Trying to find the right hotel for you and your family can get a bit tricky. Sometimes we see a good deal and jump at it without taking much else into consideration. When choosing a hotel think about what matters most to you. Do you want to be in the town centre or out in the country? Are you willing to pay extra for more comfort or must you stick to a strict budget? Here are a few things you should look out for when choosing a hotel for you and your family.
Price: Price is generally the first thing that people will look at when booking a hotel. If you are working off a tight budget then use a website like ebooker.ie which will give you a listing of hotels that are in your price range – sometimes you’ll get lucky and stumble across a really great deal! If you are flexible on the time of year you can travel then try going at off-peak times for better deals.
Location: If you are travelling abroad, the location of the hotel is very important. If you are going on a sun holiday, then you will of course want a hotel close to the beach. While a 15 minute walk may not seem much to you, if you are carrying a child with you, as well all their beach gear, 15 minutes back and forth can be a long way. Also check how close all the local restaurants are. Most booking website will give you a good idea of how far away everything is (don’t trust a hotel’s website on how close everything is – 5minutes from the beach could mean 5 minutes by train!)
Facilities: The hotel’s facilities is another thing to bear in mind. Whether you’re holidaying in Ireland or abroad, most families like to have a pool. Be sure to check that the pool is child-friendly and that there are lifeguards present at all times. Check if there is a baby pool and if children’s visiting times are restricted. You might need to wear a swim hat so make sure to bring one. If you have older children you may also want other facilities to keep the kids entertained such as tennis courts, a games room or bike hire.
Restaurant: If you plan on having a few meals in the hotel’s restaurant, be it breakfast or dinner, check that these restaurants are child-friendly. Enquire as to whether they have a children’s menu. You might also want to check what’s on the menu. Some children’s menus tend to have nothing more than chicken nuggets and chips or pizza. If you have a baby with you, check if they have high chairs and if so, do you need to mention this when booking a table. Some hotels might have a limited number of high chairs.
Room: While this is an obvious one, make sure to check that you have what you need when booking a room. If you need a cot then check that they have one available and always confirm this before you arrive at the hotel (it’s something that can easily be forgotten by the hotel). Also find out if they have family suites or chalets available. These might be a bit more expensive but they could mean that you won’t have to eat out every night as they often have kitchen facilities as well as a washing machine.
Activities: There are many hotels that offer services free of charge (or for a small fee) for residents. Camps and children’s clubs are often available which will give you and your partner a bit of time to yourselves. Check whether you need to book your child into the club or if it’s a drop-in service. Also check what kind of activities they will be doing. Some camps have talents shows or fancy dress parties and so you might want to pack something in the suitcase just in case. You might also want a babysitter some evening and most hotels will provide one, although advanced booking will probably be required.
Website ratings: Most of you will be familiar with websites that will rate accommodation. People often leave comments on how they found the hotel but remember to take these with a pinch of salt. You have no idea who is writing these comments and how true they are. A good rule of thumb is if there is a common complaint (e.g. the majority of those who comment say their room was freezing) then it is probably a genuine issue. Otherwise try not to pay too much attention to comments.
