city hotels - Pitstops for Kids

Palm Springs with kids: Renaissance Hotel Palm Springs

March 11, 2019 By Amy Hagstrom

Ready to head to Palm Springs with kids? The Renaissance Hotel Palm Springs is a great pick for a reasonably priced, stylish hotel pick right near the downtown Palm Springs action. What the Renaissance lacks in extra amenities offered elsewhere in the Palm Springs area, such as a kids’ club, tennis courts, or on-site golf, it makes up for in location. Only two blocks from downtown Palm Springs, the Renaissance is in easy walking distance of dining and shopping, plus only a few miles from kid-friendly attractions such as the tramway and Wet ’n Wild.

We loved using the Renaissance’s ‘Navigator’ (onsite concierge desk and newsletter) to find local-favorite kid-friendly dining in Palm Springs, but their spacious lobby, lounge, and outdoor patio seating was just as inviting. Our kids loved sitting by the outdoor fire pits in the evenings after a swim.

Pools:

The Renaissance’s large outdoor pool is heated and open until 10 pm; our kids enjoyed nighttime swims. There’s also a large hot tub and kiddie pool, plus plenty of poolside seating and lounge chairs. An exercise facility is also on-site.

Room amenities:

Our standard room with pool view and balcony offered all the amenities you’d expect: coffee service, mini fridge, hair dryer, and the like, and beds were very comfortable. Wifi is an extra charge in room, though free in the lobby. I was actually able to connect to lobby wifi from my room, so that may be worth a try. The lobby is a very pleasing area in which to sit and get some work done if needed, however.

Dining onsite:

The Renaissance offers Rocks, a spacious lounge, and Date, a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Poolside service is also on offer all day long, as is room service. Rooms feature mini fridges, making it easy to eat light meals in rooms, too.

Rates:

Standard room rates can be found as low as $150, and self parking is $12 per day (as low as I’ve found in the area). Suites are also available.

Directions:

The Renaissance Hotel is located at 888 Tahquitz Canyon Way, off I-10.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we stayed at Renaissance Hotel as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. Without compensated stays, hotel reviews would not be possible on Pit Stops for Kids.

A stay at Seattle’s Hyatt at Olive 8

January 12, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

I love finding new kid-friendly gems in destination cities! I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: families don’t have to settle for cheap hotels in the suburbs while city touring. Family-friendly, downtown hotels do exist. Our latest find: the Hyatt at Olive 8. Located in the heart of Seattle’s downtown, the Olive 8 is just steps from the impressive convention center. One would assume this would mean the hotel is overrun with business travelers, but this is not so! We visited mid-week, and were still in the company of numerous family groups. My kids think this is due to their large indoor pool and whirlpool hot tub and their restaurant, Urbane’s, ‘For Kids, By Kids’ farm-fresh menu.

As the sliding glass doors open to usher you into the Olive 8’s lobby, the first thing you notice is the minimalist, glass and steel decor. I loved the ultra-modern layout of Olive 8: the lobby looks out on downtown from expansive glass panes, and the common areas are all open, with wide hallways and high ceilings. This less-is-more mentality extends to energy consumption: that the Olive 8 is the first LEEDS certified Seattle hotel.

In-room amenities:

In our room, our key cards turned on and off lights (to ensure they automatically turn off upon exiting), linens and towels are replaced on request, and the heating and air units are eco-friendly. Even the toilets offer two flushing options to reduce water usage, which the kids found delightful (and hilarious). We stayed in adjoining rooms as a family of five (and had plenty of room) and all rooms come equipped with mini-fridges (a staple!) and iPod docking stations (a very nice perk). The in-room coffee service was not half-bad, and I liked that Tazo teas were offered as well. My kids loved the thick Hyatt bathrobes, and I liked how many outlets I had to charge electronics. Wifi is available in-room for a fee.

Pool and Fitness Center:

We visited the Olive 8 on a cold December night. The kids jumped right in the pool, which is open later than most (until 10:30, open at 5:30 am), and my husband and I appreciated that the Hyatt StayFit gym (a staple of all Hyatts) is located adjacent. We could tag team a workout while the kids swam. The Olive 8 does have a spa, though we sadly didn’t have time to check it out.

Dining:

The Olive 8 has both a marketplace where families can buy snacks and staples, and a full restaurant, Urbane. We ate breakfast at Urbane at the suggestion of both hotel staff and locals. Urbane adapts Hyatt’s For Kids, By Kids menu, developed by kids and a young chef. While Urbane is by no means an economical breakfast choice for families, it does promise locally sourced, healthy options. The dining room echoed the rest of Olive 8’s elegant design, and the service was friendly.

While staying at Olive 8, you’re within walking distance of the Space Needle and Pacific Science Center, and right on metro lines to Pike’s Place Market and the waterfront. You’ll pay for your comfort and prime location: rates start at $152 for a single king room. But why not end each of your busy touring days with a swim and a warm soak, healthy food, and comfortable, eco-friendly digs?

Date last visited: December 2012

Room rates:

At the time of our visit, standard, king bedrooms started at $153 on non-holiday nights. We opted for two adjoining rooms with queen beds, and were comfortable as a family of five.

Directions:

The Olive 8 is located at 1635 8th Street, Seattle. From I-5, take Pike Street. The hotel is easily accessed from I-90, too.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced Hyatt at Olive 8 as guests of the hotel. While we appreciate this opportunity to share great hotel finds with our readers, it came with no expectation of a positive review.

What to do and where to stay in Knoxville Tennessee

November 29, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Knoxville Tennessee is a small city with a lot going on. Known affectionately as the ‘cradle of country music’ (after all Dolly Pardon got started here), Knoxville is now also gaining a reputation for its dining scene, urban wilderness and vibrant downtown. Whether you’ve come to Knoxville with the kids to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding countryside, or are enjoying a grown-up getaway, here’s what not to miss:

Knoxville with the kids:

Start by walking Knoxville’s pedestrian-friendly downtown, known as Market Square. This square plays host to dozens of restaurants and shops, all with a distinctive Knoxville flair, perfect for browsing and souvenir shopping. Any of our recommendations in our Knoxville dining post is great for kids, too, and for Mom and Dad, several urban breweries have local craft brews on tap. Stop at the Knoxville Visitor Center at 301 South Gay Street to take in the WDVX Blue Plate Special, a daily radio show from 12 pm to 1 pm, free to the public. New and emerging bands perform here each day, and you can bring in boxed lunches from nearby restaurants. Oh, and the red trolleys you see? Those are all free!

Next, explore Zoo Knoxville, a small but progressive zoo that’s known as one of the premiere zoological institutions in the Southeast. Known for their red panda breeding program and tigers, Zoo Knoxville focuses on education more than entertainment, which we appreciate.

Nearby, Knoxville’s 1000 acres of urban wilderness beckons, offering hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, and playgrounds. A true gift for locals, tourists can take advantage too, exploring the park’s multiple, connected sections. All within a three mile drive of downtown, this urban park can keep families busy all day. Mountain bikers may want to start at the Baker Creek Preserve section, where a kids’ pump track and nature playground (structures all utilize natural elements like logs, stones, and slopes) sit adjacent to the park’s most technical and advanced mountain biking trail, a double black diamond created via a grant from Bell Helmets (only for the most advanced riders). Additional green and blue single track can be accessed in this area as well, all found by Taylor Road.

In the northern section of the urban park sits Ijams Nature Center, certainly the hub of the park, with discovery trails perfect for young kids, an indoor center, more advanced trails that span out to a beautiful reclaimed quarry, and Navitat Canopy Adventures, hands-down the most extensive treetop ropes course and zip line operation we’ve tried. For kids age 7 and up, Navitat is a 2.5 hour experience that’s still under $50 per person, and takes guests through a half-hour on-ground tutorial followed by two hours of exploring multiple ‘trails’ in the treetops, where you navigate rope bridges, nets, slack lines, swings and zip lines, while harnessed into a cable safety system.

Back in downtown, the Museum of East Tennessee History gives families a really good overview of the history of the area. Admission is low, and the museum takes about an hour to tour. Across the street, the Tennessee Theater was once a 1920’s movie palace, now a venue for Broadway productions, musical groups, and children’s programming; it’s well worth checking the event calendar to see if a show coordinates with your visit. On the National Register of Historic Places, the theatre is truly jaw-droppingly gorgeous inside.

Where to stay: The Tennessean

Recently opened as a luxury category hotel in Knoxville, The Tennessean truly delivers on elegance, service and beauty. It’s located within walking distance of Market Square, is upscale without being pretentious, (definitely bring the kids), and offers one of the only elevated lodging options in the area. While I’ve stayed in more luxurious hotels, the level of service and attention to detail at The Tennessean rivaled that of a Ritz or Fairmont.

After speaking with the owner of the hotel, I understand why: he values a service level in his team on par with such hotels as Blackberry Farms (in Tennessee) and my aforementioned examples. What did this service look like? From check in to check out, I was greeted (usually by name) every time I walked into the lobby, the valet staff was cheerful and quick to action, and the housekeeping staff offered turn down service nightly and even remembered what side of the bed I slept on.

The Tennessean offers value in small and large ways: nightly valet parking is not terribly expensive, illy coffee machines are in every room, which also has robes, luxury bathroom amenities and fridges, there’s a continental in-room breakfast offering (starting as low as $3) as well as a full breakfast buffet ($18 at the time of my visit), a very nice fitness room, and, perhaps the star of the show, the second floor Drawing Room provides an upscale lounge experience with great city views, a fantastic bar, and small plates. Every evening, this was the place to gather for a cocktail (they’re known for their Smoked Old Fashioned) and some down time.

There are multiple room configurations for families, from suites to a very rarely seen double king room with bathtub (most other rooms have very nice, large showers but not tubs) and each room, as well as the public spaces of the hotel, have touches of a river theme: The Tennessean is named after the river, not the state. Once alerted to this fact, you’ll see river touches everywhere, from the river nautical maps over the beds to the water-like carpeting. Each floor is even named after a tributary of the Tennessee River, and all furniture and artwork in the hotel are locally sourced.

For families, I learned of several convenient saving hacks: the Holiday Inn right next door has a small marketplace adjacent to the lobby, which has cheaper breakfast items and drinks, and Tennessean guests have use of their pool, as well. The Tennessean is not only within walking distance of downtown, but it’s right next door the convention center and just behind the University of Tennessee.

Rates vary, but families can expect to pay around $100 more to stay at the Tennessean versus the budget hotel chains adjacent. We feel it’s well worth the upgrade to elevate your stay in Knoxville.

Disclosure: I experienced Knoxville and the Tennessean as a guest of the city. All opinions remain my own.

Fun holiday events at favorite hotels this season

December 2, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Will you be celebrating the holidays on vacation this year? If so, we have a round-up of holiday events at hotels, with deals and and happenings at some of our favorite resorts and family vacation hot spots. Read on to learn where to book your holiday getaway, whether you’re headed to sand or snow:

Tropical and beach holiday events:

Head to South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, Florida for a tropical holiday paradise. The Captiva Holiday Village runs from Nov. 27 – Dec. 21, 2015 on this popular southwest Florida barrier island. Families traveling to Captiva Island during Captiva Holiday Village weekends enjoy a Mullet Band parade, lighted boat parade, South Seas holiday strolls, a Junkanoo Parade, a carol sing at the Chapel by the Sea, sunset arias, a holiday golf cart parade and much more. Check website for schedule.

In Boca Raton, Florida, the Boca Raton Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort will host its third annual New Year’s Eve celebration, Rock the Block, an over-the-top, quarter mile long block party offering live music, indulgent cuisine and festive activities for all ages.

While this event is designed to be family friendly, adults will not miss out on a full-fledged party: everyone will enjoy an extravagant buffet dinner complete with an abundant raw bar, sushi bar, premium carving stations and indulgent kids options. Free-flowing Champagne will complement a deluxe open-bar. The night will begin with the Spazmatics, and the resort’s Grand Lawn, located on one end of the Block Party, will be transformed into a carnival complete with a 300 ft long zip line, a Wipeout-style obstacle course, spider tower, balloon artists and carnival games. Don’t miss the private fireworks at midnight! Learn more.

In Dana Point, California, Monarch Beach Resort is offering the “Winter Sandy-land” package that includes a “snowman” sand building kit, nightly milk and cookie turndown, and more at this coastal hotel. Need more incentive? The St. Regis has year-round swimming via private beach and an outdoor fire pit surrounded by couches for families to cozy up in the evenings. Rates start at an incredible $245/night for a stay at this iconic property. It’s good through December 30, 2015.

At Ponte Vedra Beach Resorts in North Florida, families can book Breakfast with Santa, complete with a buffet, children’s craft table, candy bar, and photo opps. Families also enjoy gingerbread house decorating parties and Santa’s Workshop, where kids can create an arts & crafts holiday gift. The activity list doesn’t end there: sign up for hayrides with Santa, Christmas caroling, holiday movie nights, baking class, or story time with Mrs. Claus. Those staying for New Year can ‘enjoy’ the resorts’ 15th annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge, or the ‘Noon’ Year’s Eve for the younger set.

Mountain holiday events:

Santa is coming to town…or rather, to Keystone Resort, Colorado, beginning Saturday, Nov. 28 through Christmas Eve. From photo opportunities and story time to parades and ice skating, the holiday spirit is alive and well at Keystone. Events include the Keystone Chocolate Village, celebrating its 20th year, featuring a working chocolate gondola, cascading chocolate waterfall, four-foot tall chocolate Christmas tree, and many other winter scenes.

Additional family activities at the resort include Kidtopia events like a Giant Snowball Launch and Bigfoot Adventure Walk. All season long through Kidtopia, kids can play on a huge snow fort and participate in free activities that are scheduled by the day and week. Here’s the whole 2015-2016 Kidtopia winter schedule. And remember, kids ski free at Keystone, even during the holidays.

At the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe, located at Northstar Resort, special appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled in The Living Room, the hotel’s spacious front lobby, followed by story time with Mrs. Claus in the evenings. Kids are also invited to participate in Ritz Kids crafts with Mrs. Claus. For the adults, the Art of Mixology, on December 6, offers an entertaining, educational experience featuring freshly cut herbs, use of classic ingredients such as bitters, and infused liquors to create three unique cocktails paired with appetizers.

Santa’s Gingerbread Workshop is designed for parents to enjoy with the kids, alongside a Ritz-Carlton pastry chef…oh, and holiday beverages are included. If you’d rather not make edible crafts, try the Atelier Holiday Workshops, offered by a local Truckee business, where families can learn to make hand-crafted wrapping paper. If you’re planning a stay over the actual Christmas holiday, book at table at Manzanita, either for the lunch buffet from December 21-January 3, or for the holiday dinner December 24th and 25th.

At Mt. Hood Meadows, visit Santa on December 20th…on skis! Families can also join Santa for a holiday breakfast buffet at the Mt. Hood Meadow’s Vertical North Pole restaurant, located at the top level of the North Lodge. Santa will be on the slopes from 10-10:30 am. Nearby in Hood River, the Columbia Gorge Hotel hosts a Lights & Santa Visit. This historic national landmark looks even more beautiful during the holiday season, when the hotel and riverside grounds are festooned with lights. Enjoy a Holiday High Tea on December 19, 2-4 PM, and An Evening with St. Nick on December 20, 6-6:30 PM.

At Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon, families can take advantage of a long list of holiday events and happenings for kids, including sleigh rides, elf tuck-ins, visits with Santa, and tons of excitement at Fort Funnigan, the resort’s gathering place for children. Funnigan’s Very Crafty Christmas takes place on December 19, 2015, during which kids become elves in Santa’s workshop, making gifts for Mom and Dad.

The day after Christmas, kids can return to Fort Funnigan for the Holiday Pajama Rama from 6-9 pm. This pajama party includes pillow fights, sessions at the fort’s Bear Factory, and yummy dessert. Holiday let-down will be a thing of the past!

At The Omni Grove Park Inn outside Asheville, North Carolina, gingerbread reigns! This hotel will continue the tradition of their annual gingerbread house contest, first begun in 1992. Hundreds of intricate holiday designs will be on display, along with 80-themed Christmas trees and thousands of twinkling lights. Families can book the Gingerbread Holiday package from Nov. 15 to Dec. 29, 2015, which includes deluxe accommodations, their Art of Breakfast Buffet in the Blue Ridge restaurant, one gingerbread cookie per registered guest, and overnight valet or garage parking .

Top hotel chains for family travelers

August 26, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

We get asked for hotel recommendations all the time. And we have plenty to give: after all, we spend over 100 nights per year in hotel rooms, suites, vacation rentals, and condos. While specific hotel picks in family travel destinations are important, it can be equally useful to know which are the top hotel chains for family travelers…no matter where you’re going.

We have our favorites, which we’ve broken down into a variety of family travel categories, with the overall winners below:

Best boutique/lifestyle hotel chain:

We love frequenting boutique hotels with kids, especially during city travel when location and character are most important to us. The best boutique and lifestyle hotels offer something beyond the cookie cutter amenities of more mainstream chains, with X-factors like rooftop decks, s’mores on the courtyard, wine hours, and funky furniture. They can turn a standard stay into a memorable one! The only downside: sometimes, boutique hotels will lack amenities such as free parking or complimentary breakfast, so budget accordingly.

Winner: Kimpton hotels

Kimpton wins at making families feel welcome with special touches in many of their city hotels such as goldfish ‘pets’ and hot cocoa bars for the kids. Our favorite Kimpton stay included a family game night hour and resident dog in the lobby. Read a review of a favorite Kimpton property.

Runner up: Lark hotels

Many boutique hotels are located in urban areas and–let’s face it–cater mostly to business and adult travelers. Lark is different in that their properties tend to be situated in popular vacation destinations, such as Nantucket or Newport.

Best ‘bang for your buck’ hotel chain:

Let us elaborate: when we say ‘bang for your buck’, we’re talking about value, not cheap prices. Our picks in this category include hotel chains that focus on giving the most for the price, including extras that will save families money as they vacation.

Winner: Grand Hyatt (club level)

For years, I assumed that upgrading to club level at a Grand Hyatt hotel would be a frivolous expense. Not necessarily. Upgrading is typically only $75 more per night, and gives families access to a club level lounge serving food and drinks all day long. With some planning, families of 4-5 people can save far more than the price of the upgrade by eating in the lounge most meals. Plus, it’s far more convenient and comfortable than finding dining options out every day during a city trip. Read a review of a Grand Hyatt club level stay.

Runner up: Embassy Suites (Hilton)

Embassy Suites could have also won in our ‘all suites’ category, but we’re placing it here because most properties in this brand offer value on multiple fronts. Not only do families get the space to spread out in suites, but the free breakfasts are the highest quality in the business. Some properties also offer complimentary cocktail hours. Review of our favorite Embassy Suites.

Best luxury hotel chain:

Ready to splurge? Many deserving hotel brands vied for our top spots in this category, and quite frankly, we have our favorites across many brands at specific locations. But this post isn’t about specifics…it’s about winners across the board. Who we picked:

Winner: Ritz Carlton

Time and again, Ritz Carlton delivers on prime location, beauty, service, and amenities. Will a Ritz stay set you back? Absolutely. Expect to pay extra for freebies at budget resorts, such as parking, breakfast, and WiFi. But also expect to be wowed with things like butler services, turn-down, and amazing ambiance. Read about our favorite Ritz Carlton stay.

Runner up: Fairmont

I’ve always loved Fairmont hotels due to their physical beauty, inside and out. At many a Fairmont, families will feel like they’re staying in a castle or mansion. Details abound, such as infused water in the lobby, cookies at bedtime, and planning programming just for kids. Read about our most magical Fairmont stay.

Best budget hotel chain:

When we say ‘budget’, we don’t mean cheapest. ‘Cheapest’ is a very simple thing to find–a quick scroll through Expedia will find your winner. ‘Budget’ to us means cheapest with amenities we need. What amenities are these? How about free parking, free WiFi, and free breakfast. What might but might not be included: customer service worth mentioning, location, pools, or rooms beyond the uninspired standard.

Winner: Holiday Inn Express (IHG)

It’s nothing flashy, but consistently, we’ve had good stays at Holiday Inn Express hotels. When you just need a place to lay your heads, and want competent service, clean rooms, and a free breakfast that doesn’t suck (or only sucks a little), this is your pick.

Runner up: Best Western Plus

For us, Best Western Plus would have made the top spot, but many properties have room rates a bit too steep for us to consider ‘budget’. However, like Holiday Inn Express, Best Western Plus properties can be counted on to be quality stays, and often have extra amenities like nice pools or on-site dining.

Best suites-only hotel chain:

Yes, you can find a suite in any price range, but for families, finding a economic hotel that still provides ample space is like hitting the jackpot.

Winner: Marriott Vacation Club

We’ve yet to meet a MVC property we don’t like. Like Grand Hyatt or Embassy Suites, this chain is all about value over budget price. Families get condo-like suite living with full kitchens (a big savings when vacationing and eating out), plus tons of family-friendly programming options in vacation destinations. MVC properties shine on the amenities front too: they have some of the best pools, beaches, and playgrounds we’ve seen, and most include free parking. Read about just one of our top Marriott Vacation Club stays.

Runner up: Holiday Inn Club Vacations

Always in a vacation destination that appeals to families, Holiday Inn Club Vacation properties are similar to MVC, with a (usually) lower price tag. While they don’t have quite the polish of the latter chain, they do offer up value for families in condo-style vacation villas, amenities like nice pools and dining options, and sometimes, shuttles to popular sights.

Best moderate luxury:

What sort of category is this? The one for those of us who enjoy luxury, but can’t always swing a Ritz stay. If that’s you, read on.

Winner: Preferred hotels

Definitely check the PreferredFamily.com website before looking for a Preferred hotel in your vacation destination, because most of these hotels have independent names. However, across the brand, they shine as moderate luxury options that include family amenities that may be missing from top luxury brands, such as child proofing in rooms, family-friendly dining, and toddler pools. Read some of our tips on the PreferredFamily blog list.

Runner up: Omni hotels

Often located in cities popular for family travel, Omni hotels give parents luxury while offering kids fun amenities, like backpacks and kid packets upon check-in. You’ll still pay for extras like parking and breakfast at most Omni hotels, but their prime locations and spacious rooms may make up for this. Read a review of our favorite Omni.

Tip: learn how to use IHG points toward your next hotel stay, no matter the category.

What is your favorite hotel brand for family travel?

How to use IHG Rewards Club points this summer

June 11, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

This post brought to you by IHG Rewards Club. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Pit Stops for Kids.

Summer is the busiest travel season of the year for families. But if you travel year-round, as we do, it’s also the season to build up hotel reward points!

Think you don’t travel ‘year-round’? Do you travel with your children for sports tournaments or dance competitions? Do you visit grandparents or other family members for the holidays? Do you take spring break getaways or weekend escapes? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, you are indeed year-round travelers. And year-round travelers need to take advantage of hotel reward point programs like shareforever.ihg.comIHG Rewards Club.

How IHG Rewards Club works:

First, you need to sign up. It’s free and easy. After signing up, you’ll earn reward points for every stay. Why should you focus on earning reward points this summer? Because of IHG’s Share Forever Rewards program:

Earn 500 Points for your next IHG hotel stay from May 1, 2015 – September 2, 2015
Earn another 500 points for that same hotel stay to share with another member! (Or keep the points for yourself!)
Earn from 68,500 to 115,500 “Share Forever” bonus points plus a maximum 58,500 bonus points to share, or keep.

After a summer of building up points before the September deadline, you’ll have a nice stockpile to use for fall and winter travel plans.

How to redeem IHG points:

Sometimes, the hardest part of using any rewards club is redeeming your points. When looking for a hotel through the IHG website, login with your IHG Rewards information before shopping for a reservation. When you search for a specific city and dates, the available hotels will now list both the cash room rate and the number of points as two options for booking.

Here’s how IHG Rewards Club has worked for us:

Often during our travels, our hotel stay is a major part of our vacation. We choose our resort with care, and it’s important to us that it reflect the atmosphere and culture of our destination, whether that be a beach stay or a ski vacation. These stays cost us more than if we’d simply chosen the cheapest hotel available, but we earn points during the trip.

Later, we use these points to take care of the many ‘pit stop’ hotel stays we need during travel the rest of the year. For instance, when our son’s soccer team traveled for a major soccer tournament, hotel rooms in Las Vegas went through the roof (due to demand). Instead of paying a high price for the room we needed, we used IHG points. The stay felt free to us, even though we’d earned it through our hotel stays earlier in the year.

Because IHG hotels include properties in the Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites hotel families, along with higher tier brands such as Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza, we’ve never had trouble finding a hotel that took our points, no matter where we’ve traveled.

What to do with leftover points:

Here’s my #1 pet peeve about hotel loyalty points: I always have an odd amount leftover after redeeming for a stay. For instance, just last week, I used 20,000 for an overnight at a Holiday Inn Express, leaving me with 5,000 points in my account. In most cases, this is not enough for a stay. Next time I want to use my points, I won’t be able to…right? Not with IHG. Leftover points can easily be applied to a stay you’re paying for in a number of ways, including upgrades to better views and promoted room packages. Or, if you have just a few points, you can hang onto them and buy a few more during your next purchased reservation. For instance, when I booked the Holiday Inn Express, I noticed that for just $40 more on the room rate, I could have gotten 5,000 extra IHG points for my stay.

Ready to try? Register Now.

Time for a giveaway!

Try IHG for yourself the easy easy…with a giveaway!

IHG Share Forever Summer Rewards Program

Springfield Missouri lodging picks: Ramada Plaza Hotel and Hotel Vandivort

May 13, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

This post is truly a tale of two hotels. Families finding themselves in Springfield, Missouri can choose from a fairly standard array of motels and hotels, or they can pick between two unique choices: the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Oasis Convention Center for family-friendliness or the new Hotel Vandivort for boutique downtown chic. If I could, I’d squish together the best amenities and features at both to create the ultimate kid-friendly, upscale hotel experience, but alas, two reviews will have to do. Good luck choosing!

Option 1: indoor pool bliss for kids, lots of complimentary amenities for parents

While in Springfield, I spent two nights at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. A little bit of history: once upon a time, this Ramada, located at 2546 N. Glenstone, was the biggest Howard Johnson’s in the country. Now, it’s a fairly standard Ramada, with several upgrades and a big surprise in the center of the property.

The hotel building could appear retro in all the wrong ways (re, tired and outdated). Instead, refurbishments have rendered it bright, clean, airy, and stylish on the interior. Rooms are fairly standard, though certainly more stylish than most moderate hotel rooms, and common spaces are on-trend. Amenities parents will like include free parking, free wifi, an above-average free breakfast, and a large laundry room on-site. The Fire and Ice restaurant, located on property right off the lobby, is unique with its ice bar (set your drinks down and they’ll stay frosty cold) and carefully curated menu, but prices are a bit high to encourage family dining. If you can get away for an hour or so with your spouse, I recommend it; the food is fantastic and the wine list is extensive. If not, opt for more kid-friendly fare in Springfield.

The huge draw for kids lays in the heart of the property, in the huge indoor atrium. Here, families will find a huge free-form heated indoor swimming pool and hot tub, situated in a truly tropical atmosphere. The vegetation surrounding the pool area is the real deal; I was told the banana trees even bear fruit. There’s an outdoor pool as well, perfect for muggy summer nights.

If you bring kids here, you’ll want a poolside room. Ground floor rooms have garden patios that are truly ‘garden-ish’ and open onto the pool via pebblestone walkway (pictured above). Upper rooms have large balconies overlooking the pool. Yes, you can hear pool-related noise in your poolside room, but during my stay, it died down by 10 pm, even though the pool is open until 11 pm. Note: Ground floor rooms opening toward the parking lot instead of the pool seem like they’d be less desirable, but if you don’t care about a pool view (to watch kids), they actually feature a much more private and pretty patio that’s totally enclosed and lush with flowering plants.

Room amenities include all you’d expect, including standard coffee service (nothing to write home about), a mini-fridge, and a microwave (always a plus). In a nutshell, the Ramada ticks off all the ‘bring the kids’ boxes: great swimming pool complex, free breakfast, no nickel and diming on the extras. You’re within easy driving distance of all things Springfield. Room rates at the time of my visit were approximately $129 for a standard room mid-week.

Option 2: Urban stay, with a taste for downtown Springfield

Downtown Springfield, like many downtown districts in cities across the US, has been making a comeback in recent years, with more local dining, improvements in the works at the historical downtown plaza, and a growing artist and performance community.

The latest coup: the first boutique hotel is nearing completion. Hotel Vandivort repurposes the beautiful historic Masonic Temple at 305 E. Walnut, fully embodying the exposed brick, high ceilings, and chic charm of this 1906 building. Photos to come; click on the website above for artist renderings until June 2015.

With LEED Gold certification, an upscale eatery and bar, and plenty of open space for socializing and mingling, it’s certainly the ‘grown up’ place to spend a few days in Springfield. However, we actually have found boutique hotels to be wonderful options for families with older kids. What parents give up in convenient amenities like free breakfast and parking, they gain in refinement, city character, and culture. Because we really enjoy getting to know the heart of a city instead of its suburbs, boutique hotels are often where we like to stay. At very least, it’s always a viable consideration.

At the time of this post, Hotel Vandivort is a few days away from opening. I enjoyed a hard-hat tour in mid-May 2015, during which I saw finished rooms. Amenities include everything parents could want in terms of techy extras: the window blinds are on remote, room ‘mood’ settings can be set, so that all lights can be dimmed, the TV turned off, and the nightlight turned on at bedtime, and personal music can be piped into the rooms’ audio systems with ease. The coffee service is top of the line, and each room has a fridge as well as snack basket with local products. Everything from tile in the bathrooms to linens on the beds are luxury. Note: if you have three kids or more, you may want a suite. The Master Suite may be worth the upgrade: I saw the fireplace, which faces both indoors and outdoors as it connects with a large outdoor balcony with lots of living space, and yes, that feature alone makes me want to stay here.

Room rates are surprisingly not much higher than the Ramada and other area hotels, though the suites will set you back more. You’ll still get free wifi, and while room service may add up for a hungry family, Springfield’s famous Hurts Donuts is within walking distance. The surrounding neighborhood looks a little downtrodden, but it’s changing by the day. Staying in the heart of Springfield, families will see the revitalization of this area for themselves.

Note: make a stop sometime during your stay to Springfield Hot Glass, located at 314 S. Campbell. This family-owned glass studio may not seem like a kid-friendly stop, but in fact features a fantastic open studio, where, if you’re lucky, you can watch glass blowing or other glass work in progress.

In downtown Springfield, families can also see the exact spot where Wild Bill Hickok has the honor of starting the first documented shootout of the American West. Look for the plaques in the city square.

Which Springfield hotel option would appeal more to your family?

Where to stay in Portland: Governor Hotel review

February 12, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

We’ve reviewed a good number of hotels for families planning a Portland Oregon vacation. No matter which you pick, our recommendation is to stay downtown, within walking distance of the fun shops, restaurants, attractions (and easy-to-use MAX transportation line) that make Portland such a family-friendly city. Downtown hotels will often lack the cost-saving perks of suburb hotels (free parking, free breakfast, and the like) but make up for this in my personal favorite hotel amenities: location and ambiance. Our Governor Hotel review below shows ways in which this property excels in both.

The Governor Hotel is located downtown on 11th Avenue in Portland, adjacent to the bustle of food trucks, shopping centers, and the MAX. Valet parking is the way to go; pull up curbside at the historic hotel, and the parking hassle will be taken care of for you. We visited the same night as a major evening event hosted by the Governor, and still had no delay getting our car when we needed it.

The lobby is small but light and elegant, and looks larger due to beautiful high ceilings. The front desk staff is among the most friendly and helpful we’ve experienced anywhere: immediately upon arriving, you know you’re in a four star hotel, but are greeted like you’re friends. It’s the perfect combination. Adjacent to the lobby is Jake’s restaurant (award winning in Portland…and good news; your room service menu comes from this kitchen). Down the hall is a large, airy, and light exercise room filled with state-of-the-art equipment, and free wifi is available throughout all the common areas of the hotel.

Value:

Room prices reflect the four-star status of the Governor, but this doesn’t make it inaccessible to families. Kids 12 and under stay free with adults, and package deals are always listed on the Governor Hotel site. During our visit, we experienced the Elementary, My Dear package that included tickets to the OMSI traveling exhibit on Sherlock Holmes. The package price included a luxury room, dining credit at Jake’s, and two tickets to the exhibit, plus fun extras like a Sherlock Holmes hat, chocolate bar, and detective notebook. Since we planned to buy tickets to the exhibit anyway, the value was there. Note that you will pay $35 for parking daily.

Room Amenities:

We stayed in one of the Governor’s Princeton rooms, which occupy the 5th and 6th floors, are newly remodeled, and more spacious than standard rooms. (Rollaways are complimentary.) We appreciated the added security of key card-only access to these floors, and loved the high ceilings, large windows, and window panes that opened to fresh Northwest air. In our room, we found a mini fridge (which contained mini bar items but had room for our own snacks as well), a nice coffee and tea service (you know some are not so nice!) and a large screen TV, plus new iPod dock. We had plenty of plugs (crucial to charging devices while we travel) and bathrobes to don after using the shower and tub. Northwest wines are featured in the mini bar offerings, and The Governor will even bring you a pint of famous Salt and Straw ice cream (for a whopping $12, but I hear it’s worth it).

Dining:

Room service is available 24 hours a day, and Jake’s Grill and a Starbucks are located on site. Jake’s is fairly pricey (tip: stop here for a drink special before heading out for dinner), but the front desk staff can direct you to many casual restaurants within walking distance. We love the food trucks on Washington Street. We brought our own breakfast items (and easily stored them in our room) and ordered muffins and juice from Jake’s via room service to add a bit of comfort food to our meal.

Date last visited:

November 2013

Distance from the interstate:

A few minutes from I-5 and I-405.

Directions:

The Governor is located at 614 SW 11th. From I-5 South, merge onto I-405 South. Take the Couch St./Burnside St. exit and stay on 15th Ave. for two blocks. Turn left onto Alder. Turn right onto 11th Ave. Hotel entrance is on the left side of the street.

As I disclose whenever applicable, our stay at The Governor with the Elementary, My Dear package was complimentary, for the purpose of review.

Homebase for a San Diego vacation: Manchester Grand Hyatt review

January 29, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

When most families dream of vacationing in San Diego, they picture themselves staying right on the beach. And this option does exist: namely in Coronado or north in Del Mar. But if you plan to spend the majority of your time in the city (and not in the car), you’ll want a downtown hotel by the harbor. I spent three nights at the Manchester Grand Hyatt and was pretty blown away by this perfect home base for a San Diego vacation. Why? Incredible location, luxurious accommodations, and family-friendly amenities, like a 4th floor pool, fire pits ready for s’mores, and full-sized sport courts.

The Manchester Grand Hyatt stands tall right at the bay’s edge with two massive towers: Harbor Tower and Seaport Tower. Within steps are Harbor Village, the Gaslamp Quarter, and the trolley line to get you wherever you need to go. The rooms are large, the views are stunning, and the laid-back California atmosphere prevails even amid the luxury, making it a great pick for kids. The rooms are newly renovated, with a full renovation of the common areas and lobby scheduled for 2015.

Rooms:

Wow. The windows truly make the rooms at the Grand Hyatt. (Check out the view in the photo above and below!) In my standard level corner room, I had no fewer than three separate floor-to-ceiling windows. I was told I had a city view (as opposed to a bay view), but I think this is a no-bad-seat-in-the-house type of situation: my room looked out over both. Beds are incredibly comfortable, families can snuggle up for a movie on a wide flat-screen TV, you get an iHome docking station, and plenty of plugs for your gadgets. In-room fridges and coffee makers make breakfast easy.

Rooms are located on both towers, and rooms at level 30 and up are considered Grand Club rooms. They include special elevator access to the Grand Club, a concierge lounge on the 33rd floor of Harbor Tower. What you’ll find there: complimentary breakfast offerings, plus all-day snacks and drinks, including soda, bottled water, and Perrier. In the evenings, cocktails are on the honor-bar system. When I visited in the morning, I was greeted with a full array of healthy breakfast offerings, including yogurt parfaits, homemade oatmeal with all the fixings, danishes and breads, cereal, and egg sandwiches, and in the afternoon, cookies, trail mix, yogurt, and fruit were available. In the evenings, light dinner fare is set out; during our visit, we saw sliders and sushi. Grand Club guests also have access to a private concierge on the 33rd floor.

Amenities:

Families will want to spend significant time at the 4th floor level outdoor pool and hot tub deck, overlooking the bay. The pool is not overly large, but the views and ambiance make up for this. Adjacent is the hot tub, plus a dedicated kids’ space with grass called ‘the backyard’. Toddlers (and their parents) will be happy. Dining services are available at the pool (menus listed throughout the pool deck) and the 24/hour fitness center is located there as well. Also on the pool deck: a fun fire pit perfect for visiting after dinner.

The Hyatt sport courts sit on the roof over the parking garage, offer city views, and include tennis courts, a basketball court, volleyball court, and shuffleboard space. Tennis rackets can be borrowed in the spa, and basketballs are on-hand at the courts. No need to reserve ahead of time unless you’re visiting in the peak of the summer season.

Camp Hyatt is available to kids 4-12 during the summer season and spring break, and includes activities at the pool deck and in the ‘backyard’ all day long. Sign up ahead of time, or drop in for morning or afternoon sessions. (Expect to pay $30-$40 per session.)

Kin Spa is located on the 3rd floor, and is a great place for a little R&R. I experienced the signature facial, which I chased with some time enjoying the spa-guests-only amenities. As always, my spa tip for parents is this: if you carve out time to book a treatment, plan to stay late or go early to enjoy the solitude and relax!

As with most downtown hotels, there is a parking fee at Manchester Grand Hyatt. Families can valet park for $40/night or self-park for $28/night.

What’s nearby:

Bikes can be rented from the Hyatt for a small charge, and ridden along the Embarcadero or on Coronado Island via ferry (just load the bikes right on). This is a great way to see the city. Want to explore the city from the water instead of by wheel? Steps behind the Grand Hyatt are docks with multiple watercraft rentals, including sailboats and personal watercraft. A tour of the bay on the Hornblower is a more economical choice for families, and will give kids a fun history lesson on the various naval ships dotting the harbor.

The Grand Hyatt is directly adjacent to the trolley line, making it easy for families to park the car and explore the city by foot. You can walk to the Gaslamp Quarter for dinner, and access Seaport Village, the harbor area and marina that sits on the water. This is a great location for spotting sailboats and freight ships.

The U.S.S. Midway is a five minute walk away (or you can take a fun pedicab). In short, families can walk to just about any dining, shopping, and transportation to attractions needed from the Hyatt.

Dining:

Families have several choices of on-site dining (there are no fewer than nine eating or drinking establishments in the hotel) but none come cheaply. In the Harbor Tower, Sally’s offers steaks and seafood right on the water for a nice night out, and Lael’s is more family-oriented with casual fare and an incredible breakfast buffet. There’s also a sports bar, and Top of the Hyatt where you’ll want to get drinks and raise a toast to your San Diego vacation (provided you have a babysitter). Families will also find plenty of dining within walking distance of the hotel, and there’s 24/hour room service. The above photo depicts offerings at The Grand Club, the best deal in Manchester Grand Hyatt.

Room rates:

At the time of our stay room rates started at $194 with advance booking. Average rate is listed at $229. A Grand Club double room is $269. Is a Club room worth the extra $40 (extending to $70 in peak season) per night? In my opinion, yes, provided you utilize the food offerings. If a family of four eats breakfast there every morning and grabs all their snacks and bottles of water for the day before departing to sightsee, they’ll come out ahead. Plus, it’s great to know that food option is always there, day or night.

Directions:

Manchester Grand Hyatt is located at 1 Market Place, San Diego. From I-5 N, exit at Front Street (exit 17) toward the Civic Center. Continue straight to Front Street, and then turn right onto W. Market Street and into the main entrance.

As I disclose whenever applicable, I experienced the Manchester Grand Hyatt as a guest of the resort, for the purpose of review.

Photo credit: Amy Whitley, prayitno and drtran.

Sheraton Atlanta: where to stay in Atlanta with kids

February 21, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

The best feature of the Sheraton Atlanta is the pool. No. make that the hotel layout around the pool. Comprised of a huge glass-ceilinged atrium with plants and Southern style design, the pool area is located at the center of the Sheraton, right past the lobby on the second floor. A large free-form heated pool and hot tub are situated around a tasteful and almost beautiful indoor setting. The rooms surrounding it all feature miniature patios that open directly onto the pool area, and include small tables and chairs, enabling parents to sit right outside their rooms and share a bottle of wine, snacks, or read a book or paper while the kids swim.

Right next to the pool deck is the fitness center (also central from the pool side rooms), and overlooking the pool deck on the third floor are two restaurants: Fandangles is finer dining, and Collage is casual. The Fandangles patio seating overlooks the pool area. I love how easy it is for families to enjoy the pool and relax with poolside rooms! (Third floor pool view rooms include balconies overlooking the pool instead of patios.)

Besides the awesome pool and layout, there’s nothing very flashy about this Sheraton (which is a Starwood property…be sure to give the front desk your Starwood membership number if you have one). The hotel does not include a free breakfast, but Club Rooms do include a continental breakfast, and room rates are only slightly higher. Otherwise, The Deli is located in the restaurant area, and offers coffee, juices, donuts, pastries, and cereal and milk. Room service is also available.

The Sheraton is only approximately five blocks from Centennial Olympic Park and the CNN Center area, and only two blocks from the Peachtree Center shopping and MARTA station, as well as from Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta. There’s a concierge desk and bell services, and taxi cabs are easy to get our front. Note: if location directly adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park is important to you, you may want to look into Omni Atlanta.

Date last visited:

February 2013

Room amenities:

It’s definitely worth the slight upgrade for a pool-side room. Standard rooms are on the small side, but with the patio and pool, it will hardly matter. Bathrooms are also small, so prepare yourself for that. Rooms include WiFi you need to pay for, Starbucks coffee, comfortable beds, and robes. The one thing Sheraton Atlanta rooms really lack are mini fridges, but I’m told these will be added to all rooms later this year. This is good news, as the lack of fridges can be a deal breaker for me!

Room rates:

At the time of my visit, room rates started at $135 per night.

Directions:

The hotel is located on Courtland Street, right off I-75. From I-75 going south, follow into Downtown Atlanta. Take exit number 249A Courtland Street. You will merge onto Courtland Street going one way. The hotel will be on the left just after the third traffic, crossing Andrew Young International Boulevard. The hotel entrance will be the second driveway on the left.

Parking is only $22 per night for self-parking, and $29 per night for valet. Given the valet prices I saw across the city, this price felt very reasonable.

As I disclose whenever applicable, I experienced a hosted stay at the Sheraton Atlanta, for the purpose of review. While the hospitality is appreciated, it does not come with expectation of a positive review.