Might be simply that the hospitaleros are not used to the 'make up' of your group and revert to what they know 'one pilgrim-one bed'. Also "In most places we have to pay for a bed that we don't use, and then sometimes they sell his bed to another pilgrim as well." as there are, most likely, at this time of the year, many more beds than pilgrims how do you know that s/he sold your bed on? Buen Camino, SY
Tonight there are four rooms with 1 bed in one room, 2 beds in two rooms and five in one, when we arrived there were already two pilgrims in the five bed room. There are nine people in our group (4 adults and our five children). We were told we could use the three beds in the five bed room, and the other beds (the couple with us took the single bed room, the bed is a king single I think). We paid for the seven beds (and the couple with us for two, in the single bed). A short time after arriving, other pilgrims arrived and he took their payment and filled the beds we weren't in. It makes sense to me, but he is also charging two people for the same beds. I also appreciate that people just want a place to sleep, and the contrary would be horrible (if they were to say, sorry, we have an empty bed but you can't sleep in it because someone paid for it and they aren't using it!!!!)
Also in another place, the beds were allocated by bed number. Other people were allocated to the same bed number as our children after they checked what bed that they had put their stuff in. Effectively they put two people in the same allocated bed. I don't mind, but it just seems rough to charge us per person and not bed if they can double up. To then get irritated if I ask if a baby pays too seems a bit rich.
Being a group of nine means that even if there are only 2-4 other pilgrims around, suddenly there are a number of pilgrims to a room.
Clearly people are not used to the composition of our group, and I expect that. It is part of the fun, being the novelty!
I think I'm just tired and not liking paying for our baby when he never uses a bed. It also isn't in all places, and I undersand that people aren't used to babies rocking up! The idea of double selling beds really doesn't bother me, as they are just beds for people to sleep in, which really is what matters. If our kids have a bed, then we are grateful.