TRAVEL
The Top 5 Things Every Hotel Needs to Win With Families
What my kids and I love about an overnight stay away from home
My kids are at the age where staying in a hotel is an event.
Forget the mountains or the beach.
Some of the most fun for them is staying overnight in a hotel room.
Yes, it’s true.
Talking to my 7-year-old about his favorite things when we stay in hotels, here are his top 5 must-haves that put the hotel experience over the top.
An impressive pool at the hotel
Above is a part of the outdoor pool at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Marriot that we stayed at this summer in Moab, UT.
It was amazing.
Was it the most expensive hotel for the entire trip?
Oh, yea.
But according to my kids, it was worth every penny.
We spent the entire evening enjoying the outdoor pool area. As seen above, there were replica mountains in the center of the pool.
Kids could swim under the waterfalls. There was even another area similar to a splash pad where kids could run around in between these mountain structures with water coming out of all directions.
They loved it.
You didn’t have to go anywhere.
All they wanted to do was spend time at the pool.
Whenever we travel, my kids always want to see pictures of the pool where we’re staying. Having an impressive pool immediately makes it a 5-star place in my kids’ eyes.
Free cookies at hotel check-in
My kids (and me included) can’t resist the free chocolate chip cookies in the plastic case that you sometimes find in the hotel lobby.
Have you had them too?
It’s a sweet treat that makes you feel that extra welcome when you arrive. The aroma of sweetness and chocolate in the air doesn’t hurt either.
Typically the cookies are located right next to the hotel employee checking people in.
It’s probably because everyone would take handfuls if there wasn’t a close eye on them.
I mean, who doesn’t love a cookie?
It’s really hard to pass up. And especially on a long travel day when you might be feeling a little more tired than normal and just want to have a moment of relaxation.
That’s what I feel when I bite into that free chocolate chip cookie. It’s even better if it’s warm and ooey gooey.
A deluxe continental breakfast at the hotel
Ok, so maybe most of the continental breakfasts my kids and I have enjoyed don’t look near this colorful in the picture above, but I will say most of the same items are available.
One of our favorites is waffles made in those heavy-duty waffle makers that flip.
There are typically cups available that you fill with batter. Then you pour the mixture and flip the waffle maker over to wait just around 3 minutes for a golden brown treat.
Some of the hotels we have stayed at have had fresh strawberries and blueberries to add on top.
Usually, we enjoy some vanilla yogurt as well. Scrambled eggs and bacon are always a hit.
My kids love all the ala-carte options, and with waking up early we’re typically the first ones in the hotel lobby to enjoy.
A good continental breakfast with lots of hot and cold options is a top reason my kids usually can’t stop talking about some of the hotels we’ve stayed at.
Strong and dependable wi-fi
This was actually the first thing my son mentioned when I asked him what he liked best about some of his favorite hotels.
Of course, we can’t forget about the wi-fi!
When we’re trying to unwind at the end of a night, my husband and I don’t think twice about letting our kids play a video game or watch something on their iPad. Especially after an entire day driving in the car, each of us needs a little space.
If the wi-fi is spotty; however, my son is the first to notice.
When we stayed at Bryce Canyon Lodge this summer, the wi-fi was not good. But as we explained to our kids, how could you expect it to be great? We were in a canyon. The point was to enjoy the large pines around us and the views.
Somehow that’s not always easy to understand when you’re 7 and 5.
So yes, if you were to ask my son what makes a great hotel, he would definitely say dependable wi-fi.
Nice hotel views
If anything I’ve learned while traveling as a parent, you never know when you’ll need to spend more time in the hotel room.
Whether it’s because kids are sick or the weather isn’t cooperating, having a room with a view comes in handy when you’re stuck indoors more than you planned.
Sometimes when I’m booking our hotel stay I’ll intentionally ask about the different options and pricing differences to see if we can get a room with a great view. Taking an elevator or walking up steps isn’t much of an issue for us yet.
Above is the view from our hotel room this past summer near Arches National Park.
When we first arrived we were hot and tired. My daughter was so exhausted I carried her to the room while she was asleep in my arms. After all morning of hiking through Arches National Park, she was beat.
And truthfully, I was tired too.
Getting to shower and then check out this mountainous view without going anywhere was actually pretty calming.
It was great being able to watch a beautiful sunset at the end of a really fun but tiring day.
So there you have it.
If you were to ask my 7-year-old these would be the top 5 things every hotel should have to make for a great overnight stay.
The only thing I would have to add is good coffee. Even better if it’s hot and always available.
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