46 ways hotels help families check in & chill out

This conversation is sponsored by Holiday Inn.

Travel with your children is horizon-expanding and it’s all the better if you can find a child-friendly hotel. Even when you have the most wonderful kids in the world, they still need to run, laugh loudly, cry, be messy…in short, be children.

At our #YoureWelcome Twitter conversation, parents shared the joys and challenges of travelling with family. We chatted about what makes check in easy and how hotels can make the whole experience stress-free.

This prize draw was sponsored by Holiday Inn – where you’re always welcome – even with muddy feet! That means no worrying about shushing your child at dinner or feeling awkward because you have young ones. Holiday Inn is a place where you and your kids can be yourselves.

• Kids stay and eat free
• Families can access pools and exercise facilities
• Internet is fast and available
• There are on site bars and restaurants

What’s not to love about Holiday Inn? Here’s some Tweets our community shared:

What makes checking-in family friendly

I love a friendly receptionist who talks to my kids @twirlyswirl79

The kids boxes provided are fab and the little kids buffet that was put on was a godsend after travelling @LDChesterfield

Fast and easy check-in process is a big one for me…. otherwise the kiddies start messing because they are bored @likeme247

I was at a hotel that gave the kids their own check-in pack — mainly consisting of sweets and stickers @fancy2135

We stayed at a hotel which had special kids check-in with step up to counter and own key card. So cute! @missielizzieb

For me it’s about the welcome and acknowledging my children as “guests” @hugginh

Leaflets on local attractions so we can all look through them and choose where to go and what to do @GW_78

Friendly staff who understand that holiday is exciting for kids, who may be a little hyper at check-in @Tantrums2Smiles

Budget-friendly touches families love

A good price range of meals! Free child meals with an adult meal etc makes all the difference
@LynnyLemon

Free Wifi so we can get Netflix on the iPad whilst we get ready for the day @MyTwoMums

We try to book a hotel with a pool to allow them to have a splash about and let off steam @juliehazell2

How child’s play helps

Knowing that there are areas onsite to burn off some energy https://t.co/zzyXozWVYY @BECCICLEARY87

Family travel tip: When there are opportunities to let the kids run off steam (play areas etc) -do! @Businessmum

We love a nice pool as know it’s going to lead to lots of happy (and tired) little adventurers @FiveAdventurers

I went to a hotel which had a mini-playroom where the kids could go mad in, starting from check-in! @hugginh

Mine is 7 and she likes drinking from wine glass and having own key card! They grow up fast @missielizzieb

I would like more hotels to have little play areas, toys, activity packs, anything! If there was a bit of interaction, I would be a regular! @JanTweetTweets

Cuddly toys if they are allowed to take them home make the stay more special @NEFamilyFun

Easy mealtimes are key

Having a restaurant not far from the room is essential, always hungry after a long drive! @catlovinkesh

Clean and secure highchairs with adjustable straps @alexaandra_t

Child-sized cutlery … i really don’t get why ALL restaurants don’t have it! @LDChesterfield

Bringing out kids’ food at the right temperature and not putting it in a super hot bowl! Amazed how often this doesn’t happen @BabyRoutes

Proper food. Particularly if you’re staying couple of days nuggets and chips wear thin pretty fast @liveotherwise

Offering hot chocolate at breakfast was a winner in the last place we stayed @thesoupdragon44

If it’s a buffet, a counter which is at child height so they can serve themselves if they wish @LDChesterfield

BIG buffet breakfast fan here! @SuperDaddyOfTwo

Fresh food is important to me and bite size portions @josea66

An exciting kids menu not just burger and chips etc and staff who engage with kids, let them order etc. @Tantrums2Smiles

Yes! My son is like a hotel hoover when we are away, yet at home is a really fussy @Tantrum2Smiles

Nice, child-friendly (and not expensive!) restaurant on-site and somewhere for children to play is ideal @Charlotte_jones

I have noticed they eat more vegetables in a hotel restaurant than at home! We should go away more often! @nazrana82

The hotel room

Having a nice clean fresh bed and coffee making facilities to unwind @catlovinkesh

Would like hotels to supply more baby equipment rather than parents having to bring them e.g potties, bed guards @sidsspecial

Opening the door to the lovely clean bright hotel room! @lynnylemon

I think there should be child options on the TV too, making it easier to keep them occupied without wifi @hooker1uk

My kids always talk about the comfort (or otherwise) of hotel pillows @grettaschifano

Forward planning

Making sure I have our travel documents in a specific location in my bag @MyTwoMums

Always remember chargers for phones and tablets (we forgot this summer. Nightmare!) @TheLazyGirlBlog

On road trips I make sure the kids have travel sickness pills, a book and a fluffy blanket to sleep under @xxcarolinexxx

Joys of travelling with kids

Kids seem to act more like kids and lose a bit of interest in iPads etc. when we go away @Chameleons17

We love to travel https://t.co/hgy69nmiJF @sleepybirdblog

Other families staying helps. The kids like other little ones to wave at and make friends with @twirlyswirl79

We take their favourite toys so they can have photo memories of them on holiday together https://t.co/BmRgZCoyKT @daddysworld

We travelled from the UK to Switzerland by car this year! What an adventure! https://t.co/CAzEHp4soc @lauislucky

We love traveling especially on holiday the whole car is filled with a sense of excitement @Tantrums2Smiles

The last word

You just want to feel relaxed and not judged! @missielizzieb

Find out the winners from the Twitter party here.