Guest Author - Kimberly Misra

While the majority of hotels today are child-friendly (at least on paper), certain features and amenities make some hotels more enjoyable to stay at with your kids. When you’re faced with choosing a child friendly hotel for your upcoming vacation, here are some things to look for.

An all-suite hotel: All-suite hotels, such as Homewood Suites and AmeriSuites, have become quite popular in recent years. These are usually very child friendly hotel choices. Your suite may include a separate bedroom or a half-wall to provide some degree of privacy. Amenities may include up to two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two televisions, a full-sized refrigerator, microwave and cook top, and basic dishes and utensils. Many all-suite hotels offer a complimentary breakfast buffet.

Hotels with a refrigerator/microwave: These amenities are tops on my list when picking a child friendly hotel. Having your own refrigerator can save you money by allowing you to store your own beverages, snacks, and lunch fixings. Having a microwave lets you heat up those leftovers from dinner out.

Pool or other onsite activities: A hotel pool is a blessing for kids tired from a long day of traveling. Hotels with TV lounges and game rooms are good for older kids and teenagers, giving them something to do if they don’t want to join in a particular activity.

Proximity to attractions: If you have a young child that naps, a hotel near some attractions allows one parent to do the tourist thing while the other does nap duty. If your teenagers like to explore on their own, choosing a hotel in the tourist district means they won’t have to wander far to see the sights. It’s also nice to be near a couple of restaurants so you can get a takeout dinner if everyone is too tired to go out.

Free breakfast: Also near the top of our family’s child friendly hotel checklist is, “Are they going to give us breakfast?”. If you have to go out for breakfast, it can cost upwards of $20 just for bagels and coffee. Many of the all-suite hotels offer breakfast buffets, other hotels may offer only cold cereal and muffins, but anything is better than nothing. It’s no fun scrambling to find a coffee shop at 8 a.m. with hungry kids in tow!

Deals on extra amenities: If you’ll need a rollaway bed or cot, check if additional charges apply. Some hotels may offer deals if you book two rooms, be sure to ask when you make your reservation. Child friendly hotels in major cities frequently offer family packages that include admission to nearby attractions or special deals on dining out; these are worth checking into.