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Booking for a family raises questions a couple never has to think about. Can five of us share one room? Does the baby count? Is an extra bed cheaper than a second room?
This guide answers those questions in plain terms. It explains how hotels count guests, why they set limits, how extra beds and cots work, and how to choose between adding beds and booking a bigger unit. It is written by the reservations team at Best Trip Hotels, where we arrange beds and cots for families every week across our serviced apartments in Jeddah and our branch in Jazan.
What Occupancy Means in a Hotel or Apartment
Occupancy is the number of people allowed to stay in a unit overnight. It is set for each room type, not for the whole building.
Three things usually decide it:
- Beds: how many people the existing beds can sleep.
- Space: whether there is room for an extra bed or cot without blocking doors and walkways.
- Bathrooms and services: how many people one bathroom, one kitchenette and one set of linen can serve.
Occupancy counts heads, not beds. A baby in a cot is still a guest, even if they do not need a bed of their own. When you book, give the total number of people, including children.
Why Hotels Limit the Number of Guests per Room
Hotels are not being difficult when they refuse a seventh person in a room built for four. There are real reasons behind the limit.
Safety. In an emergency, staff need to know how many people are in each room. Extra mattresses on the floor also block exits and walkways.
Guest registration. In Saudi Arabia, licensed hotels and serviced apartments register guests with the Ministry of Interior through the Shomoos system. Each guest staying overnight needs to be on record. Our guide to hotel check-in rules in Saudi Arabia explains which documents each guest must show.
Comfort and services. Linen, towels, toiletries, air conditioning and hot water are planned around the stated number of guests. More people means more of everything.
Wear and tear. Furniture, bathrooms and mattresses wear out faster in an overcrowded unit, which affects the next guests too.
Our terms and conditions put it simply: maximum occupancy limits for each room must be followed.
How Children Are Counted
Most confusion around occupancy comes from children. Policies differ from hotel to hotel, so read the terms before you book.
Babies and toddlers
Infants usually sleep in a cot or with a parent. Many hotels do not charge for them, but they still count towards the number of people in the room. If you need a cot, ask for it in advance, as numbers are limited.
Children under 6 at Best Trip Hotels
Under our terms, children under 6 stay free when they use the existing beds. If a young child needs an extra bed or a cot, that can be arranged on request, and charges may apply.
Older children and teenagers
From around school age, children usually need their own bed, so they count much like adults for planning. A family of two adults and three teenagers needs five sleeping places, not two beds and a promise to squeeze in.
Our booking form lets you choose up to 6 adults and 4 children per room, but it does not ask for ages. After booking, message us your children’s ages so we can prepare the right beds.
Extra Beds: What They Are and How They Work
An extra bed is a single bed added to a room for one more guest. In hotels it is often a folding rollaway bed. In apartments, the living room sofa bed sometimes does the same job.
Sofa beds that are already in the unit
Some of our units already include a sofa bed in the living room, so you may not need an extra bed at all:
- At Al Andalus Tolen, the Junior Suite and the One Bedroom Apartment have a sofa bed in the living room.
- At Best Trip Valencia in Jazan, the One Bedroom Apartment has a sofa bed in the living room alongside two single beds.
Check with us whether the sofa bed counts towards occupancy for your booking. A separate living room is one of the main things an apartment adds over a hotel room, as our guide on what is a serviced apartment explains.
Requesting an extra bed
At Best Trip Hotels, extra beds are available on request at every branch, subject to availability. Add the request when you book, or message reception before you arrive. A charge may apply, so ask for it when you request the bed.
When an extra bed is not the best choice
- In a compact studio, an extra bed can leave little floor space.
- For a long stay, sleeping on a rollaway for a week or more is tiring.
- For an adult, a full-size bed in a separate room is usually better.
Baby Cots: Booking One Without Surprises
A baby cot (also called a crib) is a small bed with raised sides for infants. Most hotels keep a limited number, which is why they run out in busy seasons.
How to make sure you get one:
- Request it at booking, not on arrival.
- Confirm a day or two before you travel, especially in Ramadan, Eid and school holidays.
- Check it on arrival. Make sure it is stable, the sides lock and the mattress fits snugly.
- Keep it clear. Place the cot away from windows, curtain cords and heaters, and keep pillows and loose blankets out of it.
At Best Trip Hotels, baby cots are available on request at every branch, subject to availability. Al Andalus Tolen and Best Trip Valencia also have baby safety gates and socket covers. If you are travelling for Umrah with young children, our guide to Umrah with kids covers room setup, meals and rest days for the whole trip.
Bed Setups at Best Trip Branches
Bed layouts tell you more about real capacity than a room name does. These are the setups listed on our branch pages. Maximum occupancy for each unit is confirmed by our team when you book.
| Branch | Unit types and beds |
|---|---|
| Al Andalus Tolen (Al Baghdadiyah) | Studios of 30 m² with two single beds or one double; sea view studios; Junior Suites of 50 m² with a large double bed (one with a living room sofa bed); One Bedroom Apartment of 45 m² with a double bed and sofa bed; Two Bedroom Apartment of 60 m² with an extra-large double and two single beds |
| Paris (An Nuzhah) | One Bedroom Apartments of 70 m² with a double bed or two single beds; Two Bedroom Apartment of 90 m² with a double bed and two single beds |
| Milano (Al Ajaweed) | Studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, up to 120 m² |
| Marsilia (Sayed Al Shuhada) | Standard Studio of 40 m² and Deluxe Studio of 50 m², both with two twin beds; Two Bedroom Deluxe Apartment of 70 m² with a king bed and two twin beds |
| Valencia (Jazan) | One Bedroom Apartment with two single beds and a living room sofa bed; Two Bedroom Apartment with two single beds and a large double bed |
| City Zone and Istanbul (monthly) | Apartments with separate living rooms, for monthly stays |
Families travelling with grandparents often want single beds for them. Our guide to Umrah with elderly parents explains what else to look for in their room.
Extra Bed or Bigger Unit? How to Decide
Adding a bed is not always the cheapest or most comfortable option. Compare the total cost of each option for your dates, as our rates vary by season.
An extra bed makes sense when
- You need one more sleeping place for one or two nights.
- The extra guest is a child.
- The unit already has a living room with space for the bed.
A bigger unit makes sense when
- You are four or more people, including older children.
- You are staying more than a few nights.
- Parents need a separate bedroom from the children.
A two-bedroom apartment gives each part of the family a door to close, plus a shared living area. Our guide to serviced apartment vs hotel explains why apartments often work out better value for families than hotel rooms.
Two units side by side make sense when
- Your group is too large for the biggest unit.
- Two families travel together and want privacy.
Al Andalus Tolen and Best Trip Paris have connecting rooms, so a large family can stay side by side. For the biggest family units, Best Trip Milano has apartments up to three bedrooms and 120 m², each with a living room.
Booking for a Family: Step by Step
- Count everyone, including babies.
- List the ages of all children.
- Decide who sleeps where. Parents, grandparents and children may need separate rooms.
- Choose the unit or units that give every person a proper bed.
- Add extra beds or a cot only where they fit.
- Send the details in writing to the property and keep the reply.
If you book through a booking site, the guest numbers you enter there are what the property sees. Our guide to booking direct vs booking sites explains how requests such as cots and extra beds pass between the site and the hotel.
Plans can change if a relative joins or drops out. Our guide to the hotel cancellation policy explains what happens if you need to change or cancel a booking.
Long Stays With a Large Family
For stays of a month or more, space matters even more. Two adults and three children can share a studio for a night, but not for four weeks.
Best Trip City Zone and Best Trip Istanbul are our monthly properties, with separate living rooms and kitchen facilities. Our guide to how monthly apartment stays work explains monthly terms, deposits and payment. If you are planning to stay several months, our guide to hotel apartment vs furnished apartment compares a serviced stay with a rented furnished flat.
Common Mistakes When Booking for a Family
- Leaving children out of the guest count to get a lower price. This can cause problems at check-in.
- Assuming a cot will be there. Request it in advance.
- Booking a studio for five. It may be allowed with extra beds, but it will not feel restful.
- Not mentioning ages. A teenager needs a full bed, not a cot or a shared sofa.
- Forgetting grandparents’ needs, such as single beds or a room near the lift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children count towards hotel occupancy?
Yes. Occupancy counts every person staying overnight, including babies. Some hotels do not charge for young children, but they are still counted.
Do children stay free at Best Trip Hotels?
Children under 6 stay free when they use existing beds. Extra beds or cots may carry a charge.
Can I get an extra bed at Best Trip Hotels?
Yes. Extra beds are available on request at every branch, subject to availability. Ask when you book or message reception before arrival.
Are baby cots free?
At Best Trip Hotels, cots are available on request, and charges may apply. Ask our team when you book.
How many people can stay in one room?
It depends on the unit. Our booking form allows up to 6 adults and 4 children per room, but each unit has its own limit based on its beds and size. Our team confirms the limit for the unit you choose.
Can five people stay in one hotel room?
Sometimes, in a larger room with extra beds. For five people, a two-bedroom apartment is usually more comfortable and may cost less than one room with several extras.
Is a sofa bed counted as a bed?
Often, yes. Some of our units, such as the Al Andalus Tolen One Bedroom Apartment and the Valencia One Bedroom Apartment, include a sofa bed in the living room. Confirm with us how it counts for your booking.
Find the Right Fit for Your Family at Best Trip Hotels
The easiest family stay is one where everyone has a proper bed from the first night. Tell us who is travelling, and we will help you match your group to the right unit.
- Families of four: two-bedroom apartments at Paris, Marsilia, Al Andalus Tolen and Valencia.
- Large families: three-bedroom apartments at Milano, up to 120 m².
- Two families together: connecting rooms at Al Andalus Tolen and Paris.
- Babies and toddlers: baby cots on request at every branch, with baby safety gates and socket covers at Al Andalus Tolen and Valencia.
- Monthly family stays: City Zone and Istanbul. Contact us for monthly terms.
Our rates change with the season, so check the price for your exact dates. Send your family’s ages and numbers to our team on +966 547010115 by phone or WhatsApp, 24 hours a day, and we will confirm beds, cots and occupancy before you pay.
Book direct with Best Trip Hotels and arrive to a room that is ready for everyone.
Sources
- Best Trip Hotels, Terms and Conditions (children and extra guests): https://besttripbt.com/terms-conditions/
- Best Trip Hotels, Services (extra beds, cots, family features): https://besttripbt.com/services/
- Best Trip Hotels, Book Now (booking form guest limits): https://besttripbt.com/book-now/
- Best Trip branch pages: Al Andalus Tolen, Paris, Milano, Marsilia and Valencia (bed setups and sizes), besttripbt.com
- Saudipedia, Shomoos Security System: https://saudipedia.com/en/article/632/government-and-politics/systems/shomoos-security-system
- Your Mileage May Vary, “Why Hotels Charge for Extra People in the Room” (30 August 2025): https://yourmileagemayvary.com/2025/08/30/why-hotels-charge-for-extra-people-in-the-room-what-you-can-do-about-it/
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