Hotel Holidays as a Single Parent with Children: How to Find the Right Hotel

Sometimes it’s not the big entertainment facilities but the little practical details that make a holiday with children on your own more relaxing.

When making your reservation, ask for a table near the breakfast buffet.

If you’re having breakfast with several children, every extra trip can become a challenge. You might want to fetch a coffee, carry two plates and make sure your child stays close by, all at the same time. A table near the buffet can save you unnecessary trips. It’s best to mention your preference when booking.

A washing machine at the hotel can help you travel with less luggage.

When you’re responsible for packing and carrying everything yourself, it makes a difference whether you need to pack clothes for every day of your holiday. If you can do a wash during your stay, you can often get by with fewer clothes and avoid lugging around so many suitcases. At HAPPY LITTLE STAYS, you can filter specifically for accommodation with a washing machine. Before booking, check whether use of the washing machine is included in the price or costs extra.

Plan not only for the lovely holiday days but also for the day when everything feels more exhausting than expected.
Perhaps it’s raining, your child is tired or neither of you feels like going on an outing. When searching for a hotel, consider whether you could spend an entire day at the accommodation without getting bored. An on site restaurant, a playroom or an indoor swimming pool can be particularly valuable in these situations. That way, you won’t have to come up with activities at short notice when you’re running low on energy yourself.

A holiday as a single parent doesn’t have to be expensive. When travelling alone with your child, it’s worth taking a closer look at the accommodation options. After all, it’s not always immediately obvious which rooms and rates are available to you.

Our tip: Contact the hotel directly and ask about rates for one adult travelling with a child.
When booking a double room online, the price for two adults is often displayed first. Depending on the booking platform and rate, you may be able to adjust the occupancy. Even so, it’s worth asking whether the hotel can offer a lower price for your particular situation. Some hotels offer special rates for single parents on request or charge a reduced rate for children. There’s no guarantee, but a quick email could be worthwhile.

Don’t rule out certain room categories too soon.
Some hotels offer single rooms with a large bed that may be suitable for one adult travelling with a younger child. Availability and pricing depend on the individual hotel. So ask before automatically booking a more expensive family room.

Another money saving tip: Choose a star rating that suits your budget.
At HAPPY LITTLE STAYS, for example, you can start by selecting three star hotels and then apply the filters for the facilities that matter to you. This helps you find affordable accommodation for you and your children without having to compromise on the facilities you want.

When looking for a family friendly hotel, it’s worth considering more than just the room size and photos. The layout is also important, as it needs to suit your daily routine.

A separate sleeping area can give you some valuable time to yourself in the evening.

If your child goes to bed earlier than you, a separate bedroom or partitioned sleeping area allows you to read or plan the next day’s activities without disturbing them. You won’t have to turn the lights out at the same time.

Another detail that’s easy to overlook when booking a hotel is the bathroom door.

A separate bathroom with a proper door is particularly practical if your child is a light sleeper. You can use the bathroom at night without the light shining directly onto the bed. This can be more difficult with open plan bathroom designs.

It’s also worth checking the bed arrangement in advance.

The term ‘family room’ doesn’t necessarily mean that all the beds are in the same room or that there are separate sleeping areas. If a good night’s sleep is important to you, ask the hotel about the layout and request a suitable room if needed.

When travelling alone with your child, you can’t simply take turns looking after them with another adult. That’s why family friendly facilities are particularly valuable when they genuinely make your holiday easier.

A hotel playroom can be a practical addition, for example.

Your child can play while you sit nearby and enjoy a coffee. Especially after a day out, it’s nice not to have to head out again to find something else to do.

A hotel with an indoor swimming pool gives you more options for planning your day.

Check whether there’s an area suitable for your child’s age and what supervision rules apply. This will help you decide whether the facilities are right for you.

Our tip: Don’t just check which facilities are available, but also when and under what conditions you can use them. A playroom that’s only open for a few hours or a pool with restricted opening times can affect your plans.

If childcare is available, it’s worth checking the details too. Which age groups are catered for? Do you need to book in advance? And is childcare available every day? If you’d like to enjoy some time to yourself during your holiday, make sure the service fits your needs and the length of your stay.

At HAPPY LITTLE STAYS, you can filter directly by the facilities that matter to you. Whether you’re looking for a playroom, an indoor swimming pool or other family friendly amenities, you can choose the criteria that narrow down your search.

When planning a holiday with children, it’s easy to focus entirely on what they want. But you deserve a chance to relax, too. Choosing the right accommodation can help you do just that, without having to organise a packed programme every day.

How about a hotel with a family sauna?

If the sauna is specifically designed for families, you can relax together and try something new. Before booking, check the age restrictions and conditions of use, as not all saunas are suitable for children.

The hotel’s location can also save you time and energy.

Are there restaurants within walking distance? Is there a supermarket nearby? Can you enjoy an easy dinner at the hotel? These questions become particularly important when your child is tired after a long day out and you want to keep the evening as relaxing as possible.

Don’t forget to check the cancellation policy.

Your child might fall ill, or you might be too exhausted after travelling to go on the planned outing. Check how late you can cancel free of charge and whether a flexible rate would be worthwhile. A cheaper, non refundable rate can be a good option if your plans are set. A more flexible booking, on the other hand, gives you more room to adapt if something unexpected comes up.

The best accommodation doesn’t have to be the biggest family hotel with the widest range of activities. A smaller hotel in a peaceful location, with everything close at hand, might suit you much better. What matters is that you’re not just organising the holiday for everyone else, but getting to enjoy it yourself, too.

With HAPPY LITTLE STAYS, you can search specifically for family friendly hotels that suit your needs. For example, choose three star hotels to keep an eye on your budget, then add filters for the facilities that matter to you. You can search for features such as a playroom, an indoor swimming pool or a kitchenette.

This makes it easier to find suitable accommodation without having to trawl through countless options.