Kidding Around: Staying In A Hotel With Little Ones
When you have little ones, their needs have to come first. At the same time, sometimes you need to do things — like travel — that might be a little challenging with them along for the experience. Staying in a hotel with kids is a different experience than staying in a hotel alone or with a partner, but it can still be fun! Here are some tips to make your hotel stay with kids more pleasant for all involved.
Look for a family hotel.
Look for a hotel that advertises itself as being a family hotel or as being "family friendly." These hotels are more likely to offer amenities that will keep the kids entertained, such as a playground or wading pool. There will also be other guests with children, so they'll be more understanding if your kids are a little noisy or silly sometimes. You won't have to worry about disturbing business people or couples on their honeymoon like you might at a higher-end hotel that does not particularly cater to families.
Book a suite or two adjoining rooms.
One challenge of staying in a hotel with kids is squeezing everyone into a single room. Your kids are probably used to having their own space, as are you, and cramming everyone into one room can make everyone a little cranky and claustrophobic. If the hotel offer suites, booking one is well worth the extra cost. Suites usually have two bedrooms, a central living area, and a bathroom. Everyone can spread out a little more without child #1 trying to eat Cheetos on the bed while child #2 is trying to sleep.
If the hotel does not offer suites, see if you can book two adjoining rooms. You can keep the door between the rooms open so everyone is in one larger space.
Plan a lot of activities.
Make sure you plan a lot of activities during your stay. Venture out into the town and visit playgrounds. Go out for ice cream. Tour the nearby museums. The more you do, the less time you'll spend just sitting around the hotel. And when you do get back to the hotel, your kids will be tired, so they'll fall asleep faster.
Staying in a hotel with kids can be a fun experience. It all comes down to choosing the right hotel, picking the right suite or rooms within that hotel, and keeping everyone busy.