Hotel with kids: what to ask before you book

Family friendly is a label anyone can print. What actually matters is what you ask before you book: a cot that is not there, a second child charged as an adult, or an unfenced pool can spoil a holiday. Here are the right questions to ask, before you confirm, so the hotel delivers what the listing promises.

Room and sleeping

Cot and extra bed

• Is a cot available, is it free or paid, and is there space in the room for it?
• Can they add an extra bed or a sofa bed, and up to what age?

Connecting or family rooms

• Are there connecting or family rooms? A separate room for the kids beats one crowded room: see suite or deluxe room.
• Ask for the exact bed configuration and the square metres; do not trust the name.

Child policy and pricing

Up to what age is free

• Up to what age do children stay free, and is it free only in existing beds or also with a cot or extra bed?
• How is a second child charged, and is breakfast included for the little ones?

Get it in writing

• Always confirm the cot, extra bed and age policy in writing when you book; family friendly on a listing guarantees none of it.

Food and the kitchen

• Is there a kids menu, are there high chairs and earlier dinner times?
• Can you warm milk or bottles, is there a fridge in the room, and is breakfast suitable for small children?

Safety

• Are the windows and balconies safe, are there window locks and plug covers on request?
• Is the pool fenced or supervised, and is it heated or shallow enough for children?
• Is the neighbourhood quiet and walkable with a stroller? Choose the area well: see how to choose the neighbourhood.

Facilities and the building

• Is there a kids club or babysitting, is the staff qualified, and is it paid?
• Are there a playground, laundry for the inevitable accidents, stroller-friendly access and a lift, and parking if you drive?

Practical tips

• Ask for a quiet room, away from the lift and the bar.
• Request the cot in advance: the number is often limited.
• Ask what to bring and what the hotel provides, so you do not overpack.
• Prefer a hotel near a park, a pharmacy and a supermarket, not at the top of forty steps.

The questions to ask before you book

• Is there a cot, is it free or paid, and is there space in the room?
• Can you add an extra bed or a sofa bed, and up to what age?
• Do you have connecting or family rooms, and with what bed configuration?
• Up to what age do children stay free, and how is a second child charged?
• Is breakfast included for children, and are there a kids menu and high chairs?
• Is the pool fenced or supervised, and is the room safe for little ones?
• Are the cot, extra bed and age policy confirmed in writing?

Good to know

Is family friendly on the listing enough? No; it is a free label. Ask and get the cot, beds and age policy confirmed in writing before you book.

Is the cot always free? It depends on the hotel: sometimes free, sometimes paid, and often limited in number. Request it in advance.

Up to what age do children sleep free? It varies by hotel, and is often only in existing beds. Get the exact age and conditions in writing.

Family room or two connecting rooms? With several children, a separate room helps a lot; compare price and space, see the suite vs deluxe guide.

Where do I compare family hotels? Compare the hotels, then confirm the details with the property; on Edenfinder you compare hotels, you do not pay on Edenfinder.

Compare family hotels, then confirm the details with the property. Search hotels in Rome or search hotels for your destination.