Choosing Child Friendly Accomodation

Choosing Child-Friendly Accommodation

The success of a family holiday can hinge on the accommodation – after all, it’s where you’ll be recharging your batteries every night, and you’ll probably spend a fair amount of time eating there, too. So how can you ensure that you’ve chosen accommodation that is child-friendly? Here are a few tips:

Location, location, location

If you’re relying on public transport while on holiday, make sure your hotel is centrally located and within walking distance of a bus stop or train station that is well served. Alternatively, choose a hotel that is close to all the main attractions. If it’s located centrally, there’s more likely to be an array of food shops, cafes and restaurants nearby, too.

Kitchen facilities

Try to ensure you book a room that has its own small kitchen facility – even if it’s just a fridge and a microwave. You can prepare breakfast, snacks and milk in the comfort of your room, which will be of endless relief to parents with young children and their unpredictable appetites.

In-hotel entertainment

Many resorts offer a children’s entertainment programme that gives parents a little time to themselves during the day. Children will be well looked-after by qualified carers, with plenty of fun activities for them to enjoy. In these resorts, evening entertainment is also based around children, with dancing and party games – so Mum and Dad can enjoy a glass of wine in peace!

Wi-Fi

Not only is Wi-Fi great if you’re planning public transport routes or scoping out the local area, it’s ideal if you need to keep the little ones entertained for a few moments while you get dressed, prepare food or tidy up. Let your little ones play a game or watch a fun video while you take a few moments to yourself.

Ask about soundproofing

Getting children to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings can be hard enough – and it’s made even worse by heavy footsteps going past your door every ten minutes, or loud conversations coming from the next room. Check with the hotel that rooms are soundproofed beforehand to guarantee everyone a good night’s sleep.

Check the bathtub

Showers aren't usually appropriate for very small children, so you’ll need to check that your hotel has a bathtub ahead of time. There’s a trend for city centre hotels to save space and only install a shower cubicle, but it’s worth splashing out (no pun intended) on a slightly better room to ensure you can bathe your little ones rather than awkwardly showering each day.