How to Pick the Right Hotel When Travelling With a Baby or Toddler!

1. Look for a spacious room

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Once you have a baby, your definition of a "big enough" hotel room changes completely!

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A tiny room that was perfectly fine when it was just the two of you suddenly feels very different when you need to fit a cot, pram, luggage and a baby who wants somewhere to play.

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When we're travelling with children, I always look at the room size before booking and check the photos carefully.

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If possible, I also look for:

• Space for a cot

• Somewhere to store our luggage without blocking the room

• Enough floor space for the children to play

• A balcony or separate seating area where we can sit once the children are asleep

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2. Think about where your baby will sleep

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A beautiful hotel room isn't necessarily a practical one if your baby has to sleep in the middle of the room while you're sitting silently in the dark for three hours! 

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If your budget allows, look for a room with a separate bedroom, a suite or even just a small area where you can put the cot away from where you'll be sitting in the evening.

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But don't worry if that's not possible.

We've also used a few products that have made one-room hotel stays much easier.

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For example:

• a blackout tent - it can create a separate, dark sleep space for your child

• an inflatable mattress - this can go inside the tent and it's good up to 6 years old

• a travel cot/ crib - If your accommodation doesn't provide a pack and play then you can bring your own! We have the lightest one on the market and we have taken it around the world with us, especially when staying at Airbnbs. Sometimes even if the hotel provides a cot, it's easier to bring your own for familiarity reasons if you're baby isn't a great sleeper.

• a baby monitor - especially if the kids are in a different room I like to have some peace of mind so always bring our baby monitors with us

• Blackout blinds - if your baby needs the room to be dark then you can't trust the hotel to have proper blackout blinds. So very often we travel with our own that are light and portable.

• White noise machine - if your baby monitor doesn't have white noise incorporated then it's definitely worth buying one of these.

• Travel night light - in case your child is used to having a light on overnight. 

 

3. Be close to the attractions

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We love staying somewhere that means we don't have to spend ages on public transport every day.

When you're travelling with a baby or toddler, being able to walk to the places you want to visit, or at least have a short journey, can make a huge difference.

It means less time getting on and off buses and trains, less time trying to entertain a bored toddler, and more time actually enjoying the destination.

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It's also incredibly useful if your baby needs a nap during the day. If you're staying close to the attractions, you can pop back to the hotel for a nap and head out again afterwards rather than spending half the day travelling.​

 

We usually compare locations carefully before booking and use this site to find accommodation that's in a convenient location for exploring: Find your next Hotel!

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4. Check access to public transport

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Even if you're staying close to the main attractions, I always like to check how easy it is to get around from the hotel.

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We don't want to walk for 20 minutes just to reach the nearest underground station - especially if it's raining, freezing cold or incredibly hot.

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Before booking, I'll usually check:

• How far the nearest train/underground station is

• Whether there's a bus stop nearby

• Whether the route is practical with a pram

• Whether there are lots of stairs

• How easy it will be to get to and from the airport

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A hotel might look perfect on a map, but if getting there with a baby involves three trains, two flights of stairs and a 15-minute walk with all your luggage, it might not be quite so perfect!

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Also, check online if the public transportation is stroller friendly or not. We always bring a travel stroller with us (this is the one we're using currently) because we have definitely been to places (like Korea and Paris) where we had to carry the stroller up and down the stairs every day and it wasn't ideal.

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5. Look for anything that will make your life easier

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This is probably my biggest tip when choosing accommodation with a baby.

Every destination is different, so think about what would make your particular trip easier and check for those things before booking.

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For example:

• Is there a lift?

• Is there a supermarket or mini market nearby?

• Is there somewhere to buy diapers and baby essentials?

• Is there a kettle in the room?

• Is there a fridge?

• Can the hotel provide a cot/pack and play?

• Is there a bath rather than just a shower?

• What do previous guests say about noise and soundproofing?

• Is the room air-conditioned/heated?

• Is there somewhere to eat nearby?

• Does the hotel have a pool or playground?

• Can you request a quiet room?

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I always read the reviews with our actual needs in mind rather than just looking at the overall rating.

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For example, if we're travelling with a baby, I'll specifically search reviews for words like "baby", "cot", "noise", "pram", "lift" and "family".

That can reveal things you simply won't find in the hotel's description.

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Final thoughts

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The "perfect" hotel when you're travelling with a baby isn't necessarily the most luxurious or the most expensive one.

For us, it's the one that makes our lives easier.

A great location, enough space, easy transport and a good sleep setup can make the difference between spending your holiday feeling like you're constantly managing logistics and actually being able to relax and enjoy it!