Staying in a hotel can be a rewarding experience if you’re on a business trip, a romantic couple’s getaway, or a relaxing staycation with your friends. But if you’re travelling with small children, things can get a bit tricky. From kids getting hungry and cranky in the middle of the night to kids breaking hotel room furniture, there are a lot of potential headaches to plan for.

If you’re anticipating a family trip, here are 10 tips for staying in a hotel with kids without losing your mind.

Book the right hotel

1. Book a hotel with a nearby park and nature-inspired attraction

If your family trip is based in the countryside, you won’t probably have a problem with nature-filled adventures. Your hotel might be close to national parks, beaches, and rivers, for picnics and walking. But if you’re in the middle of a bustling city, it’s worth the effort to look for hotels that are just a stone’s throw to the city’s parks and green spaces.

This hotel in Dublin, for example, is near Phoenix Park. one of the largest enclosed public parks in Europe. It’s where Dubliners go to take a breather and see abundant flora and fauna. The massive park is also home to Dublin Zoo, a must-visit destination for kids and kids at heart.

2. Stay in a hotel with a pool or that’s on a beach

You know how kids love the mere sight of a swimming pool, so make it a top consideration when booking a hotel. Swimming is a great way to unwind after a day out exploring. It also relaxes the kids, making them go to bed earlier.

Another good thing about pools? You can use it to your advantage when kids are being uncontrollably rowdy: if you don’t behave, you can’t go to the swimming pool.

3. Go for a larger hotel room

Go for a larger room, especially if you know you’ll be spending a lot of time at the hotel. You should also give them their own space, and have their own bed. Kids do better when they have their own area for setting up their toys and other stuff. Make them responsible for keeping their area clean.

Make your kiddos feel comfortable

4. Tell them what to expect

To get your kiddos excited about the hotel, show them photos of the room, pool area, and other amenities and attractions they may get to enjoy. Knowing what to expect can help ease anxiety in kids.

5. Bring the kids’ “comfort” pack

Bring your kids’ toys, stuffed animals, pillows, and blankets. Kids can get homesick too. A special item from your home can make them feel happier and more comfortable, whether they’re on a flight or inside the hotel room.

6. Ask the hotel beforehand for must-have items for children

Do you have a baby on board? Before leaving his/her crib at home, make sure to ask the hotel if they provide a crib for free. If so, ask them how they look. Is it comfortable or is it some metal jail-bar-like that looks like death traps? If they do charge for them, or if the crib doesn’t suit your needs, it’s better to stash your own in the car.

Create a safe, kid-friendly hotel room (Important!)

7. Childproof the hotel room

While it’s difficult to keep your kid well-behaved at all times, you can do something to keep their environment safe and child-friendly, for your peace of mind. Pay attention to child-proofing the room.

• Buy outlet plug protectors to prevent curious fingers from exploring electric sockets
• Cover any sharp corners and edges, like bedside tables, with store-bought corner cushions and protectors.
• Always keep the balcony door locked to prevent balcony accidents
• Tie the long curtain cords
• Do a quick survey for anything breakable
• Keep the expensive hotel room décour and appliances out of reach.
• Hide the pens to avoid vandalism

8. Rearrange some of the furniture in the room

Just make sure to move things back to how they should be before you check out. If you feel like your hotel room is cramped with unnecessary furniture pieces where kids are likely to bump into, it’s okay to ask the staff to have them removed to maximise the floor space. It can be an extra chair or a second coffee table.

9. Always keep an eye on your kids

With tricky self-closing hotel room doors, it’s easy for kids to get locked inside the hotel room or bathroom. The best thing you can do is to not let them get out of your sight. Who knows? They could be making their way to the balcony, exploring sockets and wires, and opening bathtub faucets.

Keep everything organised and tidy

10. Unpack

If you’re staying in the hotel for more than a night, make sure to unpack. Make your hotel room feel more like home, with clothes hanging in the closet and snacks sitting in the pantry.

11. Teach your kids about cleanliness

Travelling with kids and staying at a hotel with housekeeping services aren’t valid excuses to leave the room messy and chaotic. It’s a good practise to teach your kids about cleanliness. Let them keep toys in one section of the room, put the dirty clothes in the laundry bag, and throw away the snack wrappers and bottles in the trash.

12. Plan sleeping arrangements beforehand

What’s worse than coming to your hotel room, drained and sleepy from the long day? Fighting over who’s going to sleep where.

You should plan your sleeping arrangement the moment you check into the room. If the beds are limited, talk about who’s going to sleep on the pull-out sofa. Ask for extra sheets, pillow, and blanket, and try to make up the bed earlier to avoid inconvenience.

Hungry belly leads to angry family

13. Look for a place that serves breakfast

Leaving the hotel to find a place to eat can be a bummer, especially when it comes to breakfast when everyone’s cranky and hungry. Make sure your hotel serves free breakfast. You can even find hotel brands where kids 12 and under can stay and eat for free.

14. Bring extra snacks and water

The last thing you’d want to happen is to see your kid, munching an expensive chocolate bar retrieved from the minibar. Pack snacks and display them in the room pantry. Bring gallons of water too.

Another thing: If there’s a minibar in the room, talk to your kids about it!

Happy planning!

Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a travel and lifestyle writer. Aside from taking vibrant street photos, you can find her writing articles about travel, food, and lifestyle. To know more about hotels and travel blogs, you may visit Ashling Hotel Dublin.