Chances are, if you’re traveling with kids, you will want more space and flexibility than a typical hotel allows. Visiting a hotel as a family can be a treat, but in terms of value, space and a more authentic experience, vacation rentals are often a better option.
But how do you choose a rental that will suit the whole family? As with everything, one size doesn’t fit all. Check out our family vacation rental tips before you book your next holiday with the kids.
1. Set Your Budget
Probably the most important, right? You’ll always find something truly beautiful that’s just a little bit more than what you had in mind. So work out what you want to spend and stick to it. The more strict you are, the quicker you can rule out anything that’s not quite right.
2. Choose The Right Location
For any family, whatever the age of the children, safety and location are the two biggest considerations. Safety – because you don’t want your children to be in any danger while away from home (so check out any potential dangers like low balconies, pools away from view, or tricky stairs).
Location is also critical – research exactly where the rental is in comparison to the areas you want to visit. Is the area safe at night? Is it close to transportation routes or freeways? Is it quiet at night if you’re doing an early bedtime? Depending on the age of your children, there will be different requirements here too – younger children tend to love local transportation options – so trams, buses, bikes, boats, trains, all of these have the potential of putting a smile on your child’s face, possibly more so than traditional tourist attractions.
You don’t have to be in the heart of the city to offer them a great time – being in a suburb can be great fun too. But for any age, you want to spend the majority of your time in the best location, not traveling there and back, so make sure it’s easy to get around if you need to.
Spend some time looking up what you can do in the local area with kids. Traditional attractions might not excite them so much as the fact that the Italian town they are visiting has 8 gelateria, for example, or that there is a huge playground. Factor in the things they enjoy as well as your must-see tourist spots. Finding somewhere to blow off excess energy will help everyone too – whether that’s a nearby park, beach or a garden.
For over 10s, finding a property in a walkable location is a good idea, allowing them some independence to go to the shops/beach/park alone if it is appropriate.
3. Determine Your Essential Amenities
For parents
Check how well equipped the kitchen is – if it has a blender and microwave, you will be easily able to cater for your little one. If not – think about what food your baby will eat and how easy it will be to prepare it. You could even ask the host if they have high chairs and kid-friendly plates and cutlery to make dinnertime easier.
Parents of multiple children will also probably want to know about laundry facilities. Noone wants to come home to a huge stack of dirty laundry. And it’s worth looking at what’s in the bathrooms too – it’s hard work bathing a young baby in a shower cubicle.
For Kids
For the little ones, there’s nothing as exciting as another child’s toys. So if you can, book a property that comes with them. And don’t underestimate the appeal of a great kids bedroom! Kids are quite often amazed at the little things like bunk beds, colorful interiors or quirky features such as reading nooks.
Depending on the age of your children, you may want to also consider if outdoor space is another essential feature for your family.
For other guests
If you’re traveling with teens, grandparents, extended family or another set of parents, then space is definitely an essential priority.
Are you all happy to share that bathroom? If not one per couple or per person, you’d probably need at least one per floor.
4. Consider The Size and Layout
Space and independence are the watchwords for older kids. If possible, book a rental property with a large lounge, or even two distinct lounge spaces, so they can spend some time without feeling watched.
Much as with teenagers, space and independence are key with larger groups traveling together. Are you all going to fit on that couch? Is there room around the dining room table for everyone to eat together? Can one group disappear to a quiet area if the other group is busy making noise? Booking a house or cottage that accommodates a slightly larger number of people than your party is a good idea – not having enough space can lead to conflict.
If you are traveling with grandparents, bear in mind that they may not be accustomed to the early wake-ups parents of young children endure. Parents with young children who still take a nap will also need to consider if there’s a quiet space away from the rest of the group in the daytime. And if you’re traveling with a nanny, offering a private space would be much appreciated.
5. Filter By Kid-Friendly Features
While certain amenities are not essential, they can make or break your trip.
- Think about housekeepers, nannies or babysitters on call, to really carve out some rest and relaxation.
- What about swimming pools or hot tubs? If the weather isn’t always great, having some kind of at-home activity can be a lifesaver.
- Ask if they have toys, books or games for kids to play – super helpful to have while you unpack.
- Many hosts will help with your initial set up, offering welcome baskets, grocery shopping or restaurant recommendations, so take them up on their offer of assistance to make your vacation with kids that little bit easier.
6. Read The Reviews
What works for some families might not work for others. A noisy train line in the heart of the city might be expected (and unnoticed) by urban dwellers, but if you’re used to the quiet of the countryside, this feedback may help you decide if it’s not quite right for you.
However, sometimes guest reviews offer even more tips and hints than the hosts themselves. Visiting families will search out the best places to eat, tips for traveling around and give you a real idea of what your stay will look like.
7. Know The Minimum Stay Requirements
If you’re only looking to stay somewhere for a night or two or want to tour an area and stay in a variety of lodgings, be aware that many vacation rentals have a minimum stay requirement, especially in summer months when some owners prefer to rent for weekly minimums. Outside peak season, stays of 2-3 nights are more common and acceptable.
You can always contact the host directly if you see a shorter gap of availability and ask if they’d be willing to open up the dates for you to book a shorter stay.
8. Look Into Fees
Additional fees may vary depending on what country you’re visiting, whether it’s a house or an apartment, how many people you’re with or what additional services are on offer.
Hosts should ideally make you aware of any additional fees at the time of reservation, or at least in your initial communication. Hosts are now more strict and upfront about cancellation policies, so make sure you check this before booking.
It’s worth noting that many European countries now enforce a daily tourist tax (ranging between 1EUR to 5EUR per person, per night). Check the required tax for your destination and if it’s not included in the rate, you’ll usually have to pay this directly to your host when you arrive.
9. Book In Advance
The travel industry changed dramatically after the pandemic in 2020. Now, guests are more cautious and like to plan in advance, meaning that some of the best rentals book out quickly!
Gone are the days when you could get a great deal by simply waiting until the week before you want to travel. Some of our most popular properties are booked up 1 or even 2 years ahead, so if you want to book the best places, get planning.
10. Purchase Travel Insurance
A must for families. Consider choosing an annual policy that includes your home country and overseas – these are usually quite cost effective and it means you won’t forget to book a new policy every time you take a short break.
11. Use a Trusted Family Vacation Rental Company
With so many vacation rental sites to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. If you’re time-poor (like most parents) and have a whole family to accommodate, you can probably eliminate most hotel booking sites with endless listings to trawl through.
Choose a family vacation rental on Kid & Coe for hand-picked properties that are family focused, well-located and beautiful!
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/austin/the-chiappero-trail-residence
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- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/Wandsworth/the-toast-rack-residence
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- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/helmersbuurt/the-helmersstraat-residence