What to look for in a family holiday hotel

It might seem obvious, but your destination is the first thing to consider when planning a family holiday. With the right choices, almost any location in the world can offer a fantastic experience for parents travelling with kids or extended families holidaying together, but some are more ideal than others. When it comes to the diversity of attractions and range of hotels, Dubai family package trips are difficult to top. From theme parks and waterparks to extraordinary malls and extravagant buffet banquets, the UAE has compelling attractions for guests of every age. Thailand family holidays offer one of the best value ways to stay together on a beautiful beach in a safe location, particularly in laid-back resorts like Khao Lak or the quieter beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui. With more than a dozen theme parks, the Kennedy Space Center and the Everglades, Florida is almost designer-built for family fun. Unforgettable wildlife adventures can be found in South and East Africa or the jungles of Borneo, while Mauritius offers the perfect combination of castaway escape and adventure island. For a stress-free, all-inclusive retreat for the whole family, Mexico and the Caribbean are tough to beat.

Somewhere private to relax and the right facilities for a good night’s sleep are vital if everyone is going to enjoy their holiday to the maximum, so making sure you have the right room is key. Many family rooms assume children will sleep on temporary beds or converted sofas, with adults and children all in the same space. It might cost a little more to book an apartment with two or three bedrooms or a suite with a separate living space, but the convenience and freedom are often worth it. Larger hotels commonly offer interconnecting rooms which balance security and privacy brilliantly. These cannot always be guaranteed, but it’s a question you should ask. In destinations like the USA, choosing a full house or villa will help you take home comforts away with you. A top tip for anyone planning a motorhome holiday, which can be an excellent way to explore Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, is to consider booking a vehicle bigger than your minimum requirements. After a few days, the extra room will pay for itself.

We’ve all read the lavish descriptions of restaurants offered by our favourite luxury family hotel and found our mouths watering with anticipation. While choosing a hotel with a food offering that excites us is always desirable, other considerations can take priority when we travel with children. Does the hotel offer casual outlets with kids’ menus or plainer food choices? Is there somewhere spacious and welcoming for laid-back dining when needed? Can you order chicken nuggets with 24-hour room service? Alternatively, would your family benefit from a room with its own kitchen so you can prepare meals and snacks at your convenience? All this should be thought about whenever you set out to select a family-friendly hotel.

For a great family holiday, you need two things. Pursuits you can enjoy together, and activities adults and kids can undertake separately. When looking for your hotel, you should always check out the sports and leisure facilities to see if you can splash around as a family in the water, spend evenings playing minigolf, or break out a family game of beach volleyball. Does the hotel have a dedicated family or kids’ pool where younger guests are free to enjoy themselves without enduring the frowns of tranquillity-seeking adults? On the other side, kids’ clubs that provide engaging and educational activities for children of the right age or babysitting services for infants give all parties the space they need to flourish and relax in their own ways. For those with kids who prefer screens to sand, many modern hotels offer supervised games rooms and play lounges for young ones to enjoy a little time out of the sun. Some properties include these services and facilities in their rates, while others charge extra, so always check the details before you commit.

Speaking of what’s included in your hotel rates, this is something else to think about carefully before choosing your family hotel. All-inclusive could already be your preferred holiday style in any circumstance, or you might prefer to keep things flexible and leave more room to eat in local restaurants. When travelling with kids, the convenience of all-inclusive family holidays could be the most important. With so many factors to consider and such diverse needs to take into account, knowing every meal is arranged and included can help keep things stress-free for everyone. What is important here is making sure the included restaurants and their menus are suitable for your little ones. Otherwise, you risk having to pay twice to keep everyone satisfied.