Planning a family holiday is exciting, but navigating hotel websites can be confusing. Understanding meal plans and knowing what to look for when booking with children can transform your trip from stressful to seamless and save you money.
Decoding Your Breakfast Options
The most common
inclusion is breakfast, but not all breakfasts are created equal. A 'Continental Breakfast' is typically a light, uncooked meal. Expect pastries, bread, jam, fruit, cereal, and coffee or tea. It's a quick start to the day. An 'American Breakfast' is more substantial, usually featuring two eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, and juice or coffee, and sometimes pancakes. A 'Full English Breakfast' is the heartiest option, often including sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. Knowing the difference helps you decide if the included breakfast is enough to fuel your family's morning.
Half Board, Full Board, and All-Inclusive
These terms define how many meals are included in your stay. 'Half Board' typically includes breakfast and one other meal, usually dinner. This offers flexibility if you plan to be out exploring during the day. 'Full Board' covers all three meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is convenient if you plan to spend most of your time at the resort, but be aware that drinks are often excluded. 'All-Inclusive' is the most comprehensive option, covering all meals, most drinks (including some alcoholic beverages), and snacks. It can offer great value, but always check the fine print to see exactly what's included, as premium items or room service often cost extra.
Is a Meal Plan Worth It for Your Family?
Before committing to a meal plan, consider your family’s habits. If you have picky eaters or young children on a specific schedule, the structure of a full board or all-inclusive plan can reduce daily stress. However, if your family loves exploring local restaurants and street food, a 'Bed and Breakfast' only plan provides more freedom. For day trips, a half-board plan ensures you have a meal waiting when you return. Also, consider the hotel's location. If it's remote with few outside dining options, a meal plan is almost essential. In a bustling city centre, you might save money and have better experiences eating out.
Booking the Right Room Configuration
When booking for a family, always enter the correct number of adults and children, including their ages. Hotels have strict occupancy limits. Don't assume a 'family room' is one large space; it could be a standard room with a sofa bed. For more space and privacy, especially with older children or teens, look for 'interconnecting rooms'—two separate rooms joined by an internal door. Be careful not to confuse these with 'adjoining rooms', which are simply next to each other. For larger families or longer stays, an apartment-style hotel with a kitchenette can be a game changer, offering the space to relax and the option to prepare simple meals.
Check the Child Policy Carefully
A hotel's child policy dictates costs that can significantly impact your budget. Many hotels have an age limit, often 12 years, for children to stay free in a parent's room, but this usually assumes they share existing bedding. If you need an extra bed or a cot, expect a nightly charge. Breakfast is another area to watch; a room rate that includes breakfast for adults may not include it for children, leading to unexpected charges each morning. Some promotions like 'kids eat free' often require the purchase of an adult entrée for each free child's meal.
Look for Genuinely Family Friendly Amenities
True family friendly hotels offer more than just a place to sleep. A swimming pool is often a must have for keeping kids entertained. For younger children, a supervised kids club can provide parents with a much needed break. Check for practical amenities like on site laundry facilities, a mini fridge in the room for storing milk and snacks, or even a microwave. Reading recent reviews from other families can provide the most honest insight into how a hotel truly caters to guests with children from staff attitude to the safety of the facilities.
