best to make guests happy. Happy guests means repeat business and great word of mouth endorsements. Whether your wish can granted may simply depend on current occupancy and availability when you arrive. Some hotels are built to attract certain clientele...for example there are many huge resorts that were built to draw convention business. They may have thousands of rooms but have been built architecturally to have less than 50 rooms connected with a door. In such cases, your odds of actually getting connecting rooms are slim, particularly during high occupancy weeks like spring break and the December holidays. Other resorts may only offer connecting rooms in specific areas of their complex. Parents may be able to get connecting rooms for their family of five but they will have to forfeit an ocean view because connecting rooms are only available in garden view buildings Having the help of an experienced travel agent with contacts in resort can most certainly help when it comes to fulfilling certain requests.
The good news for parents is that hoteliers are FINALLY beginning to get the message when it comes to the need for connecting rooms for families. Many are now remodeling or building new resorts offering family suites similar to the floor plan example shown in the photo above from the Barcelo Bavaro Family Suite in Punta Cana. Family suites cost a bit more but parents are GUARANTEED CONNECTING rooms. Not all family suites are set up like the floor plan illustrated here. Hotels that do offer larger family suites have several different floor plan designs. This is yet another reason why you need an experienced travel agent to help you sort thru all the different choices. Just because the room is called a family suite does not mean there is a privacy door separating two rooms. Some family suites are simply larger rooms with bunk beds for more occupancy but many not offer the privacy that mom and dad may require.
1. Cruise lines WILL allow you to deposit and GUARANTEE specific adjoining cabins. Ship deck plans illustrate which cabins connect with a door. Once your book your cruise, your initial confirmation will have your exact cabin numbers on it. Hotels and resorts do not do this.
2. There are more family of five and family of six cabin options available to us now on the newer cruise ships. Although these are not offer as much privacy as adjoining cabins, they are the more economical that family suites on board. Because of high demand, these cabins normally are the first to sell out. We highly suggest if you have a larger family that you plan your cruise 1 to 2 years in advance.
3. Most hotels with family suites normally have age limits for kids. There are a few exceptions but most will allow 3 or 4 kids under the age of 12 to share the suite. Parents with teens are often forced to resort back to requested adjoining rooms when in fact, it's the teens that may need to be kept under a more watchful eye. Remember cruise ships charge by the number of passengers sharing a cabin and not the AGES of the occupants. Larger families with teens will find more affordable options with cruises.
The adjoining rooms #41/42, located in our Casa Azteca Cottage, is ideal for small families, or friends traveling together and wanting more value with separate sleeping spaces. Each bedroom can be configured as a king or 2 twin beds, depending on your needs.
Take your time to peruse our detailed floor-plans to assist you in choosing the perfect cottage for your vacation! Each floor plan shows the bathroom setup, the sleeping accommodations, living room details, in room furnishings and how each room type is arranged within the cottage.
Sun Executive plus Sun Superior Room 1 : The Sun Superior with 26 square metres. All rooms have balconies and are fully equipped with electronic key cards, LCD TVs with cable programs, in room electronic safes, hair dryers, coffee and tea facilities, Rest rooms with hot and cold water and shower closets, free wifi internet connection. Room 2: The Sun Executive with 35 square metres. All rooms have balconies and are fully equipped with electronic key cards, LCD TVs with cable programs, in room electronic safes, hair dryers, coffee and tea facilities, Rest rooms with hot and cold water and shower closets, free wifi internet connection.
Is it possible to book two adjoining rooms as a GTY (guarantee) where RCL will choose the specific pair of adjoining rooms you get? We just got back from an 8 day New England cruise where our teenagers were in the adjoining room and that worked out well. We are planning next summer's cruise and would like to have adjoining rooms again. I would like to be able to book two GTY rooms that would be adjoining but I'm not sure if that's possilble.
A great option for traveling with kids - extra space and separate bedrooms. Our King Superior room connects with a Superior Double (2 Full/Queen beds). With guaranteed connecting rooms and convenient amenities, The Watergate Hotel offers the perfect place to stay with family in Washington D.C. If you require a different adjoining room configuration - please contact our Reservations Department at 1-844-617-1972.
Family Connecting Rooms create a home away from home in Washington DC. In addition to our comfortable beds, the rooms feature spacious, spa-like marble bathrooms with robes and La Bottega amenities. Travel comfortably in Washington DC when you stay in our family-friendly hotel.
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