Choosing a Hotel for Your Family Vacation
September 14, 2010 No CommentsWhat’s Important, What’s Not. And how to know the difference!
The kids are out of school for the summer. You’ve finally managed to coordinate your vacation with your spouse, found the perfect destination, have enough saved up for travel and are all set for that well-earned family vacation you’ve all been looking forward to. All that’s left to do is to find lodging. You know, the part that makes or breaks your vacation.
Many of us tend to think that the hotel we stay in is not as important as the destination itself. The logic seems to be that we’re just going to spend the night there, and are going to be away sight-seeing or exploring attractions for most of the day. So why put too much thought into where we’ll be spending the night? Right?
Not really.
The truth is, a great night’s rest, a comfortable bed, a hearty breakfast, the sounds that surround us as we fall asleep, and the environment and views we wake up to all determine the quality of our holiday. This is true to a far greater extent than we may realize. It’s okay to skimp on some aspects of a vacation to be able to splurge elsewhere. It’s all about options and trade offs. However, when considering accommodations, there are some things you can be flexible on, some aspects you should NEVER compromise, and knowing which is which is the key.
So, what makes your family vacation Fabulous or Forgettable?
Location – What’s the point of going to a beach destination if you can’t walk to the beach or enjoy a glorious ocean view from your room? When you look for a hotel, keep in mind why you chose the destination in the first place. If the idea is to enjoy a relaxing beach vacation, staying as close to the beach as possible helps. Preferably in a beach front hotel with an ocean-view room. If the idea is to visit amusement parks, look for a hotel with minimum commute so you can spend more time in the parks and less on the road. On the other hand, in some cases, like Las Vegas, for example, it’s actually okay, or even better to stay away from the typical tourist attractions and crowds and find a hotel that is in a more family-friendly location. Consider proximity to the boardwalk, shopping centers, parks, kid-friendly restaurants and other aspects important to your family. Keep in mind the noise levels around the hotel, especially if you have young children or babies. A less expensive hotel near the beach may be a spring break haven and you can’t expect a bunch of teenagers to keep it down. The Promenade in Savannah, GA, for example is a great historic hotel with comfortable beds and courteous staff. It’s a few steps away from the River Walk which makes it convenient, but that also means that guests constantly walk in and out of the place, making it a busy and noisy place to stay. We stayed there with our 2-year old once and liked every aspect except for the noise that kept us up through the night.
Amenities, Services – Many hotels boast of excellent amenities – heated pools, whirlpool tubs, game rooms, fitness centers, play areas, restaurants and other indoor and outdoor facilities. Here’s my take on this – don’t get carried away by the amenities. Think about whether you’re really going to use them. If you’re headed to Orlando or Los Angeles to take your kids to Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and other parks, you will spend very little time actually enjoying the hotel amenities. It’s very likely that you’ll leave early and return late with little or no energy or time to check out the heated pool or gym. Complimentary breakfast is another aspect to consider. Many hotels offer them, and it’s a great value addition. However, realize that you are paying a price for it even if it’s complimentary. For example, a hotel that offers complimentary breakfast may not be located on the beach or have a view. Or, it may be farther away from popular attractions. So decide if you’d rather enjoy a spectacular view or have a complimentary breakfast. The view and location are far more important to me than the hotel’s breakfast. If that means I have to bring along my own cereal bars, fruits and bread, so be it! So, the question to ask yourself before you decide to pay for a hotel with amenities is whether you really need them. Think about whether you want a relaxing, no-rush vacation and just spend time with your family enjoying the resort’s facilities. If yes, look for a hotel with excellent amenities. If you plan to spend more time outside than in the hotel, then choose one with the least amenities but which is at a more convenient location or has other features that you want.
Room Type – If there are more than two adults in your group, consider a suite with two or more bedrooms and at least two bathrooms, instead of a large room with two king beds. This really helps when there are babies or young children who have to be in bed early, giving others a chance to watch TV, have conversations or play games in another room. It’s also easier for everyone to get ready on time in the morning. A room with two king or queen beds may be cheaper, but it doesn’t give you much walking space and it can be difficult to spread out your luggage. As we all know, kids can get very cranky when there’s too little space. A suite, although pricier, allows more privacy and is definitely worth considering when you’re traveling with another family, grandparents or relatives.
Price – All the above factors and some others determine the price of a hotel room. While this is an important consideration, I don’t think it should be the deciding factor. If you find that a hotel satisfies all your criteria but costs a little more than another hotel that doesn’t have one or more of the things on your wish list – the decision is tricky. Do you stick to your budget or do you loosen the purse strings a little bit for the sake of a better experience? The answer lies in identifying what is important to YOUR family and what you’re ready to compromise. If a view isn’t as important, you may be able to slash a few dollars off your expenses and still stay at the same hotel in a different room. If you don’t mind driving a few extra miles, you may find a larger room for a lesser cost. Take a few minutes visualizing your holiday and deciding what will really make a difference.
Star Ratings, Photos - Take with a Pinch of Salt!
From what I’ve seen, star ratings aren’t always the best guides. Although you can generally assume that a higher star rating implies a better hotel with better services, these ratings can also be misleading at times. Some 3-star hotels seem to be lower-priced than 4-star ones and some 2-star hotels have been as good as 3-star ones from my experience. And the ratings vary from country to country. So if you use only star ratings to help you pick a hotel, it could get frustrating.
Photos – Let’s face it- hotels aren’t going to post ugly pictures of tiny rooms and unmade beds on their brochures or websites. What you see in pictures is definitely going to be the best possible representation of a perfect hotel room and its surroundings. So, while photos serve as a general guide for a hotel, its rooms and surroundings, don’t judge a hotel or its amenities from the photos alone. Be sure to read up on their offerings and do a little research on their location and other features before deciding.
Family. Vacation. That’s as perfect as it gets!
There’s no single recipe for a perfect family vacation. In fact, there may be no such thing as a perfect vacation. Sure, picking the right hotel and destination and planning your holiday helps to a great extent. But at the end of the day, what makes a family vacation fabulous is the family – not just the vacation. Remembering that this is the key to always having a 5-star family time!
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