By Corinne McDermott - Have Baby Will Travel

In choosing accommodation when you’re traveling with a toddler, you need to satisfy two main criteria: safety (theirs) and sanity (yours). With that in mind:

Call ahead and try to get a ground-floor room. Balcony railings do not always adhere to the stringent safety codes we (usually) expect, but you would never leave a toddler unattended near a balcony anyway. For their safety and your sanity, try to get a ground floor room with a terrace so your tot has a nice place to toddle about when you’re laying low and you have a place to escape to during naps and early bedtimes.

You don’t necessarily need a kitchenette, but a mini-fridge is kind of a necessity. If  your hotel charges for them, ask to have the mini-bar cleared. It’s a good idea to do that anyway since it removes temptation and you’re not footing the bill when your beloved child grabs and opens an expensive bag of chips. A microwave also is not necessary, but pack a travel kettle if you need to sterilize bottles in a hotel room.

Whether you find an all-inclusive best suited for your family, a boutique hotel, a house swap, or a condo rental, your child’s safety comes first – but your sanity is a close second!