The Actually Useful Guide to Booking Hotel Rooms for Families (Without Getting Fleeced)

Let's be honest: traveling with family is expensive enough without dropping hundreds of dollars per night on a cramped hotel room where your kids are climbing the walls by 7 p.m. But here's what the travel industry doesn't always advertise clearly — plenty of hotel options exist that won't drain your bank account and won't have you all sleeping on top of each other.

Now sure, many groups just opt for vacation rentals. After all, home-sharing websites like Airbnb can reasonably take a lot of credit for popularizing the idea of large, multi-family or multigenerational getaways. But the shine of vacation rentals like Airbnb has dulled under scrutiny over unreasonably high fees, local bans and unreliable hosts.

Luckily, lots of hotel brands offer rooms and suites with multiple bedrooms that are perfect for families. Some even have full kitchens where you can prepare meals to save on dining out.

If you’re a member of one of the big hotel loyalty programs, you can enjoy perks or earn points while you stretch out in all that extra space. With elite status, you might get upgraded to a bigger room — and not even have to pay for it.

Here's your ultimate guide to finding great hotels for family trips — helping you find hotels that are not only large enough, but that have amenities that people of all ages will enjoy.

Before we dive into specific hotels, let's talk numbers — because that's what actually matters when you're footing the bill.

The standard hotel trap: Most properties cap occupancy at four people per room. Even still, many charge extra for a third or fourth adult. Book two separate rooms for your family of five? That's double the cost.

The smarter play: A single suite with multiple sleeping areas often costs less than two rooms, and you're not worrying about your child wandering the hallways at 6 a.m. looking for you.

The real money-saver: Hotels with kitchenettes or free breakfast. A family of four eating breakfast out costs $40-60 daily. Over a week, that's many hundreds of dollars. Free breakfast alone can justify choosing one hotel over another.

Non-negotiable for most families:

• Enough sleeping surfaces (don't forget to ask about sleeper sofas and rollaways).

• At least 450+ square feet if you're all in one room (anything less and you'll likely feel like you're in a submarine).

• Separate spaces where someone can sleep while others are awake.

• A mini-fridge minimum (even if there's no kitchen, you'll save money buying groceries).

Actually useful amenities:

• Free breakfast that's not just stale bagels (hot options = game changer).

• Kitchenette or full kitchen (saves $50-100 daily on meals).

• Laundry facilities (in-room or on-site—vacation laundry is real).

• Pool (free entertainment is the best entertainment).

Things hotels tout that you probably don't care about:

• "Luxury" toiletries (your kids will use the entire bottle as bubble bath).

• Turndown service (more awkward than helpful).

• Fancy lobbies (your kids won't appreciate it anyway).

These aren't ranked by luxury — they're ranked by value and how well they actually serve families who don't want to spend half their vacation budget on lodging.

The MVPs: Extended-stay brands

Residence Inn by Marriott: Here, you get one- or two-bedroom suites with full kitchens, free hot breakfast and evening "socials" (free appetizers and drinks several nights a week). Since rooms have kitchens, these are best for families staying many nights who want to cook some meals.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott: With this underrated gem you get an all-suite property with 25% more space than standard hotel rooms, separate sleeping and living areas, mini-fridges, microwaves and free breakfast. It's not officially considered an Extended Stay brand (but it has much in common with such extended stay brands, save for the typically-higher price).

This is Marriott's best-kept secret for families on a budget. You get the suite layout without paying extended-stay prices, and the breakfast is consistently decent (hot and cold options, not just continental). The separate living area means kids can watch TV or play games while parents decompress. Most rooms sleep 4-6 people comfortably with a sleeper sofa created in partnership with West Elm. It's best for families who want space and free breakfast but don't need a full kitchen (it's just a kitchenette).

Homewood Suites by Hilton: This brand is the closest competitor to Residence Inn with one- and two-bedroom suites, full kitchens, free breakfast and evening socials. The breakfast spread is reliable, and the evening socials can include hot entrees.

Staybridge Suites by IHG: Here, you're looking at one- and two-bedroom suites, kitchens, free breakfast, evening receptions (Tuesday-Thursday).

The evening receptions are more modest than competitors (think light snacks, not dinner), but you're also paying less. It's a great value if you're primarily looking for kitchen access and breakfast.

Average cost: $100-170/night Best for: Budget-conscious families who'll cook most dinners

The solid mid-range options

Hyatt House: Here, you get studio and one-bedroom suites with kitchens, free breakfast and a 24/7 market (for a fee).

It has a slightly more upscale feel than the other options in this guide (though that's usually reflected in price). If you have World of Hyatt points, this is where to use them, as redemption rates are often reasonable for suites.

Embassy Suites by Hilton: Every room is a suite (bedroom + separate living room with sleeper sofa), which is clutch for families. The complimentary evening reception includes beer, wine, and mixed drinks for adults. That's not a huge selling point for the kids, but they'll appreciate the snacks (and the adults might appreciate that drink). It can be pricier than extended-stay brands, but the consistent two-room layout is worth it for many families.

It's best for families who need guaranteed separate sleeping and living spaces.

The budget champions

Drury Hotels: Drury Hotels is criminally underrated. The 5:30 PM Kickback includes enough food to count as dinner—we're talking hot dogs, nachos, chili, baked potatoes, plus free alcoholic beverages for adults. For a family of four, you're saving another $30-50 on dinner. Not all rooms are suites, but even standard rooms are spacious, and many locations have rooms with separate sleeping areas.

It's best for families who want maximum freebies and don't mind slightly older properties

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott: Some locations have suites with separate sleeping areas. Just note that not every Fairfield is a "Suites" property, so check before booking. When you find one with suites, it's usually the cheapest way to get a two-room setup in the Marriott family. Breakfast is consistently good across the brand.

Properties like Evermore Orlando Resort (now partnered with Hilton Honors) are trying to split the difference between hotels and vacation rentals, offering multi-room properties with hotel services like daily housekeeping and 24/7 front desk. Evermore Orlando Resort opened in January 2024 as a sprawling, 1,100-acre luxury vacation rental complex consisting of 69 houses, 206 flats and 41 villas that range in size from two-bedroom apartments to 11-bedroom homes. Their pitch is all the space of a vacation rental, but none of the "surprise! the AC is broken and the host isn't responding" chaos.

But in contrast to many of the properties named above, these are expensive. Yes, you get resort amenities (pools, golf, restaurants), but you're paying resort prices. Unless you have a large group (8+ people) or substantial points to burn, traditional hotel suites offer better value.

Use loyalty programs (even if you rarely travel)

Here's the secret: you don't need status to benefit from hotel loyalty programs. Join for free, book directly through the hotel's website, and start earning points. Many hotels offer:

• Points for free nights.

• Member-only rates.

• Free room upgrades when available.

The fastest path to hotel status? Get a co-branded credit card. Cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or IHG Rewards Premier give you automatic status after limited stays, unlocking free breakfast, upgrades, and late checkout.

Marriott Bonvoy: Earn Marriott Bonvoy® points by staying at participating hotels, transferring points from your Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards accounts, or applying for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card.

Hilton Honors: Transfer American Express points to Hilton Honors points, or apply for a Hilton-branded credit card.

IHG One Rewards: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points 1:1 to IHG or earn IHG points with an IHG-branded credit card.

World of Hyatt: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points 1:1 to Hyatt, or get World of Hyatt points with their co-branded hotel credit card.

Book the base room, then upgrade

Many extended-stay hotels don't let you book two-bedroom suites with points online. The workaround:

1. Book a one-bedroom with points.

2. Call the hotel directly and ask about upgrading to a two-bedroom for cash.

3. Often it's $30-50/night extra — way cheaper than booking the two-bedroom outright.

Actually read recent reviews

Filter for "families" and sort by most recent. Look for:

• "Breakfast was actually good" vs. "breakfast was bare minimum."

• Comments about room condition and cleanliness.

• Whether the pool/amenities are actually maintained.

• If the "full kitchen" is actually functional or missing equipment.

Consider location vs. price

A hotel 15 minutes from your destination that costs $100 less per night could save you $400-500 over five nights — enough to cover gas and then some. But if you'll be driving back and forth multiple times daily, you'll spend that on gas and time.

Look for single rooms that accommodate more than four

Generally, a single room (and a single bathroom) will be cheaper than booking a multi-room unit in the same building. But while most hotels cap you at four adults per room (and some even charge you extra for any number of adults beyond two) there are some gems out there.

Among them is the Courtyard Marriott Oahu North Shore. Even in a queen room, you can comfortably fit six people given you get two queen beds plus a sofa bed.

They also have the option of what's called a 'family room,' which situates one king bed in a room that also has two sets of bunk beds, again accommodating six.

Don't overlook other key property features for families

Beyond big hotel rooms and free foods, prioritize other aspects of the hotel. After all, family-friendly amenities can turn a good stay into a great one. Look for properties that go the extra mile to offer engaging activities and recreational facilities designed with families in mind.

The aforementioned Courtyard Marriott Oahu North Shore shines with its complimentary cultural programming like hula lessons, ukulele workshops and lei-making classes, often led by the beloved “Aunty Kela.”

For active families, the hotel offers an outdoor pool with a separate shallow children’s pool for little swimmers, as well as a basketball half court and courts for volleyball and pickleball.

Over in the Ozarks, Big Cedar Lodge boasts paved trails perfect for family bike rides or strolls, a playground with monkey bars, and a whimsical fish-themed mini golf course — all included with your stay.

For those seeking even more adventure, Big Cedar’s Fun Mountain offers an array of paid activities like an arcade, laser tag, and climbing walls (though that incurs an additional fee).