Sunday, 27 September 2009

• Family-Friendly Hotels – The Little Extras That Make a Big Difference

  post by Lauren @ SuperMom Central
  
  Near and dear to any Traveling Mom's heart are the hotels that help our little ones feel welcome. After all the prep, packing and planning that goes into successfully getting a family from the front door to a destination, thoughtful features designed with kids in mind help both parent and child relax and enjoy the stay. As cribs and game consoles are quickly becoming standards for family-friendly accomodations, I'm excited to see many hotels really rolling out the red carpet for their tiniest guests, with some awesome amenities.
  
  

  Water Parks and Playgrounds

  
  

  Vegas is no longer exclusively for big kids! Any Las Vegas hotel worth it's salt has turned at least part of their pool area into a water park providing families an environment for all-day fun in the sun. On our recent Cali roadtrip we made the Excalibur our stop-over and spent the morning enjoying waterfalls and slipperly slides.

  
  

  

  
  

  After using up so much energy, my kiddos were worn out and happy to relax in the car for the drive home. Sweet!

  
  

  
  

  More and more, hotels are understanding that their youngest patrons are just as important as their paying parents, because contented children tend to have contended moms and dads. A handful of savvy resorts even boast playgrounds as well!

  
  

  
  

  Kids Clubs

  
  

  While I'm a strong believer that family travel should focus on family bonding, in-hotel Kids Clubs can provide unique experiences for all involved! Children can do crafts and games, learn about local culture and even try out science experiments while Mom and Dad doze by the pool (a very unique experience for busy parents). However, it's important to choose a program that is well-staffed and well-planned. Be sure to research Kid's Clubs you're interested in before dropping your little ones at the door.

  
  

  
  

  Travel Toys and Treats

  
  

  Many hotels are finding creative ways to welcome families - from cookies in the lobby to travel packs filled with stickers and games!

  
  

  

  This is Luxury Family Travel at its finest because you know that resorts putting this much thought into hosting little ones will have primo basics - clean bathrooms, comfortable beds, speedy service, etc. When I heard that Loews Regency in New York City gives their young guests Etch-A-Sketches and jumpropes for use in nearby Central Park (among many other fun amenities), it shot to the top of my list for accomodations when our family visits next Fall!

  
  

  We've all heard the phrase “If mama aint happy, aint nobody happy” but I've discovered it's quite the opposite – when my kids are cranky, so am I. Taking advantage of these little extras will make a big difference in your children's travel enjoyment, which in return will make a big difference in yours!
  

  
  

  This is a TravelingMom dedicated post.

  • 11:13 AM
  • 316 Views
  • 4 eProps
  • 2 Comments