Planning a Family Holiday? Here’s What Makes a Hotel Perfect for Kids, our experience.
When planning a family getaway with toddlers, the term “child-friendly” or “family-friendly” is top of the list for places to search for.
The criteria for most parents when choosing a hotel would be something along the lines of having:
- Designated playrooms for kids
- Pools for kids
- Play area; soft play area/playground
- Kid’s clubs
These things are ideal, but after our little getaway to The Gateway Hotel in Dundalk, I’m starting to see otherwise. We had the best family getaway, and the kids enjoyed it the most, but it wasn’t a hotel that checked all the conventional child-friendly boxes. We had a great time relaxing, creating unforgettable memories and it was jam packed full of excitement.
Background
As parents working full-time jobs and almost on the verge of burnout, we desperately needed a break. Our last family hotel stay was, let’s say, less than ideal: sleepless nights, bed-sharing chaos, and stressful mealtimes. To be honest we were expecting a similar experience this time round but considering we have not taken the boys anywhere for almost a year, we decided to go for it. The idea of just being somewhere new and far away from home was too tempting for us not to at least try. And so, we set off for Dundalk. The Gateway Hotel, just over two-hour’s drive from home, promised to be an adventure. Little did we know how much it would exceed our expectations.
First Impressions Matter
Once we were in the area, spotting the hotel was easy. A towering 14-story building with a massive mural of what looks like a Viking with an Irish wolfhound holding a blue sword – it was an instant hit with our boys! Their excitement skyrocketed before we even stepped inside.
When we entered our room, the fun truly began. The boys immediately started jumping on the beds and would not stop laughing, I’m talking belly laugh as if someone had been tickling them. Moments later, there was a knock at the door – we received complimentary chocolate 😋I am trying to watch how many treats the boys get but we are on a getaway so YOLO. We watched TV and finished that chocolate bar in no time.
A Breakfast to Remember
One thing we are still struggling with in our household is wake up time. Thankfully the boys sleep on time when going to bed but I wish the same can be said for getting up in the morning. 7 days a week we have an alarm called Tadhg, Tadhg wakes everyone up around 6:20am every morning! To him, mummy and daddy having a lay-in on a weekend means nothing. Even if they have been working overtime and have long commutes to and from work. 🤪 Anyway, being woken up so early on this little getaway so did us a massive favour – we got to have the first lot of the freshly cooked breakfast buffet.
There was great selection of food and to our surprise, even the pickier eater among us tried almost everything he was given! I was so impressed and as a treat he got freshly baked mini chocolate croissants AND a serving of Nutella 😬
It was a simple yet heart-warming moment seeing them try and enjoy new foods.
Adventures Beyond the Room
The hotel’s location was very convenient with “The Marshes shopping centre” nearby. A short ten-minute drive also took us to a local swimming pool decorated with colourful turtle and fish murals.
The boys loved pretending to be underwater creatures with daddy and there was a mini slide they would slide off every few minutes. This though, was not the highlight of the trip – it was simply being in the hotel room.
The Simple Joys of Hotel Life
Back in our room, we snuggled into the comfy beds, watching more TV, colouring in (I forgot the boys crayons so we literally used the notepad and pen/pencils the hotel gave us) – yup, we managed to colour in black and white, it helps my husband can draw just about anything and the boys still enjoyed this as if it was a colouring book.
The internet speed was good, so I even got to blog about World prematurity day whilst relaxing. One adorable memory was their excitement over pressing the lift button to our floor. Every trip up and down was accompanied by giggles and whispering “shhh” to avoid disturbing our neighbours – a challenge for two very enthusiastic toddlers!
The bubble baths were requested for by the boys themselves, we gave them baths each night before bed and they had their dinosaur toys for entertainment.
They even pretended to be Santa with bubble beards, making bath time an unexpected highlight. They slowed down after bath time which helped with bedtime because as you can imagine with all the excitement, they did not want to go to bed!
On a side note, I passed my driving test 3 days before our little getaway trip – to be honest this was going to be my way of forgetting I’ve failed my test but thank God I passed! So, to celebrate we went downstairs to the restaurant and had the most delicious dinner.
The staff as usual were amazing offering highchairs for the boys and making sure we had everything we need. Its great there was a kid’s menu because they were able to finish off the portion given. Our waiter Adi was making the boys laugh which really was the highlight for me as a mum.
Child-Friendly Hotels: A New Perspective
This experience taught me something valuable: a hotel doesn’t need to market itself as “child-friendly” to be perfect for families. With a little creativity and the right mindset, you can transform any stay into a great family experience.
Will I specifically seek out child-friendly hotels in the future? Not necessarily. As a budget-conscious mum, I’ll also be on the lookout for great deals – and with some thoughtful planning, we’ll make any trip enjoyable for our kids.
Tips for Making Any Hotel Child-Friendly
- Pack the fun: Bring along favourite toys or activities to keep your little ones entertained.
- Embrace the simple joys: Even small things like going up and down the lift can become an exciting adventure for toddlers. Or walking through the hallway “quietly” challenge can be a funny little exercise.
- Look for perks: Complimentary treats, a variety-filled breakfast, or comfy beds can make a huge difference.
- Plan nearby activities: Research family-friendly attractions within a short drive from the hotel.
Our trip to The Gateway Hotel reminded us that the joy of family holidays doesn’t come from checklists or fancy amenities. It comes from the laughter, bonding, and memories created along the way.
What’s been your most memorable family hotel experience? Share your stories in the comments – I’d love to hear them!
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