Kids Stay Free? How Grenada Hotels and Resorts Price Children

"Kids stay free" is one of the most attractive lines in travel marketing and one of the most misunderstood. At some Grenada hotels it means exactly that: children up to a certain age sleep in the parents' room at no charge. At others it applies only to the room, with meals charged per child, or only to one child per room, or only on certain dates. At all-inclusive resorts, where food and drink are part of the price, children almost always carry some cost.

Knowing how hotels set children's prices helps families compare quotes fairly and avoid unpleasant surprises at checkout. This explainer covers age bands, the difference between room-only and all-inclusive pricing, extra beds and cots, and the questions to ask when a quote looks too good, or too expensive, to be right.

Age bands: who counts as a child

Every hotel defines its own age bands, and they are rarely the same from one property to the next. A common pattern is: infants under two, who usually stay free in a cot; children from two up to around eleven or twelve, who may stay free or pay a child rate; and teenagers from about twelve or thirteen, who are increasingly treated as adults for pricing. Some resorts use different cut-offs, such as sixteen, and a few adult-leaning hotels set minimum ages that exclude younger children altogether.

The age that counts is normally the child's age on the date of arrival or during the stay, as stated in the hotel's terms. A child who has a birthday during the holiday can move into a higher band at some properties. Booking sites ask for each child's age for this reason, and entering incorrect ages to get a lower quote risks a correction, or a bill, at check-in. Keep passports to hand, as hotels may ask for proof of age. If a child is close to a cut-off, say so when you ask for a quote; some hotels will apply the lower band for the whole stay, and it is better to know before you pay.

Room-only and B&B hotels: how child pricing usually works

Free in the parents' room. At many room-only and bed-and-breakfast hotels, children below a set age stay free when sharing existing beds with their parents. The room price is the same as for two adults.

Extra bed charges. If a rollaway bed or sofa bed is needed, there may be a nightly charge, even when the child "stays free". Ask whether the room already has enough beds for your family.

Breakfast per child. Where breakfast is included for two adults, children's breakfast may be charged separately, sometimes at a reduced rate, sometimes free for younger children.

One free child per room. Some offers cover only the first child; a second or third child pays a set rate or requires a larger room.

Taxes and service charge. VAT and any service charge apply to the room total. When an extra bed or child meal is added, the taxes rise accordingly.

All-inclusive resorts: why children rarely stay free

At an all-inclusive resort, the price covers meals, snacks, drinks and many activities, so each guest has a real cost to the hotel. Children are therefore usually charged a per-night child rate, often a percentage of the adult rate or a fixed amount that varies by season. Promotions such as "kids stay free" or "kids stay for a reduced rate" do appear, particularly in quieter months, but they are usually limited to certain room types, dates and a set number of children.

For families comparing an all-inclusive with a room-only hotel, the child rate is the number that changes the maths. A resort that looks expensive for two adults can become competitive if children are discounted, while a room-only hotel that lets children stay free may still cost more once three meals a day and drinks are added for a hungry family. Ask each property for a quote for your exact party, with the children's ages, and compare totals, including taxes and service charges, rather than headline rates.

Questions to ask when comparing family quotes

Two quotes for the same week can differ widely because they include different things. To compare like for like, ask each hotel or agent:

• What age bands do you use, and which band does each of the children fall into on our dates?
• Is the child rate per night, per stay, or a percentage of the adult rate?
• Does the quote include an extra bed or cot, and is there a charge for either?
• Which meals are included for the children, and are drinks and snacks included?
• Does the "kids stay free" offer apply to every child, or only the first?
• Are taxes, VAT and service charges included in the total?
• Does the price change if a child has a birthday during the stay?
• Are any children's activities, such as a kids' club or water sports, charged separately?

Seasons, school holidays and where the deals are

Children's pricing follows the same seasonal pattern as adult rates. The winter high season, from mid-December to mid-April, is the most expensive, with the weeks around Christmas, New Year and Easter at the top of the range and often subject to minimum stays. The northern summer holidays in July and August are busy with families, including many visiting relatives in Grenada and those attending Carnival in August, so family-friendly deals can be limited at that time.

The best value for families tends to appear in May, June, and the autumn months, when hotels have more rooms to fill. That is also hurricane season, which officially runs from June to November; Grenada lies near the southern edge of the main hurricane belt but has been hit, most recently by Hurricane Beryl, which devastated Carriacou and Petite Martinique in July 2024. Families travelling in these months should read cancellation terms carefully and consider travel insurance that covers weather disruption. Some properties close for maintenance in September or October, so check opening dates.

Larger families: two rooms, suites or a villa

Families of five or more face a different calculation. Most standard rooms in Grenada cannot take five people, so the choice becomes two rooms, a suite rated for more guests, or a villa or apartment. With two rooms, check whether each room is priced for two adults, whether children can be split between the rooms and still count as children, and whether the second room is discounted. Some hotels require an adult in each room; others allow older teenagers to share a connecting room alone.

At all-inclusive resorts, families of five or six often find that two rooms plus child rates cost similar to a suite, while giving two bathrooms. For self-catering families, a villa priced per night rather than per person can be far cheaper per head than any hotel option, though meals, transport and housekeeping then need planning. Ask for quotes for each arrangement and compare the totals, the space and the convenience together rather than price alone.

Mistakes families make with child pricing

The most frequent mistake is assuming that "kids stay free" means the whole holiday is free for children. Meals, extra beds and activities can quickly add up. Another is searching with two adults to get a lower price and adding children later; the room type chosen may not accept the family, or the price may jump. Families also compare per-person package prices without realising that one quote is for a garden-view room and the other for a beachfront suite.

Finally, families sometimes overlook the value of asking. Small hotels in particular may be flexible on child charges for long stays, quiet periods or families booking two rooms. A short, polite email explaining your family and dates, sent directly to the hotel, can bring a better offer than the one displayed online. Always get the final terms in writing before paying.

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