There are a lot of reasons for the familiarity of larger chains. For one, their hotels can be found in just about every city and every town across America. And they all look alike. Kids are used to seeing their names, as well as the physical structures of the hotels, just from driving around town. Plus, most of them run national advertising campaigns that appear on television. As we all know, kids pay attention to television.

Apart from the benefits of familiarity, chains offer families a multitude of kid-friendly perks, too. Many chains feature family discounts, “kids stay free” offers, child menus, kid-friendly environments and more. The best part? It’s not hard to find a great deal that suits your family’s needs. Before reserving your accommodations, consider the following points:

Room Options

1. Standard Rooms. Most large chains offer two double beds or one king size bed with each standard room. Be sure to specify non-smoking when making your reservation and keep your eyes peeled for chains that feature entire non-smoking floors.

Hotels/Motels to Note: There are many hotels and motels that feature, “kids stay free” if they stay in their parents’ standard room. Be sure to double-check the age limitation, as it varies dramatically from chain to chain, as well as hotel to hotel within each chain. Here are a few that allow kids to stay free of charge: Best Western, Choice Hotels, Days Inn, Doubletree, Four Seasons, Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson Hotels, Hyatt, Inter-Continental, Marriott, Radisson, Ramada, Ritz-Carleton, Sheraton, Westin.

2. Adjoining Rooms. Ah yes, privacy. When it comes to traveling with kids, nothing beats a little quiet time. Fortunately, many chains offer price breaks to those who reserve an adjoining room. Junior rooms, which are smaller rooms already priced less, are ideal. Be sure to ask for their availability ahead of time when making your reservation.

*Hotels/Motels to Note:
- The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts discount their adjoining rooms through what they call their “Family Plan.”
- Hyatt offers a great deal - discounted second rooms year-round in most of their hotels.
- Radisson features discounted adjoining rooms as well.

3. Suites. Similar to the set up of the adjoining room, suites offer families room to move around, much needed privacy and opportunities to save money. A typical suite has two full beds, a fold out sofa and a kitchenette, making it an attractive alternative for larger families. (Kitchenettes are ideal for cooking small meals and fixing light snacks!) Another big plus – many suite hotels also feature a “kids stay free” offer.

*Hotels/Motels to Note:
Marriott Residence Inn offers “Family value Weekend Rates” at many of their locations, saving families up to 50% on rooms.

Sources

Google maps
 

travel with Kids

Planning a trip
Plan before you pack
Packing for the family
Packing for kids and babies
Packing the right things
First-aid checklist
Be careful about what you bring
Games to play during the trip
Safety tips for kids at hotels
Family oriented hotels
Babysitter provisions at hotels
Vacation memories scrapbook

travel information: 
health, tips, useful links

Vegas and kids
Ear discomfort
Tips about ear discomfort
Airport security
Avoiding leg, toe cramping
In flight fitness
Economy class syndrome
Aviation complaint
Avoiding travel fraud
Motion sickness
Preventing aches and pains
Money saving tips
Aviation rights and policies
Before reserving accommodations
Safety tips at the hotel
Family-friendly hotels/motels
visiting national parks
Parks pass

Honeymoon trips

Honeymoon trip
Honeymoon destinations

Curiosities & little bit of history
Ancient jewelry
African Jewelry
Brazil's emerald
Brazil's gold 

Our Planet

Space Tourism
Dark Sky / Light Pollution
Warming Up
Russian sues NASA

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