How to get a good night’s sleep in a hotel room with your kids

Last Updated on 18 March 2024 by Colette

The first time we stayed in a hotel with the kids was back in February when we stayed at the Premier Inn Swansea Waterfront.  At the time we were more than a little nervous about how everyone would sleep and if we’d all just end up utterly exhausted!  As it turned out everyone did really well and we are looking forward to our next family weekend away.

So this is how to get a good night’s sleep in a hotel room with your kids . . . (of course I’m not making promises, just sharing what worked for us!) 

1. Make sure you book a family friendly hotel!

In our experience the Premier Inn family rooms are an absolute joy – having enough room to make sure everyone can sleep comfortably and in their own space is really important.  Squeaky, fold out sofa beds are never going to be a winner are they?

2. Stick to the old routine 

Whilst being away is exciting, it’s important to stick to the normal routines which help your children to know it’s bedtime now and that they should go to sleep.  I’m not saying they need to be in bed by 6pm but if bedtime at home involves a bath, a book and bed then do the same in the hotel.  This is all the more important for younger tots.    

3. Make sure everyone is tired! 

Whilst it is important to stick to your normal bedtime routine it is also worth bearing in mind that you need the kids to be tired when you put them to bed – at home Ben and Chloe often spend some time reading or generally messing about before they drop off – this really isn’t something you want in a a hotel room when you’ve got two (or three) children sleeping in the same room.  Make sure you’ve had a nice active day and that everyone is suitably tired and ready for bed.

4. Consider a later bedtime 

It’s worth considering a slightly later bedtime than normal – not just because you want everyone to sleep but also because once the kids are in bed you’re pretty much imprisoned in your bedroom.  We’ve found that hotel wifi, headphones and your tablet are the way forward here – or just getting an early night yourself as it’s likely everyone will wake up pretty early in the morning. 

5. Carrot or stick?

Lay some ground rules – no talking, no getting out of bed etc and consider what the rewards and sanctions might be for this?  “If we have a rubbish night’s sleep are we going to be able to go on our adventure tomorrow or will we all be too tired?”

6. Leave the bathroom light on.

Whilst it’s tempting to make the most of the amazing blackout curtains that hotels often have, leaving the bathroom light on and the door ajar can be comforting for little ones who might feel unsure of their surroundings, or for older children who might need to get to the toilet in the middle of the night and may feel a bit confused as to where they are.  (As a side note, in my experience this is also useful for drunk husbands!)

7. Think outside the box (or the bedroom!)

Take a tip from The DADventurer and stick the travel cot in the bathroom – allowing baby to have their own bedroom.  (Of course this is no good if you think you’re likely to be up and down to the toilet a lot in the night!)

So now you know what has worked for us, I’d love to know your top tips for getting a good night’s sleep in a hotel room? 

Check out Becky’s accommodation hacks here!

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