Hotel visits with kids
Making the most of your stay
As a family, we are always on the lookout for hotel experiences that include Hamish.
Staying at a hotel with kids, however, is not always a child friendly experience, and it is important to do your research before checking into your chosen hotel.
Recently, we had the pleasure of staying at a hotel that truly “gets” family life.
It had the perfect balance of luxury and adventire for the adults and activities and entertainment for the kids.
But, a child friendly stay is so much more than just a great play area and so here’s how you can pick the perfect spot and make the most of your stay.
Look for thoughtfully curated family packages
Many hotels will offer “Family Fun” packages. These could include kids’ meals, activity vouchers, kids clubs and even babysitting facilities.
On our recent stay the hotel offered outdoor activities like a pool, giant chess, putt putt course and large grass areas to explore as well as an indoor games room. This helped to keep Hamish entertained and added to the excitement of his visit.
Room layout matters—opt for family suites or interleading rooms
We stayed in a family suite with two double beds king bed for us . Hamish is still quite young so an interleading room is not an option for us right now.
Other hotels may offer cribs, single beds or bunk beds. Always ask ahead, especially if travelling with a baby and needing a crib, so you can pre-book to your requirements.
Dining that works for everyone
Meal times are usually hectic with kids and I definitely prefer dining on premisis when sleeping out so a hotel that offers a kids’ menu with healthy options or a “create‑your‑own pizza” option will have my vote.
The hotel we stayed at offered a kids menu and a cute kids milkshake tasting.
Breakfast was buffet style, ensuring that even the fussiest eater was catered to.
Practical touches make a world of difference
Small things count when traveling with kids and I immediately noticed that although our hotel appeared child-friendly, had a world of kids activities and kids were free with your stay, they infact did not cater for kids in the room.
We were only given two waters, when we were a family of three. Toiletries were minimal, certainly not enough for a family and although there was a coffee and tea station no hot chocolate for the kids was provided.
Thankfully, I always travel with our own toiletries and snacks, which includes bottled water.
Turn downtime into together‑time
Make holiday memories from relaxing the bedtime curfew, or all watching movies with a giant bag of chips to playing a game of putt putt or painting rocks together.
These unscripted moments make the trip magical.
Final thoughts
Choosing a kid‑friendly hotel isn’t just about the playroom or pool—it’s about the thoughtful little extras that ease parenting pressures and make family time richer.
With intentional amenities, flexible dining, and opportunities for both togetherness and downtime, our hotel visit turned into a mini‑staycation that felt like a summer camp, spa retreat, and family home away from home, all rolled into one.
Highly recommend it when you’re looking to treat the kids (and yourselves) to something special!
