Book the ultimate family vacation with these tips!
Booking family vacations can be extremely stressful and if you’re anything like me I’ll stress myself out about every detail. Is the room big enough? Are there enough food options? Will the kids like this place as much as me? Luckily there are thousands of family friendly resorts, tons of options in all kinds of climates, and resorts that cater to families!
1. Family Suites
Many resorts offer larger rooms for bigger families. It’s always fun when they have bunk beds like The Wyndham Grand in Clearwater Beach and Hotel Max in Seattle, Washington. Look for a resort with family suites that include a small kitchen with refrigerators, so you can bring your own food for meal times. Resort food tends to be more expensive and 3 meals a day per person adds up quickly.
2. Kid Friendly meal options.
I love resorts with plenty of restaurants to choose from. There are usually at least 3 at every resort we’ve stayed in. A place for quick bites/coffee shop, nicer restaurant for dinners, and a restaurant by the pool. A major pro about staying in resorts is that most have 24 hour room service and always have a kid’s menu. If they don’t have a kid’s menu printed at a restaurant , simply ask what their kid friendly options are. Hamburgers, chicken fingers, fruit, and french fries are ALWAYS on a menu close by.
3. Baby Proofing.
If you’re traveling with babies, it’s important to find a resort that will make your whole family feel safe including your baby. Unfamiliar hotel rooms can be dangerous to curious littles. Parents don’t go on vacation to feel on edge, so ask if your resort offers any baby proofing options. Many major hotel chains like The Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, and Loews have baby proofing kits and will make sure your room is safe. This could include covering wall outlets, taking the plastic bags out of trash cans, and covering furniture corners. When my kids were tiny and in that scary climbing phase, I would request a ground level floor if the room had a balcony.
4. Family activities.
What’s a family vacation without being with your family? Depending on what part of the country you’re vacationing in, family friendly resorts have lawn games, miniature golf courses, beach activity rentals and/or hiking/walking tours. Most resorts in Orlando have free shuttles to the numerous surrounding theme parks. One of my favorite low key family activities is “dive-in movies” at night.
5. Kids clubs.
While we do love spending time with our kids, sometimes we need to get away to enjoy the “adult” features of the resort, like the spa or just enjoying a drink and book by the pool without being interrupted every 17 seconds. Kids love the camps available at resorts because they get to explore different areas of the resort and do things that us parents can’t offer.They offer all types of activities from treasure hunts, live performances by magicians, pottery painting, making pinatas, etc.
6. Family Pools and Slides.
Give a kid a pool and they’ll be busy for an hour or two. Give a kid a slide with that pool, and you can sit back and take a break from playing mermaids and sharks. Look for resorts with multiple pools and water areas. Major resorts like Marriott and Hyatt offer tons of fun activities by the pool during the day. Some resorts have full on entre water parks right outside your room door! Check out the Holiday Inn on Clearwater Beach, the Marriott World Center in Orlando, JW Marriott in San Antonio, Nickelodeon Hotels Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, or the Hyatt Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, Fl.
