Traveling with children, whether they’re your own or someone else’s, can be both fun and harrowing. Look on the bright side: you’ll get discounts, freebies, and experiences that you may not have been treated to otherwise! Here are tips for going on vacation with little ones.
1. Always book with kid-friendly hotels. Websites like Hipmunk make booking a room both cheap and easy. Hotels that cater to children will have a host of conveniences that you may not find elsewhere.
2. Bring baby proofing items along with you. Many hotels are built primarily for business travelers, which means the hotel rooms won’t necessarily be risk-free for your kids. Outlet covers and other small baby proofing items will give you peace of mind without taking up too much space in your luggage.
3. Explain to older children that the same house rules apply when traveling. They shouldn’t open the door for strangers, keep the door unlocked, or be left alone in the room.
4. If you’re leaving your child at a Kids Club for an hour or so, find out a few important things beforehand, like their allergy policy and your visitation rights. Also, find out the ratio of caretakers to children.
5. Ask the front desk if they have any amenities for kids. Many hotels have stuffed animals, coloring books and crayons, pool toys, and tub toys. Many hotels also have libraries, board games, video games, movies, and game rooms.
6. If you have a baby in tow, ask the hotel if they have any niceties like a Diaper Genie, bottle warmer, or booster seat. You may also be able to request a crib if you call ahead.
7. Will you need a miniature refrigerator in your room? Whether you want to keep healthy snacks for older children or you need a place to store morning milk for a baby, don’t assume a fridge will be included in the room. Make sure to call ahead and request a room with a refrigerator.
8. Ask your hotel if they have any rooms with kid-friendly layouts. Some hotels have extra-large bathrooms, walk-in closets, additional rooms, and other big areas to accommodate cribs, Pack and Plays, and other items. That way, you’ll be able to put the kids to bed and stay up to enjoy the rest of your evening.
9. If you’re a frequent traveler, signup for a loyalty program. As you collect points, you’ll be able to trade them in for family-friendly additions, like larger rooms and in-room movies. You’ll also be able to get sweet treats for the kids and late checkout.
10. Find a hotel that offers complimentary food items, like a continental breakfast or free chocolate chip cookies. Most family-friendly hotels include breakfast. Also, it’s common for a hotel to let children eat for free. While you won’t want to have every meal in your hotel, you can save a lot by eating at least one or two meals per day wherever you’re staying.
Having children isn’t an excuse to not travel! By bringing your children along with you, you open them up to new cultures and experiences, and you get to visit the places you’ve always dreamed of seeing.
This article was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, a travel website that offers customers a fast and easy way to find the best travel deals.
