While millennials continue to book vacation rentals, demand for family boutique hotels has increased for short stays and road trips. We all know you can book the major chains’ “boutique” products such as Hilton’s Curio, Hyatt’s Andaz or Unbound Collections and Marriott’s Autograph Collection. That’s because the major chains always welcome families and — a big plus — you can often pay in loyalty points.
Yet, when researching family vacation ideas, many travelers favor the independent, hyper local and offbeat places. This is where it’s hard to tell if these hip lodgings are really family boutique hotels.
What Makes Family Boutique Hotels Family-Friendly? It’s Up to You!
To find out, we examined hotels we consider true offsprings of the boutique hotel pioneers. Bill Kimpton, who opened the Clarion Bedford Hotel in San Francisco 40 years with a hosted wine reception — a revolutionary idea at the time — launched the popular Kimpton chain and its Manager’s Cocktail Receptions. We also admired the stylish boutique hotels pioneered by Ian Schrager — the hotelier who began with the Studio 54 disco. He famously asked fashion designers to style Morgans in New York City and the high style outcome revolutionized the decor of small hotels.
Today, many small hotels would say their quirky style, social lobby spaces and celebrity chef restaurant make them family boutique hotels. Yet demanding millennial families also expect personalized service and access to local experiences.
Here are six family boutique hotels whose managers get that and more; they deliver an authentic ambiance and unique amenities for an ideal family getaway with kids.
Graduate Berkeley, Hotel Durant, Berkeley, California
This venerable hotel, opened in 1928 as the Hotel Durant across from the UC Berkeley campus, is part of the Graduate Hotels chain. It’s a fun place to stay. Each of their boutique hotel’s taste in humor, nostalgia and collegiate aesthetic clicks with local students, parents and alumni. Graduate’s sales team told us: “We play the Game of Know here, looking up every guest online before arrival so we can greet them with a meaningful personal note.” In some Berkeley rooms, find sport varsity plaques, art done by alumni or a movie poster from “The Graduate” or locally filmed classic. At our visit, compact dorm rooms got extra credit for using custom glass bongs as bed lamps. The Graduate Berkeley website provides room and bar discounts and seasonal club promotions. Study hard and you can check into Graduate Hotels (“where smart never goes out of style”) all over the country, in Cambridge and Oxford in the UK — all in the hippest college towns. They even have a ‘campus’ on Roosevelt Island in New York City, next to the Cornell Tech Hub.
The Bradley, Fort Wayne, Indiana
The design-driven, pet-friendly The Bradley opened in July 2021 to celebrate Fort Wayne’s hometown hero, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of the famously floral-patterned brand producing Vera Bradley handbags, totes, backpacks and more. Mom and daughter shopping teams don’t have to wait for the legendary Vera Bradley Outlet Sale to stay at the hotel; families can be immersed in her style any time. Ms. Bradley Baekgaard collaborated with Provenance Hotels, who truly believe in local. “Our property is a true reflection of the city, channeling the genuine spirit of community, industry, and creativity that abounds beyond its own walls,” says the Provenance Hotels team, who manage 14 U.S. hotels. Show your artsy kids the in-house art gallery and rooms featuring botanical-inspired letterpress prints and work by artists associated with Purdue’s local design campus. Take selfies in front of murals by local street artist Phresh Laundry. Rooms and the suites named after cities in Indiana boast colorful wallpaper and patterned fabrics, plus there’s a restaurant and rooftop bar with city views. Look at The Bradley as your base for entertainment at The Landing, a freshly revitalized historic neighborhood near Pomenade Park packed with bars, restaurants and playspace. Don’t want to work out on the Peloton bike or MIRROR in the fitness room? Grab complimentary bicycles to explore Fort Wayne’s 8 miles of nearby downtown riverfront.
Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Among the New England beach resorts which are summer family getaways, the traditional Inn by the Sea is a standout. A classic clapboard estate on the dunes 7 miles from Portland, Maine; it’s known for its mile of private beach (approached by a secluded nature trail), LEED certified environmental initiatives, spa, heated pool, award-winning wine cellar and fine regional cuisine. For families, the appeal is a luxurious and authentic Maine experience where they can take kids out on a real lobster boat, join guided tours of local food purveyors or microbreweries, garden, kayak or canoe with Audubon guides and watch wildlife in the Audubon sanctuary. On property, hotel guides lead Great Pond and Beach Walks and Garden Tours. Families get up close to butterfly gardens and bird nests. Pick blueberries or hunt down monarch larvae on milkweed plants; plus learn about the rabitat and the Inn’s effort to help the New England Cottontail bunnies struggling to survive in Maine.” To accommodate the many multigenerational guests, there are several two-bedroom luxury suites. The Inn’s notion of family is also forward-thinking; it’s so pet-welcoming that dog massage is available and visiting families may adopt the foster dogs that the inn cares for.
Surfjack Hotels & Swim Club, Honolulu, Oahu
When this classic 1960s Waikiki hotel was reborn as the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in 2016, the mosaic pool became an Instagram star thanks to the “Wish You Were Here” inscription seen from upper floor guest room lanais. Surfjack’s winning combination of warm Aloha spirit, rattan and denim design and vintage Hawaiian kitsch make it great fun for families who don’t need supervised activities. And while not slavishly devoted to children’s needs, the staff is genuinely friendly and helpful, offering fresh baked cookies at check-in, fat tire bikes, a cozy lobby nook with board games, free poolside cabanas or chairs for Waikiki’s nearby beach, and smart guidance on shopping and special events for all ages. The General manager notes, “The property’s Director of Experience curates monthly happenings [such as] our Aloha Friday workshops, and surf lessons with special pricing for children.” Another family perk is the lobby level field-to-fork Mahina & Suns (also available with 24-hour room service) from Honolulu celebrity chef Ed Kenney. They run scheduled tours for guests to visit their source farms in the Oahu countryside. More than half of Surfjack’s 112 beach-casual rooms are configured as one- to three-bedroom suites that appeal to multigenerational groups and larger families. Most of the hotel reviews also note Surfjack’s outstanding service and family-welcoming staff.
Martinhal Chiado, Lisbon, Portugal
“We see that today’s parents are willing to pay a premium if they get quality,” noted Chitra Stern, co-owner with her husband of the young Martinhal brand. Their four family-friendly luxury resorts in Portugal are all about service, with a baby concierge who reaches out with whatever amenities, organic toiletries and snacks guests need. The unique Martinhal Chiado Family Suites in Lisbon’s hippest downtown district is the first city hotel in the Kinder Europa Hotels portfolio. Each of the 37 homey apartments has a washer dryer, different size potties and a step stool to make parenting easier. Kitchens are stocked with complimentary breakfast supplies; only refills are billed. The hotel’s family cafe has a car body inside that kids can climb on. “We listen to what our guests say, whether it’s among our 135,000 Facebook fans, or on TripAdvisor or Instagram,” Stern adds, “so we can adapt every day.” Martinhal Chiado has a supervised camp for ages 6 months and older and an evening Pajama Club. After all, you want to confident your kids are being take care of when you head out to enjoy Lisbon nightlife or take in a Fado performance.
Hotels Löwe & Bär, Serfaus, Austria
At Kinder Hotels, strict standards and inspections certify family-friendly luxury hotel members. “As select family boutique hotels,” Werner Bilgram, former managing director, told us, “you must offer everything, so that parents have a choice to do what they want at any time.” Brand standards include connecting rooms, expert swim lessons at pools, and family rates at all properties; smiley faces are used to rate children’s facilities and services. The Hotels Löwe & Bär in Serfaus, Austria are an example of just how far sophisticated Family Select Hotels go to please young clients. At these four-star mountain resorts known for traditional European spas, children have a menu of a dozen wellness treatments, including a Goat Butter Cream Pack designed to soothe skin allergies. Both the hotel’s spa and swimming pools are among facilities which are adapted to kids use. At Hotels Löwe & Bär, expect indoor waterparks and outdoor heated pools, a sand beach, softplay rooms for toddlers, snowplay slopes, a climbing wall and myriad playgrounds. Websites boast of child safety locks, petite bathrobes, computerized sound monitors, childcare, kid-height toilets and washbasins, afternoon snacks, and a supervised kids’ dining table so parents can have a romantic meal. Guests can use mountain buggies, back carriers and a baby seesaw at no charge during their stay. Alongside Serfaus, the Tyrol resorts of Fiss and Ladis invested in infrastructure for families and, between them, offer three amusement parks, car-free zones, a summer attractions pass and an underground railway for quick movement.
Our experts agree that today’s families look for healthier food, connecting rooms so that adults and kids have their own privacy, and easy access to city sightseeing at any price. The family boutique hotels industry has concluded that people will pay more because they get what they want.
And a parting thought echoed by several: “Families are very demanding.”
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People who choose to book trips for summer or further out should do so with caution; the coronavirus pandemic is unpredictable. And many reservations may claim flexibility. Amid so much unknown, there will be one certainty: the headaches of rescheduling and canceling.
With a rugged interior featuring 286 peaks topping 3,000 meters Taiwan’s railway system is shoehorned onto the coastal margins where most of Taiwan’s cultural life is concentrated. Whether you ride the high-speed service from Taipei City to the second city of Kaohsiung or spend a week slowly circumnavigating the island by local train, all journeys are within eyeshot of either the cobalt-blue Pacific Ocean, flatlands of verdant rice-paddies, or towering mountainsides
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Amazing Post! about Amsterdam
There’s one street in Baltimore that’s more festive than the rest. Every holiday season, the neighborhood of Maryland’s miracle on h Street is decked out in Christmas lights and festive displays. From a tree made of hubcaps to classic candy cane fixtures, each house is uniquely decorated.
Considering Northeast Ohio has plenty of breweries, as well, Thomann was asked if it’s more likely we’ll find the members of Dorfrocker touring different venues tasting beers or visiting the Rock Roll Hall of Fame?
Covid-19 certainly affects travels plan…Not long ago my friends were among passengers of the British cruise ship Braemar. And how could the US refuse to help the ship and close the borders?? Unlike the US, Cuba showed its humanity and friendship! Thank you Cuba
Would you like to stay in the gorgeous area around Keukenhof? You can! We have a broad range of great hotels and bed and breakfasts for you. Accommodations in Haarlem, Leiden or Amsterdam are also good options.
I will reach Amsterdam only on 19 May morning, the last day of the flower exhibit. Is it still worthwhile to go Keukenhof Gardens? Will there still be many flowers to be seen?
Tulips and other flowers mainly bloom during spring. March through May is therefore the best time to visit the Netherlands if you want to watch them in bloom. The world’s most beautiful spring park, the Keukenhof, is open during this time.
If a court order states that one parent can travel abroad with the child without the consent of the other parent, what documentation is required? We recommend carrying a copy of the court order stating that the other parent’s consent is not needed to travel abroad with the child. Any questions about the wording of the court order should be directed to a family lawyer.
If transporting your pet by air is the only option, find out whether they can travel in the cabin with you. Most airlines will allow you to take a cat or small dog in the cabin for an additional fee. But you must call the airline well in advance; there are limits to the number of animals allowed in the cabin. If you are transporting your dog, make sure they meet the size requirements. If you get overwhelmed by all the regulations, there are companies that can help you navigate through the process of flying with a pet.
Is a consent letter mandatory? There is no Canadian legal requirement for children to carry a consent letter. However, a consent letter may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country, airline agents or Canadian officials when re-entering Canada. Failure to produce a letter upon request may result in delays or refusal to enter or exit a country.
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2 adults available to drive your car from New Orleans to north suburb of Chicago mid October. Need 3 or four nights. Split the gas,
Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.
Ever dreamed of driving along the cliffs that overlook the Pacific with the windows down? Or wanted to travel the historic Oregon Trail in a car instead of on a computer? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.
Rhonda, from a railman who started his train travel when he was 16, I would strongly suggest a Canadian Train Ride! Via Rail Canada offers four significant rides through wilderness and coastal areas with deluxe, overnight trains from Toronto to Vancouver ( 4 nights), and Montreal to Halifax, Nova Scotia (one night). Both offer a chance to have decent meals enroute, and sleeping car accommodations. Train crews tend to be a bit friendlier than south of the border, Canada, largely uninhabited, offers many scenic vistas with little hamlets few and far between, certainly a wonderful way for both of you to enjoy these new experiences.
Via Rail Canada also offers Railpasses, which enable you to travel on other routes as well for a bit of a price reduction. It’s all up to you!
Their website is http://www.viarail.ca for further information.
My son is a rail fan and we have traveled only in the US but I would love to surprise him with an excursion where he could talk to the train staff and railroad personnel. I would also like to include beautiful scenery as well for Both of us. My son is 16 and I am 59. We love to explore and don’t mind walking and roughing it!! any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Get your pet geared up for a long trip by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. And please be sure to always secure the crate so it won??™t slide or shift in the event of a quick stop.
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This driving route of the Appalachian Trail parallels the epic hike. From the top of New England to the heart of Dixie, it takes you through continuous natural beauty—without the sweat, bugs, or blisters.
7 memorable Tips for Traveling to Mexico
Don stress if you don Mexico is agreeable to English speaking travelers, And there a ton of tips to get to know the country landscapes, terms, And younger culture.
yet still, If you new to traveling or have never been out of the us, A trip to Mexico may be somewhat frightening.
If you interested in learning some tips for traveling to Mexico, Take a look at our 7 easy to remember tips for your journey. We outlined some of the basics that you’d like to learn for your own aventura!
1. Choose the Right Transportation If you traveling to Mexico, You need to decide you might arrive by car, aeroplane, Or liner. It important to know how you want to arrive because it will searching,an extravagance,good to have city you arrive in, How much luggage you results, and so forth.
an individual can find international flights if you prefer to travel by air. instead, There are plenty of cruises to Mexico that you can enjoy if you like the amenities and beautiful views that are included in ship travel!
If you live nearby the border, Or just need to take a bit of a road trip, going down the road by car is always an option as well.
2. Use Pesos When You Can It best if you use the local currency pesos when you can. while touristy areas accept USD, They choose the rate at that they accept it, So it is possible to get a better deal if you just use pesos.
Consider exchanging USD for pesos somewhere in the usa before your trip and dividing up your cash between USD and pesos during your trip.
3. Know bathing room Etiquette In Mexico, The sewage pipes just aren built to handle a lot. this means that people rarely flush their toilet paper. rather than, There will often be a trash bin near the toilet for you to put your used toilet paper in.
further, Men may make of entering a bathroom labeled with an M, let’s assume that it stands for However, The M actually can stand for mujeres, Which is the word for in Spanish. Men needs to look for doors labeled H, Which stands for the Spanish word for men, Hombres.
4. Practice Some Spanish One of the most basic tips for traveling to Mexico is to learn a few Spanish phrases before your trip.
once you know basic things, Like how to ask where the bathroom is or how to order food, Will make your trip to Mexico a lot smoother. sometimes, The locals will appreciate the effort, Even if they undoubtedly speak English as well!
5. Adjust to the Time Whether you are changing time zones while having trip or staying in the same one, You find that Mexico runs on a lot more fluid schedule. Punctuality is less of a concern, So you take pleasure in it a lot more if you can relax and don push a strict schedule.
furthermore, Meals are spaced out a bit distinct in Mexico. You will usually have a large breakfast, associated with the main meal of the day between 2:00 together with 4:00 pm hours. then finally, You will enjoy a smaller meal at dusk.
6. Drink Bottled Water Bottled water can be found on just about any street corner for purchase. Why exactly do you wish to buy bottled water?
let me tell you, Most of Mexico plain faucet water is unpurified. Some hotels may have filtered water, But be sure to go shopping for a sign above your sinks before you test it out!
If you be residing in Mexico for a lengthier trip, Consider buying or bring a water filter with you to purify the tap water and avoid buying so much bottled water. You be decreasing costs and plastic consumption!
7. Stray off the Beaten Path While sightseeing attractions and famous beaches are always fun to see, Traveling to lesser known places will offer you a more authentic taste of Mexico.
of which this isn an excuse to be reckless or oblivious to your surroundings. Be mindful of the areas you visiting and research where you will make sure it a safe area.
Now You Armed with all very reputable Tips for Traveling to Mexico Mexico is a diverse country with so much to see and offer.
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As North America’s fastest multi-launch coaster, it’s expected to draw in adrenaline enthusiasts, including those from the group Busch Gardens Williamsburg Fans, which has been updating their Twitter and website with information on the ride.
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Many parents of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder dread traveling or often avoid it altogether. Most people with ASD do better with routine and structure and a break from that (vacation) can often lead to stress and even meltdowns. Additionally, traveling by air can include having to navigate a multitude of unpleasant experiences from airport security procedures, moving sidewalks, and boarding tunnels to cramped seats, unfamiliar noises, and lots of strangers. Experts indicate that preparation and practice is the key to a successful flight and travel. Before your trip, talk with your child about what to expect. Go over the details of the travel: how you’ll get to the airport, wait in line, go through security, find your departure gate, get on the plane, buckle seatbelts, and spend time onboard. Flying to See Janet: A Fun Guide to the Airport Experience is a book you can use to prepare children for the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the airport experience. You can also write your own social story.
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Emily, my coming of age years were the late 1970s, early 1980s at the YMCA. I agree with you about the open showers versus the individual shower stalls. From a guys perspective, I spent many nights and weekends swimming or playing basketball at my local YMCA. Showering with not only my friends, but over the years, dads, neighbors and guys from church. It really makes one comfortable, not in a sexual way, with one self and others. Never had the nude swimming, I think that ended in the 1960s as women/girls joined the YMCA, forcing may YWCAs to close their doors.
Amelie, here in the US a number of Korean Spas have opened. As with Japanese, Korean families bath together (grandmother, daughter, grand-daughter), (dad, son) separated by gender. They are starting to attract a diverse clientele (age, race, etc). So who knows, maybe the nude swimming will return to the Y someday.
The Ski and Snow Vacations for Families article is one of the best I have ever read!
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Note that Global Affairs Canada cannot provide you with advice about the Consent Letter for Children Travelling Abroad beyond what is offered on this website.
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Chicago is a famous place that has many impressive landscapes.
Most visitors like traveling there.
I am always looking online for tips that can facilitate me. Thx!
helo, do you happent allow drive passengers to another state?
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I’m so happy that you enjoyed your experience at the Onsen!
I’ve never been to an Onsen, but I would love to get to visit one some day.
Back in the 1980s and 1990s my mom was the head supervisor at a YWCA in Ohio. I practically lived in the YWCA (not literally, of course) for the 19 years that my mom worked there. I had a part time job at the YWCA for a few years in the 1990s.
One of the great things about spending so much time at the YWCA was that I grew up using the locker room all of the way from a young child to a young woman and being 100% comfortable with both my own nudity and the nudity of all other females.
I feel that it was so much better back then when the Y had one big room full of shower heads on the walls than it is with stalls these days. The group shower setting was great from a bonding experience. I feel that it’s much healthier psychologically speaking that females are exposed to other women’s and girl’s bodies, as opposed to feeling that we need to hide from each other and change clothes in toilet stalls or under towels.
One of the benefits of having a mom who was a supervisor of the Y was that after hours my mom and my sisters and myself could just skinny dip in the pool, and my sisters and I were allowed to have our female friends with us for a skinny dipping session on Friday and Saturday nights.
Also, my aunt and a few of my female cousins would skinny dip with my mom, my sisters and I every once in a while.
My mom said that she had heard that the YWCA used to have one night a week that was for nude swimming back in the 1960s and most of the 1970s. Obviously it was a female only facility at the time.
Dubbed the Great Northern in memory of the pioneer railroad that parallels the western half of the route, US-2 is truly the most stunning and unforgettable, not to mention longest, of all the great transcontinental road trips.
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Oh man. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I certainly appreciate your take on this though, a little humor goes a long way. I’m headed to Barcelona in a few days, so I’ll be sure to keep my valuables close. Thanks for sharing.