Let’s be honest, where you stay on a family holiday can either make everything feel easy, or turn the whole thing into a bit of a mission. We’ve all stayed in places that looked great online but didn’t come close in real life. Since then, we’ve all got a bit of a checklist. Nothing fancy, just a few things we always look out for that tend to make the difference between a good trip and a stressful one.
Here’s what we’ve learned.
1. Room to spread out
Cramped hotel rooms might be fine for a solo city break, but with kids? No chance. You need space. Somewhere to chuck the bags, dry out the swimming stuff, and ideally a bit of separation between where you sleep and where the kids sleep. Even if it’s just a corner of the room or a small balcony, having that extra bit of breathing room goes a long way when everyone’s tired at the end of the day.
2. A pool or beach nearby
Always check how close the hotel is to the water. If it’s a family holiday, chances are the kids want to swim. And if you’ve got to walk miles or get a shuttle every time someone wants a dip, it quickly gets old. A pool right outside or a beach you can stroll to in a few minutes just makes everything easier.
3. Food you don’t have to argue about
Mealtimes can be surprisingly stressful on holiday. One kid wants chips, the other one’s suddenly decided they don’t like pasta anymore. Try to find places with buffets or at least kid-friendly menus. If they eat well, we all feel better. Bonus points if there’s an ice cream bar.
4. Not miles from everything
We’ve all made the mistake of booking a ‘quiet’ hotel that turned out to be in the middle of nowhere. Not ideal when you fancy a change of scene or need to grab some nappies. These days, try to find somewhere that’s within walking distance of a few bits; a beach, some shops, a park, even just a decent bakery. It just gives you options without needing to plan a whole expedition.
5. The little things that show they get it
Things like stair gates, blackout curtains, high chairs that don’t look like they’ve been through a war, or just having staff who smile when your toddler tips their juice for the third time. When a hotel has thought about families, it shows. Always read the reviews now and see what other parents are saying. They tend to tell it like it is.
Worth getting right
At the end of the day, a good hotel takes the pressure off. You can focus on enjoying the holiday instead of juggling a million little things. You can find somewhere that gives us space to relax, keeps the kids happy and doesn’t feel like hard work, you’ll know you’re onto a winner.
TUI’s got loads of hotels that tick those boxes, and it’s always worth having a scroll if you’re looking for something that’s already set up for families. It just takes one thing off your plate.
