Vacation time, whether far away or close to home, should be an escape from the ordinary, a time to see and do different things. Some of the same old rules from home shouldn’t apply when you’re on vacation! And that’s especially true with so many people choosing to vacation close to home.
With only a couple of weeks till school starts, there’s still a chance to get in a little special treat before the kiddos have to get back on a schedule!
Playing in a hotel bubble bath
What can you do, though, with limited time and money, that can still be fun for both the kids and the adults? If you don’t have the time and budget to get out of town, find a nice hotel in your city or nearby area, and check in for a fun overnight. Make a nice hotel your vacation destination.
Pick a hotel with a few extra amenities, and plan on getting the largest room that your budget will allow. A nice pool where you can spend the day helps to make up for not having a week at the beach. Room service that allows for breakfast in bed (maybe while still in pajamas) is a special treat that’s different from home, even though it will be more fun than romantic. A couple plasma televisions means everyone can watch their programming on a big screen. A spa, nice restaurant, or lobby lounge can mean that adults can have a few special treats as well.
Plan to check in as early in the day as possible. Even if the hotel has a 4 pm check in, inquire if you can check in early. If rooms aren’t available early, you can often have the bellman hold your bags while you head off to enjoy the pool. You can usually use the hotel amenities and services before you check into your room, so take advantage of this opportunity to extend your hotel vacation.
If this is going to be your only vacation this summer, the important thing is to make it a break from your regular routine. Vacation should be something different. Sleep in, if you normally get up early. Get up early for a head start on the day, if you normally sleep in. And make some special time for everyone.
On a recent hotel stay, a little guy from my extended family fell in love with the spa bathtub. I let him add a few bubbles and then turn on the jets, and this photo represents the results. There were bubbles all over the place, to the total delight of this six year old. Sure if left a bit of a mess (the bubbles cascaded over the sides of the tub) — I cleaned up part of it and left a generous tip for the maid. This was NOT something that he could do at home, but was a simple thing that helped to create a fun vacation memory.
What simple thing can you do to help make a hotel stay fun?
Photo credit: personal collection
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