Vacation rentals can be a smart way to book a family vacation on points. While it is not the primary focus of this guide, I want to briefly mention another option for large families. Other hotel chains with “suite” in the name such as Candlewood Suites, Country Inn and Suites or Embassy Suites typically have an area partially separated by a wall and aren’t always true suites. This is super important for families with young kids who have early bedtimes, since it means when the kids go to bed, everyone has to go to bed. These are the chains I have found most frequently offer a suite with a door that closes the bedroom off from the rest of the hotel room. I’ve had the best luck with the following: My favorite hotel chains for larger families are the ones that comfortably accommodate our family of eight. Related: Why I prefer limited-service hotels over luxury chains Best hotel chains for large families If we have adjoining rooms, we will usually take one room for my wife and me and one room for the kids (something we don’t feel comfortable doing if the rooms are completely separate). I have roughly a 50% to 60% success rate in securing adjoining rooms when requested, so it’s possible - but certainly not promised. While they rarely guarantee it, they usually accommodate us if they can. We always call and ask the hotel for adjoining rooms. For me, it means the difference between sharing a bed with my wife or sharing a bed with a wiggly nine-year-old.
I know many travelers don’t enjoy adjoining rooms because it might mean you’re sharing a door with a stranger, and there may be noise issues. One thing we are always looking for when we choose to book two rooms is adjoining rooms - rooms that share a connecting door. On the drive back, we spent two nights at the Hampton Inn Keokuk in two rooms for 10,000 Hilton Honors points per room. For our last family trip to Nauvoo, Illinois, for example, we stayed one night at the Residence Inn Peoria in a two-bedroom suite that slept eight for 15,000 Marriott points. We use either strategy interchangeably, depending on the hotel or the destination. We can find a room in a “suites” hotel that sleeps eight, or we can book two rooms. However, now that the children are older, we have two main options for using our points to book hotel rooms. When my kids were younger, we may or may not have viewed occupancy limits as, well, suggestions from time to time. Related: 10 lessons from 10 years of traveling with kids Booking hotel rooms for families of six or moreįor larger families, things get complicated and expensive.
#Secrets getting into booked hotels for free#
I will generally book the standard room on points for other chains and then try to get upgraded either for free or by paying a cash co-pay. I’ve found Hyatt to be the chain that frequently offers larger rooms at a reasonable award cost. With Marriott, you typically have to call to book a suite using points, while Hyatt, IHG, Hilton and Radisson will show larger rooms as bookable online.
You can often find standard hotel rooms that fit a family of five at properties like these, usually with two double beds and a sofa bed.ĭifferent hotel chains have different rules on whether their suites are bookable online. Think: Candlewood Suites, Country Inn and Suites, Embassy Suites - the list goes on. If you are a family of five, look for hotels with the word “suite” in the name. My younger kids are fine sleeping on the floor, or we will occasionally bring sleeping bags for them, so they have the option to not share a bed with a sibling. One factor that may come into play is the age of your children and where they will sleep. When you add a fifth person to your hotel booking, things get more complicated, but you’re still often able to find standard rooms in some hotels that will fit your family, at least within the United States.
The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions.
0 kommentar(er)
