Guaranteeing adjoining rooms for families?

[Katie]

I'm pondering a combination of Air Bnb and hotels for our jaunt to Europe in December. After getting some hotel unavailable messages when checking availability, I realise that rather than looking for rooms with 2 adults + 1 child, I should look for two rooms. Despite what the hotel booking sites enforce for reservation, we'd want 2 adults in one room, and the child in the second room. Preferably adjoining.

What are your tips to ensure adjoining room? Book & then contact the hotel directly? Book a standard room & request/pray for a trundle on arrival? Something else?

 

[quokka77]

We booked an Italian villa directly from the owner through vrbo / trip advisor website. It wasn't cheap but it did house extended family for a week and a half. In London we booked two double beds in one room at the park plaza Westminster with the idea of upgrading to a 1br suite on arrival (which we did). Again not cheap but worth it for us. I am leaning towards airbnb, stayz, vrbo etc for future family holidays as the space and value proposition is pretty good. Always more of a risk that the property fails to meet expectations I would guess. With the exception of Christmas and new year period December is pretty much low season for much of Europe so you might find upgrades relatively cheap and plentiful if you go that route.