Are you the backpack/hostel type of traveler? Or maybe you’re the exotic locale/boutique hotel type? Regardless of your travel preferences, once you have children and decide to travel with them, you have to be open to new and different travel experiences. Now you need a family travel guide! Don’t worry, you still have plenty of options, and you’re not relegated to Disneyland if you don’t want to be.
I used to prefer staying in a little guest house or small family-run hotel, but they’re not always the best option when traveling with small children. While the proprietors or host families would undoubtedly be very welcoming and friendly, they may not offer the kind of amenities that you’d prefer with your kids in tow. A shared bathroom or paper-thin walls may not be an issue pre-kids, but likely would be now. Things like a pool or garden to play in may also be more difficult to find in a smaller lodging. The perfect little pensione or casa may still exist, it just might be a little more difficult to locate.
Condos and self-catering hotels are usually very family-friendly, and having full access to a kitchen when you’re traveling with babies is definitely easiest. Some don’t feel like they’re on holiday if they have to cook at all, and a part of a vacation is a big breakfast in a restaurant. There’s also the issue of grocery shopping – it can be a hassle to locate a store and figure out what you want to eat. Sometimes these types of accommodation are in more residential areas, or might mean walking to the beach instead of being right on it. Car rental may be another factor, since restaurants or shops may not be located within walking distance.
Some feel that resorts – all-inclusive family resorts or not – are the way to go. This may be a cost-effective option as well, since all your needs can be met within the boundaries of one hotel. Larger resorts often have amenities especially for children, and a greater selection of food and drink – helpful if you find the all-inclusive experience monotonous. Make sure to get out and experience some local culture, but if you’re just after sun, sand, and to not having to think about anything, a large resort can offer an easy holiday. There’s no need to take out your wallet or move very far from your lounger.
However you decide to embark on your first holiday with your baby or toddler, know that the more you do it, the easier and more fun it gets. As your children grow into good little travelers, you won’t have the issue of hearing “Are we there, yet?” Instead, you’ll hear “When are we going?!”