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Accommodation - Hotels and Vacation Rentals

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Travelling with kids, your hotel room or apartment is likely to become more of a hub with visits back during the day for naps, a change of clothes, etc. Kids also get worn out more quickly with lots of transportation and you want them fresh for the activities you have planned. Whatever your budget, you should look for accommodation in a central location, close to attractions and transportation. If possible, your hotel should also be walking distance to a park.

Here are some kid friendly features you might want to look for in a hotel

• Adjoining rooms
• Larger rooms (suite or a regular room that has enough space for the kids to move around)
• If an upgrade is not to expensive, we love to have a separate sitting area so that we can be awake while the kids sleep
• Soundproofing (nobody advertises this, but, for example, we avoid b&b’s because we’re worried about disturbing the other guests)
• Cribs (at what cost). Make sure that a crib will fit in the size room you plan to reserve
• Room service
• Kid friendly restaurant
• Pool
• Organized children’s activities (mostly available at resorts)
• Babysitting
• WiFi (great when you’re stuck in the room after the kids are asleep)
• Refrigerator (or a mini-bar that can be cleaned out)
• Kitchenette
• Close to a market, restaurants or a coffee shop

Whenever we’ll be in the same city for more than a few days, we like to stay in a rental apartment. Not only does it often save money, but it offers several advantages compared with staying in a hotel.

A rental is a good choice if:

• You're interested in staying in a more residential area to get a flavor of life in your destination
• You will need more than one room, or need a living room to spend time in while the kids are sleeping
• You enjoy having a kitchen to prepare snacks and meals using local ingredients
• Weekly maid service is sufficient
• You are planning on an extended stay and want to save money
• You want to be able to wash clothes yourself without going to a laundramat
• You do not need room service

There are many different property rental agencies. In some cases the vacation rentals are private residences where the owners will vacate their apartment while you visit. In other cases, they are units designed for rental that are rented year round. Here are some questions to ask when choosing a rental apartment

• Exactly where is the apartment located. How close is it to the nearest train station or other transit?
• What is the reputation of the agency? Have they been recommended by any trusted publications? By other travelers on travel forums?
• Is transport from the train station or airport to the property included?
• How much deposit is required, and what is the refund policy if you need to cancel? Is the deposit paid by cash or credit card?
• What is included in the rental fee? Many rental agencies charge extra for electricity, telephone, and internet service
• Is a local cell phone included?
• How often is the apartment cleaned, and what is included in the cleaning?
• What appliances are included? Is there a microwave? stove? oven? clothes washer? What amenities are included (for instance is there a pool?)
• How many people can the apartment accommodate? How many bedrooms/bathrooms? Do the bedrooms all have doors that close, or are they lofts? or some other arrangement?
• If the rental is an apartment, what floor is it on & is there an elevator? (Remember that in Europe the first floor is what we would call the 2nd floor in the us)
• Is the apartment reasonably child safe? For example, is there an open stairway in the apartment or a loft with inadequite railing?
Related Links:
Choosing a Family Friendly Hotel Ciao Bambino's List of Family Friendly Vacation Properties