Traveling with my kids, parents and spouse is my favorite thing to do. But when it comes to finding lodging once we arrive to our destination, I quickly regret not making better traveling plans ahead of time. It's not fun driving around a new town, city or state looking for a hotel or bed and breakfast when we should be enjoying ourselves instead. After going through this for the last four years, I decided to plan ahead and obtain accommodations early. I have a large family so finding accommodations that fit everyone comfortably is essential. I found a great site online that offers information on almost destination in the United States. That makes it easier to locate hotels in the cities my family visits the most. If you need help finding great places to rest on your travels, read my blog. It'll help you make traveling plans in a snap.
When you go on a family vacation you may, out of habit, room with your kids. However, most parents do not realize that they do not have to share a room with their children. Parents have privacy at home, so why not on vacation too? If you never thought to ask about lodging arrangements, here are five questions on the subject answered for you.
What Options Are There for Family Lodging?
Many upper scale hotels have, for years, had conjoined rooms with doors that connect one room to the next. When you make this request at the front desk, they give you the keys to your children's hotel room door and the door between rooms so you can lock and unlock it as you please. Cruise ships have conjoined cabins for families as well. Another option is a family suite, which entails separate bedrooms for the kids and the adults, but a common living area between the two. They closely resemble apartment living, often including a refrigerator, stove top, and cable TV.
Does It Cost More for a Conjoined Cabin/Room or Family Suite?
Yes, there is a small upcharge, but most parents consider it an invaluable feature for quiet, privacy and convenience.
Can Guests Get a Conjoined Room with Different Bed Options?
In most cases, it is possible to get any sort of bed option in a hotel. (It might be trickier on a cruise ship because of the size of the cabins and the limited number of cabins with this option.) If you have more than two kids and they all want their own bed, then there is also the roll-in bed option so no one is fighting when it is time to go to sleep. If you or your travel agent book in advance, you will have better luck getting the right number of beds and the right size of beds in your conjoined room.
How Many Bathrooms Are in a Family Suite?
There is at least one, but sometimes there are two. A master bath is connected to the parents' room, but there may be an extra powder room or bathroom close to the kids' room. The more deluxe the suite, the more likely you will have an extra bathroom. If you are staying in a resort hotel near a major attraction, it is also possible to get a suite with two bathrooms.
What Safety Measures Are in Place to Protect Children?
Staff are never allowed to enter the designated children's room without parents present. Doors that open onto a second story balcony or higher can be locked, sometimes electronically, to keep children from falling over the balcony and out of the room. There are controls on the TVs that prevent children from viewing adult content and some hotels and resorts will also lock the mini-bar if there is one in the kids' room.
Contact a hotel like Cascade Inn to learn more about family suites.
Share29 April 2015
