A weekend getaway, a theme park visit, or a simple family get-together, traveling with kids can be more overwhelming than exciting. Your fun time is supposed to be relaxing and refreshing, but do you get that with toddlers?
How do you make sure your little one is comfortable and relaxed in your hotel room? Is there any way to make your experience better?
Well, there is. Here are some of the best tips for parents who are traveling with kids and staying at the hotel.
-
Request a fridge
The most important thing you need to do before checking into your hotel is to request a fridge.
If your hotel does not offer a mini-fridge, you can ask for one. Most hotels accept such requests with a minimal rental fee. If they don’t offer a mini-fridge, you can ask them to empty the existing minibar. With an emptied minibar, you can easily store milk and juice, and all the baby-friendly snacks including yogurt, cheese sticks, fruit pulps, etc. inside.
-
Always travel with duct tape
When traveling with a baby who has just learned to crawl, make sure to carry a roll of duct tape in your checked luggage. The duct tape is as important as biodegradable baby wipes because it comes in super handy for quickly baby-proofing your hotel room. You can use it to cover all the electrical outlets and secure blinds and risky lamp cords.
In fact, in case of emergencies such as a broken stroller frame, you’d be grateful for carrying a roll of duct tape while on the move.
-
Inquire about special promos
You can call the hotel before leaving home, and ask them if they have any special promotions for kids and families. And then once you arrive, you can cross-check the amenities once again. This could help you save money and enjoy more family fun.
If they have an adventurous kids’ club, you can pack accordingly. If they have a pool area, you can carry along a bunch of swim diapers. Research well before choosing a hotel because a lot of them have partnerships. Some of them offer a special package with cool, fun activities and events for children.
-
Book directly with the hotel
If you need a crib or any other special items, be sure to directly book with the hotel. This way they will know about your family’s needs in advance and be ready with whatever you need.
If you book through an agent or a third-party application or site, you are making the hotel less money, which makes you a lower-priority guest. To no one’s fault, special notes and instructions like room locations, allergies, etc. may get lost while processing.
On a similar line, if you are a guest through a third-party reservation, walking in on a sold-out night may cause unwanted problems for you, such as delay in check-in. However, if you have directly booked with the hotel and if they have accidentally oversold their rooms, they will pay to check in to a neighboring hotel.
-
Request early check-in and late check-out
If you are alone, you can quickly pack and get on the move, but when you have a toddler with you, you will need extra time to do everything. With a child, your luggage will also increase, so you will need sufficient time for check-in and check-out.
With a baby on board, you can request early check-in and/or late check-out while booking your reservation. This can reduce the stress of rushing to meet the hotel’s check-in and check-out schedules.
-
Check if you can ship to your room
When booking your room find out if you are allowed to ship items to the hotel prior to your arrival. Items like diapers, disposable swim diapers and baby wipes are heavy and take up room in your suitcase. Buying these items online and having them delivered to your hotel makes traveling a lot less stressful.
Conclusion
While traveling with family, things may get a little tight and we often don’t have the supplies we’d want in the ideal of circumstances. But with these easy creative solutions, you can easily avoid common problems when traveling with kids.