What’s the difference between a family vacation and a family nightmare? Often, it’s just poorly chosen accommodation. But how do you ensure you’re booking the best family-friendly hotels? How do we know even what the best accommodation for families is?
As a parent, planning a family vacation can be hard. Let’s be honest, a lot goes into planning a family trip, and one parent usually has this responsibility. From booking planes, trains and cars to finding activities that appeal to the whole family, there are so many things to consider.
And how do we know? I (Mark) research, plan, and book all of our travel, and I always have done this. So, our advice comes from staying at kid-friendly hotels in 45 countries with babies through to teenagers.
It’s easy to feel lost, especially when booking accommodation. The most important decision you’ll make is choosing the right accommodation for your family.
A good hotel or resort can make all the difference between a relaxing and enjoyable vacation and a stressful and chaotic one.
Deciding on the best family-friendly accommodation
So how do you decide on the best accommodation for your family? Well, there are several factors to take into consideration when booking accommodation at your destination, including:
- Does it fit into your price range? You may want luxury, but mid-range accommodation might be for you.
- Are the hotel rooms big enough for your family, or do you need a suite?
- Is there a restaurant onsite, or are there places to eat nearby?
- What sort of facilities does the accommodation have? Is there a pool, kids’ club, day spa, etc.?
- Is the hotel close to the big-ticket attractions you plan to see?
- Are public transport options close by?
- How do I know this place is any good?
Let’s address all these factors so you can have the best family holiday ever. In doing so, we will have you travelling like a pro and planning the perfect trip.
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Some of the best family resorts and hotels are not cheap, especially if you don’t have the budget to match. A huge way to ruin a vacation is to book a hotel you won’t be able to afford easily, or you’ll pay off later.
We suggest you pick a range of hotels you like, maybe 3-4 different ones, and start planning at least eight months out. This will allow you to check weekly prices to see if they have gotten any cheaper.
The rise of free cancellation these days allows you to book a place and then cancel it if you find something better.
One thing we can’t stress to anyone planning travel with family is to always stay within your budget. Added worry about how you will pay for things is one way to cause unwanted stress on a vacation.
Best hotels for families
You may need a suite or family room, depending on your family size. One-child families will nearly always fit into a standard room. The most common hotel room on the planet is for 2, with a rollout for the third person.
Families of 4 can sometimes get a room with a queen and two singles, and families of 5 will certainly need a suite, Airbnb apartment, or two rooms.
If you’re travelling with older teenagers, you may just be able to book two rooms next to each other or interconnecting rooms. Always make sure you request this and not just on the booking form. Email or call the hotel to confirm this.
If you’re travelling with a young baby, you may need to check if they have cribs available for your room and how far from your room is a facility to heat up the baby’s bottle. Not many rooms come with a microwave.
An apartment is always the better option for families as it comes with cooking and laundry facilities, not to mention, most of the time, a common area with a couch and TV for entertainment.
Always check if your room has the following:
- Air conditioning or heating
- Fridge
- Room safe
These items above will make your stay much easier and more comfortable. Nothing is worse than having a hot room and nothing cold to drink.
Extras to consider when booking accommodation for families
Onsite restaurants are handy if you are a busy family and want to dine and relax in your room at the end of the day. Some hotels will have a discount if you eat at their restaurants.
Opt for breakfast included if you can afford it; that’s one meal every day you do not have to think about. All-inclusive is even better than taking care of all meals.
Any vacation with kids means you should look for a hotel with a range of activities, like a pool, games room, kids’ club, bike hire, kayaking, arcade games and more, which will keep younger and older kids happy.
Being close to public transport solves two big travel problems. Number 1: How do I get to my accommodation? And number 2, how do I get around when I am there?
You can search the area your hotel is in on Google Maps to see what the transport connections are like. Good transport connections make sense and can save your family money when getting around your destination.
Research, research, research!
Finally, go to as many sites as you can, such as Booking.com, Expedia, and Trip Advisor, and read as many reviews as you can before you decide. On Booking.com, you can filter reviews and read the reviews submitted by families.
Mistakes to avoid when booking accommodation for families
Do not get caught up on the little stuff like, for instance, there was dust in my room. Look for reviews about the area where the accommodation is located, if the room was large, and what the dining experience with kids was like.
There is no real way to know the best place to stay with your family until you have been there. The advice we give in this article is how we plan our accommodation. It has kept us in good stead over the years when staying in everything from resorts to hostels.
In all honesty, there have been only three places we have ever stayed in that we would never return to or recommend. There was only one that we left after a night as we did not feel safe there at all.
I think that is pretty good for people who have travelled extensively and for long periods of time.
Quick list of things you can take with you for room safety:
Here are a couple of items that we take with us when we travel to make sure our room is secure.
- Small plastic door stops
- Our own travel safe is just big enough for money
- Cable ties. Worse case, you can cable-tie anything together
- Combination locks. For backpacks, suitcases and anything else
My final thoughts on family accommodation
At times, you won’t find the perfect accommodation for your family and unfortunately, you won’t learn that until you are there.
As much as it can influence your vacation, try not to focus on the faults. Communicate with reception regarding your issues or the host. Some can be resolved, and some can maybe be ignored for the sake of your holiday.
Like this article: Check out these related posts!
- Don’t just survive; make sure you thrive on long-haul flights with teens
- 13 reasons why staying in hostels with kids is a brilliant idea
- Our top list of all the travel essentials for globetrotting teens