Perfect for Your Family: Finding a Hotel that Fits the Bill

Let’s face it, it doesn’t matter where you’re heading on your family vacation, it’s where you’re staying that matters most. And the accommodation you choose will matter far more than it did in your pre-baby days.

What you’re looking for in your accommodation will have changed dramatically, too. Spa facilities are no longer top of your agenda, but babysitting clubs and childproof rooms are a must. However, fortunately, finding family-friendly hotels isn’t as difficult as it used to be, now there are even more facilities than ever before.

From kids’ menus to baby-gear rentals, you’re now spoilt for choice. But how do you find the best accommodation for the entire family? Will the hotel offer everything it says it will, and will they really turn a blind eye if your kid spills ice cream on the hotel carpet?

To answer these questions, all it takes is a little extra planning before you book your accommodation:

Use Your Network of Other Moms and Dads

There are thousands of hotels listed online, with many travel review websites providing you with a great insight into these places too. However, nothing’s better than a direct referral from someone you know. A friend recommended the Hotel Los Castanos Ronda to me – it’s a great boutique hotel!

Ask friends and family whether they can recommend anywhere, while also tapping into any contacts you may have at day-care centers, kids’ schools, and so on. Finding out what others have enjoyed can help point you in the right direction.

Visit Travel Sites

If, after speaking to other parents, you haven’t found anywhere suitable for your family, try using travel sites to get an idea of just how family-friendly certain places are. There are a number of family-orientated review sites you can use, along with other popular all-around ones that show you pictures of the accommodation and so on.

Discover What “Kids’ Club” Really Means

A lot of family vacation resorts will provide you with kids’ clubs and activities that’ll keep your kids entertained while you relax and unwind. However, it’s easy for a hotel to stick a few board games in a room with a supervisor and call it “kids’ camp.” So, get some specifics as to what this club actually entails and whether you’ll be charged for it. You should also find out what the age limits are, how experienced the club’s organizers are, and how many supervisors there are.

You might also want to find out whether the activities are age-appropriate for your child. For example, if the kids’ club involves water play, find out how much supervision is used and whether the organizers have had water-safety training.

Look at the Services Available

You might not have given a second thought to hotel laundry services or 24-hour room service before, but now you’re going on a trip with the kids you might want to. Having these services available when you’ve got a tired toddler who doesn’t want to go down for their evening meal will be a welcome relief. Hotels like the Philadelphia Airport Marriott often provide these services as standard and they’re well worth taking advantage of.

Don’t forget to see what other handy features the hotel offers, too, including crib mattresses, safe cribs, crib sheets, and so on. There’s nothing worse than turning up unprepared and having to scrabble around to put together a bed for your child at night.

Armed with these handy tips you should be able to find a family-friendly hotel that takes all the stress and hassle out of your vacation.