For parents who’ve never had the pleasure of traveling long distances with a toddler, preparation, and planning are everything. This rings true whether you’re looking to avoid potential tantrums to ensure that you don’t accidentally blow out your vacation budget.
And in an era of hidden hotel fees, keeping that budget in check can be easier said than done.
When looking for hotels, it’s especially important to make sure that your lodging choices boast the right amenities. We’ve outlined the seven things every parent should consider about their accommodations to ensure the comfort and happiness of their small children.
No Extra Charges
Okay, so this might not seem focused on your child; however, you need to make sure first and foremost that your hotel isn’t going to sneak charges on you for the essentials. For example, some hotels actually tack on fees for children or seemingly simple amenities such as room service.
Pay close attention to what’s included prior to booking anything. In addition to avoiding extra charges, make it a point to bring your hotel’s cost down even further with discounts such as this Agoda discount code.
Free Breakfast
The ability to wake up and have breakfast prepared for you and your child is a total game-changer. Not only does this save you time and energy in the morning, but also keeps a ton of money in your pocket. In many cases, you can even snag some fruit or dry cereal for your child to snack on throughout the day.
Pool and Play Area
Generally speaking, kids absolutely love hotel pools. A great place for you to unwind and your child to get any pent-up energy out, consider your hotel’s pool or play area to be a go-to spot after a long day of sightseeing.
Flexible Check-In and Checkout
When you have a toddler, not everything goes according to plan in terms of timing. Having a hotel that’s flexible in terms of check-in and checkout is a lifesaver in case you hit some unexpected bumps in the road or your toddler is lagging behind in terms of getting ready to leave.
A Spot to Snooze
Pull-out couches are fairly standard for most hotels, but you should double-check to ensure that you aren’t stuck in a situation where your child has to sleep between you and your spouse. Although you could always bring along a sleeping bag or air mattress, having a spot to snooze ready to go when you arrive is a major plus.
Complimentary Shuttle
Between getting worn out and trying to juggle all of the attractions you want to see, it’s nice to not have to drive all over the place during your vacation. Letting your hotel do the legwork for you is a nice change of pace that might seem like an attraction in and of itself to your toddler.
Positive Reviews from Other Parents
Finally, positive ratings, reviews, and feedback from other parents can provide you with some much-needed peace of mind when it comes time to book a hotel. Just know how to spot fake reviews to guarantee that your ideal lodging spot is on the up and up.
Finding the “perfect” hotel for you and your toddler doesn’t have to be like finding a needle in a haystack. With a bit of searching and by focusing on the right amenities, chances are you can find a hotel that ticks all of these boxes and more.
