I fully admit I have never really been the backpacker/hostel type (I’m sure you are shocked) and can count on one hand the number of true hostels I set foot in during my twenties. I always found it worth the (sometimes slight) extra cost for a decent 2 or 3-star hotel room with a private bathroom in most European cities.
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I traveled a lot with my parents even in my 20s and 30s (my love of travel is probably genetic), and we generally stayed at the 3 or 4-star family-run hotels recommended by Rick Steves. Occasionally, we would indulge a bit, especially during the off-season when prices were favorable, but staying at luxury hotels was just not our thing. After all, we weren’t in the room much! Does that sound familiar to you?
Location, Location, Location.
It’s a classic saying for a reason. What are your high-level goals for the trip? Is there an area with more sites that you might be interested in seeing? Do yourself a favor and book a hotel that is easily accessible to the places you’d like to visit. That gorgeous little hotel or apartment that’s only a 15-minute metro ride away from where you’ll spend most of your time? Save it on Google Maps for another trip. If you have a baby or young children with you, you’ll likely have a stroller, and even the best travel stroller in the world can become burdensome. Your back will start to hurt from lifting it every time you encounter an escalator or stairs. And unless you’re in Japan (and to a lesser extent, Germany), be prepared for elevators, if they exist, to be out of order. Also, remember to breathe through your mouth as a preventative measure when using those elevators.
I’m just saying that using metro systems can be much more exhausting in cities like Paris or London when you’re traveling with little ones, so it’s best to be prepared. Being able to return to your hotel easily and without much hassle before your little one loses their patience, especially if they don’t nap in the stroller, makes life much easier. Additionally, getting comfortable with the bus and tram systems, assuming they are safe, is a great way to explore with a stroller. Check out my article that discusses CityMapper and how it can be a lifesaver for navigating public transportation. Just remember to keep your itinerary flexible when planning, and enjoy your trip!
Spend the money to stay somewhere comfortable.
Things have changed. I’m not sure if it’s because we are traveling with a small child or if it’s because I am noticeably getting older, but our hotel preferences have definitely shifted towards higher-end options. It’s quite simple; we now spend a lot more time at the hotel. When you need to take refuge in the bathroom while your child naps, it’s comforting to be in a beautiful bathroom where both of you can comfortably fit. We’ve also spent our fair share of time sitting in hallways with a drink or having a meal while we wait for that blissful moment of silence when Bear finally drifts off into his restorative rest.
Now, when I begin researching for a trip, I often get drawn into websites that promise a list of the most kid-friendly hotels in that city or area. Surprisingly, at least half of them are top-of-the-market properties like the Four Seasons. While they are great, I personally don’t find this very helpful. Bear doesn’t care about the tipi we could spend hundreds of dollars on to have set up in the room. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind when he’s a bit older. So, I’m not suggesting that you must blow your entire budget and stay at the nicest hotel, but do seriously consider your comfort level. If suites are available at a price point that doesn’t make you want to scream, having a separate space is a godsend.
I also want to acknowledge that hotels can still be quite expensive, so you might want to select a hotel before purchasing your plane tickets if you’re concerned about your budget.
Babyproofing.
The first thing we do when we enter the hotel room is unhook the phone because Bear is obsessed with them, and I want no part of accidentally calling another room or incurring charges for a toddler-dialed long-distance call to Azerbaijan. It’s weird to think that his main exposure to landlines happens at hotels. But I digress; my point is, you know your child best and what level of babyproofing is required.
Masking tape is an excellent multi-use tool to bring with you to cover outlets if you don’t travel with outlet covers (we don’t, and if you want to make sure, buy the right shape for the country you are staying in). It is light to pack and it slows your child down just enough that you’ll notice if they are about to try to electrocute themselves. You can also use it to round up any dangerous cords from blinds or other sources and stick them to the wall outside of your child’s reach. Just make sure you bring tape that won’t damage the wall!
Honestly, other than watching for cords and the phone issue, we don’t really babyproof hotel rooms and never did. That’s our child, though, and you have to parent the child you have. If your child gets into EVERYTHING and you are really worried, you may want to bring along adhesive latches or corner protectors, but make sure they won’t harm the furniture.
We have had several hotels provide a little baby pack which included baby shampoo and other essentials, and usually quite a few other useful items. One place even included babyproofing equipment, which I thought was a very nice touch (though we did not use it). Some hotels offer to do light babyproofing for you as well, so look for that as an amenity if this is a big concern for you and it would make the trip less stressful. Again, this is something within your control, and if it will make you feel more relaxed on the trip, then do what you need to do.
I will just say that even if you babyproof the room extensively and wrap everything in soft rubber, if your child is anything like mine, they might still find a way to injure themselves. It’s just the way of things.
The culprit for us was the plastic, rounded-edge recycling bin in the bathroom of a five-star hotel. Bear was just standing next to me, and all of a sudden he fell (he was over 18 months but still a little wobbly, I guess) and hit his lip somehow on this stupid, cheap, plastic bin. I saw him just land on his rear and thought he was fine until he started crying, and then I saw the blood. He WAS fine, and we did not need to take him anywhere to get checked out, but he had this weird scrape/cut on his upper lip that looked very much like a cleft-palate surgery scar for a long time.
My point is, it’s madness to try to control your environment completely, and do not beat yourself up if something happens while you are on your trip. If you are really worried about this, make sure you research urgent care/hospitals near the place you are staying so you have information to act on if needed. Also, check out my tips on what to do when things go wrong. Chances are you will never need it!
Best wishes and bon voyage!