If you’ve ever thought, “Why would I use a travel agent? I can find and book hotels myself!” — we totally get it. We used to think the same thing. But after years of traveling with kids, we’ve learned that having someone in your corner can transform your entire experience.

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There are generally two types of parents: (A) those with no interest in (or time for) planning trips and (B) those who like to plan trips.

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Group A benefits from a travel advisor by outsourcing the planning to an expert.  If you’re this type of parent, fill out our planning form and we’ll handle the rest.

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If you’re in Group B, you’re the reason we built Hotels With Kids. You like to research hotels, but are probably a bit short on time. That's why we’ve brought together the relevant (and often hard-to-find) info parents need in one place, with a curated hotel collection to make your search easier.

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But even once you’ve found the perfect hotel, you should still book through an advisor. Here’s why:

1. We’ll make sure the hotel knows all of your preferences and needs — before you arrive
2. We’ll handle any issues or challenges that come up during your stay
3. We’ll save you money

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1. Hotels can’t read your mind (but we can help)

Most of us book a hotel and show up hoping it meets our expectations. But hotels are run by humans, and hotel employees (like all other humans) can’t read minds.

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You should let hotels know in advance what’s important to you. But most people either don’t think to or feel uncomfortable speaking up. A travel advisor makes this easy. We collect your preferences (nap times, room setup needs, dietary requirements) and communicate everything to the hotel before you arrive. We advocate for you, we know how to communicate preferences clearly, and we aren’t shy about speaking up when something isn’t right.

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Real-life example: Growing up, my mom would go up to “scout” every hotel room first while the rest of the family waited in the lobby with our bags. More often than not, she’d come back unimpressed, and we’d all stand there — hungry, tired, and eager to unpack — while she negotiated with the front desk for something better. Now, as a mom myself, I get her concerns. But what a headache for everyone involved. A travel advisor could’ve saved us so much stress by getting the right room setup from the start.

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Here are some of the most helpful things an advisor can handle for you:

• Room location, based on your preferences (views, noise levels, proximity to amenities)
• Proper crib, rollaway bed, or toddler bed placement
• Mini-fridge stocked with milk, snacks, and kid essentials (or items like alcohol removed)
• Housekeeping that works around nap schedules
• Early check-in and late check-out requests
• Freezer access for pumping moms

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2. When things go sideways

Even the best-planned trips can hit snags. The difference is what happens next. When you book through us, you’re never dealing with these problems alone. No standing in front desk lines with cranky kids or making frustrated phone calls while your toddler has a meltdown in the lobby. We handle it so you can focus on actually enjoying your vacation.

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3. We’ll save you money

When you book through us, many hotels offer valuable perks at no extra cost to you:

• Resort credits (typically $100+ per stay)
• Daily breakfast for two
• Priority for room upgrades (advisors get higher priority than credit card portal bookings)
• Early check-in and late check-out, when available
• Occasionally, access to exclusive rates not available online

We also use technology to monitor your reservation for price drops and can rebook you at lower rates if they become available.

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Why trust us with your family's trip?

We’re not just travel advisors — we’re parents of three little kids who understand exactly what you’re going through. Every hotel on our site has been personally vetted for family-friendliness, including details you can’t easily find online (like whether cribs fit in the closet). We’re here because we want to make this easier for everyone. Let us book your next hotel, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll send you personalized recommendations!

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Is it really free?
Yes, it’s completely free for you! We earn a commission from the hotel, but it’s already built into their best available rate — meaning you pay the same price as booking directly. Commission rates are fairly standard across the industry and don’t impact which hotels we recommend.

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Can you only book hotels listed on this site?
No! We showcase a carefully curated selection of family-friendly hotels on hotelswithkids.com — but we have access to book with perks at over 5,900 hotels worldwide.

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What about if I’m booking with points?
If you’re using points through your credit card portal, we can’t help with booking. But our site is still an excellent research tool for finding family-friendly options. Pro tip: use points for flights rather than hotels— that way you can take advantage of advisor perks while still earning points on your hotel stay. And here’s a little secret: bookings made through travel advisors have higher priority for upgrades than bookings made through credit card portals.