Having kids changes everything in life, and that includes travel. I thought I was an expert on navigating airlines and hotels before we had kids, and then suddenly I felt like a complete newbie. The concept of just rolling up to the airport 45 minutes before departure with a carry-on and relaxing (or typing furiously)…
Continue reading: Traveling With Kids Gives You A New Perspective On Hotels
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Congratulations, soon you will realize why we have agreed to go to all inclusives as you know you can get food that your kids will actually eat haha
It's certainly a very privileged upbringing to be staying at the Ritz-Carlton Geneva at such a young age.
Having a six-year-old and going to resorts and seeing other kids, I came to realize that the very reason why some hotels are adult-only is because of how bad behaved are many kids from (for example) Middle East, India, China.
Have to agree about the pool - a pool is not something I ever cared about (at all), but when my daughter was little she was a "water baby". Hanging out in the pool was always a highlight of the vacation - her mom and I might have been amazed by, say, Angkor Wat, but the kid just wanted to get back in the hotel pool.
I would say that choosing a hotel with a child does take some considerations while balancing others. We took out 2 year old to the FS Manele Bay on Lanai because they have actual cribs we could use, which was great (plus, they offered free RT flights for a limited time, which was a great deal).
However, we also want to make sure our son doesn't grow up feeling spoiled. Our travel habits ultimately lead to us book flights and hotels that are really the best value based on dates, times, number of seats, etc. As a result, most of our flights are in economy, 1/2 the time using cash, and hotels are a mix of luxury (usually with points) to limited service (using cash). Whatever the accommodations or method of transportation, he's just grateful for the opportunites he has to explore the world.
Thank you for this post, Ben. I would love to see more like this. We are both parents to similarly aged children, and have long travel histories pre-kids. Certainly what you look for changes as a parent. Having laundry at a resort is enormously helpful, and easy to determine. But some small details are hard to look for and super helpful to know (eg, if you selected a suite to have the toddler sleep in the living room in a crib while adults relax or sleep in the bedroom, does the door between the rooms fully close? or have a window that lets light through?; do they have a diaper pail and fridge that cools to milk-safe temps rather than beverage cooler?, are there steps required that make a stroller challenging?). I very much value the baby/toddler amenities and having a crib with fitted sheet (not flat that is tucked, so as to pull out and become a suffocation hazard) is critical. Figuring out these details prior to the stay places extra value on the website detail and pre-arrival assistance. Oh, and can housekeeping come service the room when you're out in between naps and be done by the time you're back for next nap (politely asking them, "come now")? This never mattered pre-kids....
I love this. Great balance. I have the same concern...I thought a courtyard Marriott was luxury when I was a kid....
I have always thought of Ritz-Carlton (especially in a city) as more suitable for those travelling child-free rather than as families.
Although their online material suggests they are keen on kids, so just not in Geneva.
I do wish that brands would be more consistent across hotels, and not all try to be all things to all people.
RC Geneva going on my positive list!
@Ben (and other parents), how do you respond to your kids' questions/disappointment?
If they always expect F/J, luxury hotels, suites, pools, kids clubs, etc., that becomes the norm for them. How are you making sure that their expectations don't become entitlement? Since, you know, entitled kids become entitled adults.
@ Tennen -- It's an excellent question, and one I'm only starting to think more of now. It's only in the past few months (I'd say since the beginning of the year) that I feel like Miles actually comprehends some things on the travel front, and I absolutely don't want him to only expect amazing experiences by default. This trip and the one to Deer Valley earlier in the year were both planned way in advance, before that was a consideration.
For future travel, I want to mix things up more, so that's my plan. I'll try to mix things up with economy, premium economy, more mid-range hotels, etc.
I'd love to see even mini reviews/recaps on the places you stayed that you thought were family friendly on this last trip!
On the higher end Four Seasons is the obvious name for traveling with kids. First hand FS Nevis and FS Anguilla are both fantastic (if not expensive) options that really cater to families but also have dedicated adults only spaces.
In Portugal, Martinhal is a very good option. I have yet to stay at their Sagres location but we have stayed at the Lisbon Chiado spot and found it fantastic with a young child.
Just booking hotels for Japan and Hong Kong right now. We have a 2.5year old.
Kids club is not much of a factor but I am studying neighbourhoods for playgrounds and parks. Quality of the swings and the slide are of highest importance. Pool is very useful although a local public pool is a good second choice.
Access to a washing machine allows us to pack light. In room washing machines are surprisingly common in Japanese hotels so this is good.
For us having a door we can close on him is the key. We’ve done nanny services for when we want to go out as a couple but some nights, after a day with a very energetic toddler, sometimes all we want to do is flop in front of the TV.
How about a simple solution. Don't travel with kids. You love them. Other people don't. Be considerate.
One word of caution when your kids get older and bigger. You'll find upgrades to suites with only a single king bed and a crappy pull out sofa to be not so sweet anymore! When my kids were younger we actually turned down some upgrades to ensure everyone had a proper bed to sleep in.
The challenge with kids and hotels comes also around age 11 to 13, for some they are adults as of 12, some as of 13, which then becomes an issue related to size and max occupancy of rooms and excision of connecting, new room or even the search engines being terrible when searching for 2 adults and 2 kids of which one is 12 or 13 and considered adult. Even suites unless 2 bedrooms are sometimes not an option. Never mind lounge access etc. it’s easiest till 11 years.
Your family would love thematic family rooms at Shangri-La Singapore and Hong Kong
As a recent parent it would be great to see a post of some of your favorite “kid friendly” properties you’ve been to, or the ones you most want to visit for the amenities you say you value when traveling with Miles (eg the splash zones). That would be awesome research to share!
Omg that ominous Playboy grotto in the last pic is giving Epstein Island vibes
Same with me....I used to hate all inclusives but those are the ones my litte kiddos actually had the most fun in...kid's club, waterpark, and lazy river.
Other non-AI that my kids had a blast:
1. Kimpton Seafire Cayman Islands - waterpark, kid's juice and gummies at happy hour, zero entry pool for little kids. Kids under 5 eat free and 50% off for kids 5+ to 12 (I think).
2. Hilton Maldives - they loved the private pool in the room, kid's club, splash pads, and kid's bike. Kids 5 and under eat free! No extra charge for 2 kids in the room.
3. Westin Bora Bora - likewise, they loved the private pool in the room. Shallow lagoon, section of the infinity pool is shallow, the family cultural activities. Kids under 5 eat free and 50% off for 5+ to 12 (I think). But extra charge to upgrade to a room that fits 3 people.
4. Crowne Plaza Wuzhen, China - indoor playground and family themed rooms.
5. The Coral Atlantis Bahamas - huge waterpark and aquarium but I think my kids will enjoy it more if they are older. However, food is extremely expensive here, comparable to Maldives prices but old worned rooms!
Upcoming trips: Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica - kid's club, multiple pools, kid's under 5 eat free. Hotel Schwarzschmied in the Italian Dolomites - outdoor play area and activities.
So, are you OK when people bash Americans? Is that racist? No, of course not.There exist differences based on where people grew up/live. Chef explains it when the South Park kids were traveling to play a Chinese team in dodge ball.
No offense, but I expected this to be a bit of a boring read for a non-parent - but it was actually really interesting.
I can also see how helpful this could be for other parents. Unfortunately, many parents today (especially in the US with young kids) seem to have no idea - or no interest - in how to manage their kids in public. I love children, but when traveling… not always other people’s kids.
Anyway, really interesting post. As an adult, I appreciate/expect a welcome gift - Miles clearly has the right idea :-).
Maybe there’s a kids travel blog in your future every now and then... 😉
Ben just make sure your kids learn how to swim if you aren’t already working on that. It’s Florida. The younger the better.
Enjoy all of it, and just don't make the same parenting fail we did and somehow raise two kids who can't sleep in the same room as each other. Makes traveling as a family fairly expensive.
Time to end reading the blog I suppose.
Enjoy fatherhood mate. I just can't personally relate to the content anymore
Completely agree, traveling adults only is great. So Jacoby, will you watch my kids next week while I travel?
Concave rooms are a huge benefit! Of course a suite with doors is best, but if your kids are decent sleepers having a concave room is almost as good.
I also found it interesting although I do not and will not have kids for a variety of reasons, lol.
Food for thought the next time I am researching resort type hotels, finding a quality kids club may make the property more appealing. Well entertained kids are happy kids and less likely to be running amok, etc.
Kids corner of the blog = quarter mile at a time? 😛
Ben, whilst we’re talking kids. Do yours have a yoto? It’s a child friendly audio player with books and music and all sorts of things. My wife found this great card for it call dreaming of a jet plane and it is linked to ATC data and tells you about the planes flying overhead. Heaps of fun for the junior AV geek.
This post really struck a cord with me - while I don’t travel for a living, it was a major passion prior to having kids so I knew a few tips & tricks. Traveling with kids is a completely new sport. Ground transfers (car seat required, uber options, etc), hotel room occupancy caps, do they offer cribs, what can parents do after they go to sleep, flights with 4 seats of award availability. It is mind boggling how complex travel has become and I’m definitely in the steep part of that learning curve. Best of luck and enjoy parenthood!
I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on this over time, Ben. This is also something I'm thinking about with my 2- and 4-year-olds. I've taken my older child to some destinations I definitely don't want to become entitlements (like Turks and Caicos), mostly because I wanted to go there and I enjoy bringing them along for the ride. Not having to follow the school calendar has also helped here. I'm hopeful that given their age, they are too young for these to become entitlements, that they won't even remember those trips in a few years.
As we get closer to elementary school, I plan to shift our travel to more drivable destinations, local beaches where we can easily rent a house.
While I'd love to be able to book long-haul J for 4, lack of available seats puts us all in Economy most of the time. And that's fine, as I think long-haul economy for kids is almost like long-haul biz for adults (given their size to seat ratio).
"I totally get when couples spend a fortunate for hotels "
Do you mean "fortune"?
Couldn't agree more. I too have spent many an hour scouring website for photos or mentions of a bathtub, which is a must when travelling with a child, the option to bave a cot put up in a bedroom before arrival, even a little kids corner with some beanbags, a couple of games and some books to read have been a real help (we haven't experienced any kids clubs), and simply having high-chairs in dining areas, which makes such a difference and can't be taken for granted, we've discovered.
Yes!!! Yoto is a winner! Our daughter spends hours at a time listening to hers and it will easily occupy her for an entire car journey with some audio books, even if it means we've heard the entire Zootopia story about 5 times this week while away on a road trip this week! (We forgot to pack her headphone cable!) Thanks for the tip about that card; heading straight to the Yoto website now!
@Ed was that definitely the name of it? I can't find anything even vaguely related to jet planes. Where are you based? I'm in the UK and wondering if the card offer is different depending on location.
@S Jacoby
In a totally non-critocal way, I'm guessing you're not a parent or haven't tried travelling with a child. We've found taking our now 5 year-old away to new locations a really rewarding experience for all of us. She has a much better understanding of people coming from different backgrounds, places and levels of development/wealth or lack thereof and a level of empathy from that, which I don't think she would otherwise have had. She absolutely loves travelling too; it is the only thing that will make her willingly get up and independently jump out of bed before 7am!
And not all kids are badly behaved; she is by no means perfect, but travelling with children can be a joy if you deal with it in the right way and above all adjust your travel plans to ensure the kids get their full number of hours of sleep. We've found tiredness to be the main cause of any bad behaviour, so just accept now that late nights while away need to be avoided in order to have a happy tomorrow.
And for us, seeing her joy is reward enough. Why would I want to leave my child at home?