Reading Time: 3 minBefore I had a child, I loved staying at charming, boutique B&Bs and trendy, big-brand hotels. I loved IHG’s Kimptons and Indigos, Hyatt’s Centric properties, W and Aloft hotels with Marriott, and the now-Hilton-associated Small Luxury Hotels.
But times have changed. Now it’s all about space, amenities, and feeling welcome with a preschooler in tow.
I swore I’d never set foot in an all-inclusive, and now, I’m thrilled at the prospect of not cooking, not cleaning, and not organizing meals and activities. And bring on the pool games!
My goal is to stay somewhere that’s chic enough to offer tuna tartare for me but also chill enough to provide plain pasta for a picky kid.
Unfortunately, boutique hotels often don’t have the right space or vibes for my very active four-year-old, as much as I miss staying at them. After four years of testing different hotels with a baby, then a toddler, and now a preschooler, I think the best hotel programs for families are IHG, Hyatt, and Hilton. Here’s why.
I attribute IHG’s family-friendliness to its Iberostar brand. Iberostar has numerous all-inclusive properties in beachy, kid-friendly destinations (think Mallorca, Punta Cana, and the Riviera Maya) that offer incredible amenities for a reasonable rate.
Iberostar hotels are often spacious and sprawling, with lots of areas for kids to run around without bothering other guests. Constant entertainment activities mean my son never gets bored, and neither do I. I can order a margarita at the swim-up bar in the adults-only pool while my son happily plays at the Star Camp.
I also find the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card helpful. It gives me Platinum elite status, which has awarded me a room upgrade almost every time. I can earn up to 26 points per dollar spent at Iberostar and other IHG properties (this helps me save for future stays), and it gives me the fourth night free on award stays.
I also have to mention Holiday Inn Resort properties, where kids stay and eat free. I have a stay planned at Holiday Inn Koh Samui, where there’s a kiddie pool with slides and activities for the little ones.
Food is the one cost I often stress about when traveling as a family. Even when I use points and miles to pay for a hotel stay, I need to factor in the price of eating out.
Free breakfast can make all the difference, and Hilton has several different brands within its portfolio that offer free breakfast to every guest in the room. This can save a lot of money, especially if you tend to wake up on the later side and have more of a mid-morning “brunch.” And who has the energy to search for a breakfast spot before they’ve had coffee? Not me!
Hilton brands that offer free breakfast include the following, though you should always confirm when booking: Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, Spark by Hilton, and Tru by Hilton.
One thing I love about Hyatt is the brand’s fixed award chart. Yes, this benefits all travelers and not just families, but knowing how many points I’ll need to save to book a hotel makes it a lot easier to plan and save for a family trip.
Hyatt’s family-oriented all-inclusive brands, like Dreams Resorts & Spas and Hyatt Ziva, are also amazing for the whole family, with activities and amenities for guests of all ages. You can either spend more points to stay, or book a regular points rate and call to add your child(ren) to the reservation. It usually costs $120 at Ziva properties and $100 at Dream hotels per kid.
Finally, Hyatt allows points pooling with other family members. Although you have to fill out a form, it’s really helpful to combine points and have enough in one account for a stay.
