Family-Friendly Hotels

Family-friendly hotels welcome children and provide essentials for family travellers such as additional bedding for higher occupancy per room; in-room conveniences; and facilities for kids and family activities.

In-room: Connecting/adjoining rooms, family suites, babysitting services and refrigerators are some other room facilities to look out for. Family travellers find these helpful.

On premises: Family-friendly hotels may also have some additional recreational facilities such as outdoor pools, kiddy pools, playgrounds, kids clubs and game rooms.

*These are only guidelines as policies and amenities vary across hotels. For more information, view details listed on each property page.

While each hotel defines its family room its own way, it usually refers to rooms available in the hotel that comfortably sleep at least 4 people. A family room is usually a larger room with 2 double/queen beds, or 1 double/queen bed and 2 twin beds. At some hotels, you might find 1 double bed for the parents and a sofa bed or bunk beds for the children.

The family room may also include other family-friendly conveniences such as infant beds, rollaway beds, a ground-floor location for convenience, treats for the kids, microwaves or refrigerators for meal preps.

Most of the time, family rooms provide bedding that sleeps at least 2 adults and 2 children, allowing a family of 4 to comfortably share one room.

Family-friendly hotels often also have additional rollaway beds and infant beds available (at a surcharge). If young children share existing bedding, there's usually no extra charge So, depending if these are available at the hotel of your choice, it could be possible for more than 4 people to share a family room.

On Expedia, you will find room details listed for each room, such as number of beds and types of beds, so you can make the right choice to book for your family.

Yes, depending on the hotel's policies, it could be possible. Many family-friendly hotels have higher occupancy rooms that come with beds for 4 people, sometimes more. Of those hotels, look out for one which provides the following options to accommodate a fifth person:

✓ Infant cribs available (free or surcharge)

✓ Kids-stay-free policies (younger children can share existing bedding at no extra charge)

✓ Rollaway beds available (free or surcharge)

✓ Extra guests allowed

Alternatively, look for hotels with family suites or 2 connecting rooms.

On Expedia, you can find these details listed on each property page. Note, age restrictions and hotel rules around qualifying as a family apply for all of the above. Not all hotels allow extra staying guests.

It depends on the hotel. Most of the time, yes a surcharge applies for any additional staying guest beyond the original capacity of the room -- for instance, having a third guest in a two-person room.

It's not as clear in cases where the room already comes with enough beds to accommodate your guest(s).There may be no fees as many hotels charge per-room, not per-guest (unless breakfast is included). However, some hotels may still charge for any extra staying guest beyond the original number of guests mentioned in the booking. Many hotels require all staying guests to register their details.

Note that not all hotels allow extra overnight guests, so it's best to check beforehand.

Generally speaking, young children under a certain age are not allowed their own room, unless it's a connecting room with their parents next door. Older children may be able to have their own room. It's best to check the individual policy of the hotel you're interested in, as this varies from one hotel to the next.

The terms adjoining and connecting are often used interchangeably to mean the same thing. That is, two hotel rooms that have a connecting door, where guests can move freely between both rooms without using the front door. For family travellers, this allows parents to have more comfort and privacy, yet remain within visible reach of their children comfortably in their own beds next door.

The more accurate term for this is connecting rooms. Adjoining rooms are in fact simply two hotel rooms located next to each other.

Family travellers love hotels with good swimming pools, kids clubs, good service, larger rooms (to accommodate families of 4 or 5), and have a convenient location for sightseeing.

Consider location and transport options carefully, ensuring it's convenient to get around together as a family:

• Hotel-airport shuttles (free or surcharge)
• Free parking
• Shuttles to family attractions (free or surcharge).
• Well-connected public transportation nearby
• Within walking distance to main attractions

You have the option of hotel alternatives too:

• Spacious vacation rentals with multiple rooms
• Aparthotels with in-room kitchenettes and laundry facilities
• Unique local style of accommodation, for an authentic experience

If you have young children, look for hotels which have the following available:

✓ Infant cribs

✓ Kids-stay-free policy

✓ Children's pool

✓ Babysitting/childcare (free or surcharge)

✓ Supervised kids club

✓ Snacks available on-site

✓ Kids menu

Availability of these in-room facilities comes in handy for storing formula and preparing food:

✓ Microwave

✓ Refrigerator

✓ Kitchenette

If you're travelling with older folks, use the filters to search for family-friendly hotels with accessibility features. Consider booking ground-floor rooms for easy access.

On Expedia, you can use filters to search for family-friendly hotels, sort the hotels to view the cheapest first or the best deals available. When you've found a hotel you like, look at the guest rating or click on the number of guest reviews to see what past guests had to say.

Some other considerations to save costs are:

• Room Facilities: Rooms that sleeps four to six people, rollaway beds available, kids-stay-free policy. Kitchenette for preparing and reheating group meals. Aparthotels with laundry facilities. Free airport transfers, free parking.
• Hotel Location: Cheaper hotels outside the city-centre or popular tourist areas, with public transportation nearby so it's convenient to get around. Or hotels in the best location where you can walk to attractions.
• Vacation Rentals: These tend to be more spacious and do not have 24-hour front desks, toiletries or other frills, so you save on those costs.