Child pricing and age bands on packages

Child pricing is not one rule. The hotel, the transport and each ticket set their own age bands, so one child can pay full price in one line and nothing in another. Ask for the cut-off beside every line of the quote.

This checklist helps you put the right questions to the agency. It sits within our budgets and package decisions hub.

Which parts of a family quote move with age?

Quote line	How age can matter	Ask
Hotel room	Free sharing a bed, charged for an extra bed	What is the maximum occupancy and bed rule?
Breakfast	Child portion or full charge	Is breakfast free for children, and to what age?
Private vehicle	Seat count, not age, drives the price	Is the child seat provided, and who pays?
Boat or ferry ticket	Infant, child and adult fares	What age counts as an infant on this ticket?
Attractions	Child rate or free under a set age	Is the child rate checked at the gate?
Flights from Malaysia	Infant and child fares differ	Is the fare in the quote for every traveller?

What should you ask about each age band?

Put these questions to the agency, one line at a time:

1. What age counts as an infant, a child and an adult for each item?
2. Is the age measured on the travel date or the booking date?
3. Which items are free for children, and which carry a reduced fee?
4. Does a child need a separate seat, bed or meal?
5. Are child rates available on activities that need a minimum age?

Ask for the answers in the written quote, not only over chat.

How does age change the hotel line?

The room line carries the biggest swing. A child who shares the parents’ bed may add little, while a child who needs an extra bed or a second room changes the total.

Check the room’s maximum occupancy, because a room that suits two adults and one child may not suit two adults and two older children. Family rooms and connecting rooms sometimes cost less than two separate rooms.

Our guide on what changes in cost when you add children in Bali explains the room effect in more detail.

How does age change transport and tickets?

A private vehicle is priced by the vehicle, so an extra child rarely changes the transport line unless you need a larger car. Ask whether a child seat can be provided, and who pays.

Boat tickets, entry fees and activities vary widely. Some attractions give a free or reduced rate below a set age, and some water or adventure activities set minimum ages. Read how quote units differ before comparing totals.

What documents and details should you prepare?

Carry each child’s passport, since it shows the date of birth, and keep a clear copy on your phone. Tell the agency about:

• Each child’s exact age on the travel date.
• Any child seat or cot you need.
• Food allergies or dietary needs.
• Naps, early bedtimes and walking limits.

An easy first afternoon after the flight helps small children settle, so ask the agency to avoid a long first-day schedule.

What do you do next?

Make a list of your children’s ages on the travel date and send it with your brief. Then compare the child lines with the package inclusion comparator, and read what packages leave out so no cost appears at the last minute.