During our latest trip to St. Cloud, Minnesota we stayed at the Homewood Suites. Homewood Suites is an extended stay brand owned by Hilton. I had stayed there before a couple years earlier but had never stayed there with a baby before. In an earlier post I mentioned I wanted to explore and seek out hotels to see if they were family friendly and what caused them to be so.

First off, as we were packing for our trip up North we called the hotel to see if we needed to cart our pack n play with us and check it on the plane. We were crossing our fingers we wouldn’t need to do so but you really never know. The hotel was very friendly and informed us they had new cribs and upon arrival it would be set up in our room. This was a major plus to us as a) we didn’t have to bring and check the pack n play and b) we wouldn’t have to set it up.

When we got there the staff was friendly and kind. We had booked a one room suite which was absolutely perfect. The baby crib was set up and cute and they even had rubber duckies for bath time (BabyTravels is a little young for bath time toys but it is the thought that counts). We opted for a one-room suite instead of a studio which we could have done with our small family, because we were able to put the baby in bed at night and close the door and go into the living area and watch some TV and hang out without disturbing the little one’s sleep. I loved that the hotel room had two big flat screen TV’s.

Even though BabyTravels is too little I did take mental note that the breakfast had kid-friendly options and the pool was spacious and even open late. All in all I think that the Homewood Suites is a great family friendly hotel that can accommodate even larger families with the option of getting a two-room suite.

When choosing a hotel the amenities that mattered to me were simple. Location, price and rating were what determined whether or not if I would choose to book a room. A posh and chic hotel located downtown was always on my wish list. But due to recent events in my life, priorities have changed. The transition from couple to family has changed my perspective on vacations and traveling and what’s important when I am choosing a hotel.

So what exactly makes a family friendly hotel? Is it just offering cribs and free breakfast to children under 12? Perhaps it’s more. Perhaps it involves the overall attitude of the hotel. There are definitely hotels built for romantic getaways or hotels that are built to be five star extravagances catering to the rich and famous. Maybe family friendly hotels are built from the ground up with an attitude of fun and adventure. Maybe it’s more than just a checklist of a few amenities.

Read the rest of this entry »

Who doesn’t like to stay in a sexy boutique hotel where the accommodations are contemporary, unique and stylish? Unfortunately, it’s not always an option when you are looking for affordability and a place to house your children. Or perhaps you love the idea of modern but prefer the ease of a chain? Choice Hotels new brand Cambria Suites allows you to get the both of best worlds. It’s affordable, convenient yet sleek and modern. It’s a hotel chain where you will feel comfortable bringing your family on vacation or bringing your loved one for a quick romantic getaway. It’s a great choice too for those health conscious travelers because they offer organic and healthy options at their cafes and have healthy freshly prepared snacks to grab.

We were invited to stay at Cambria Suites on our recent trip to San Antonio. We loved the close proximity to the airport- yet it didn’t feel like an airport hotel at all. The room was modern and chic. When I stay at a hotel I really notice the little things. I think little things can make a hotel room feel luxurious over cheap. This hotel nailed it from the Bath & Body Works bathroom products all the way down to the Wolf Gang Puck coffee and organic tea. I’m serious, I know those are small in the large picture but a hotel that pays attention to detail makes a really big difference in your quality of stay. We definitely did not feel we were sleeping at the Super 8 Motel.

I also loved that there was an LCD TV in every room. We had a two-room suite so there was three! That’s one more TV then we have in our house. The rooms were large, spacious and the most important thing- the beds were super comfortable. Look at how it’s decorated, isn’t it fun? There are 15 locations across the country and more in the works. Definitely recommended for my budget-minded traveler friends who still like the life of luxury (that’s me).

Every so often we get to stay in a hotel that is a break from the traditional chain brand over-nighter. Last weekend in Portland we were able to stay in one of those hotels, the Hotel Lucia, located directly downtown. From the moment we had the door opened for us and were greeted by the friendly front desk staff we knew it was different. What is this strange feeling? Could it be the good customer service that my parents told me of when I was a child? All the way up to our room, which happened to be a corner with an excellent view of the city streets, we noticed these differences. The lobby that was modern and inviting, the hallways were lined with classy black and white photographs, personally unique room keycards, and the list goes on and on.

Read the rest of this entry »

You know I am an advocate for hostels and unique hotels. Recently, I wrote a blog post about Switzerland’s first 1 star hotel in which they have transformed an old nuclear bunker into a hotel. Well by golly it’s time for another rendition of jaw dropping budget hotel options. Check out this old Pan Am 747 that has been turned into a hostel in Sweden! I mean why not? Old lighthouses, trains, and other unique facilities are often turned into hostels why not a giant (really expensive) airplane? And you even can get married in the left wing- sounds like a dream wedding to me. The hostel rates range from $40 for a bed in a shared four-bed dormitory to $170 for a private room with a twin bed and a single bed. The bridal suite costs $420 per night. The Jumbo Hostel is set to open January 15 but has been taking reservations for awhile now. The good thing about it is it’s very accessible by the airport!

 

photo credit goes to Jumbo Hostel