Question for those who need a separate room for your baby/child when you travel

[Anonymous]

Often I see on here posters mentioning that they "need" a suite or a separate room for their baby in their hotel. There is no way they can share a room with their child while on vacation for a few days. I have to admit, it makes me roll my eyes a bit. We are a family of 6 and have no problem sharing rooms with our kids (sometimes even all 6 of us in one room, if it has 2 Queen beds plus a pull out sofa!) Our travel budget is pretty limited and I just can't see spending tons of money for separate sleeping accommodations when it's only a few nights.

It was like that for me growing up too--I grew up with 2 brothers and 2 parents and EVERY time we went to a hotel, we got a room with 2 double beds and a rollaway cot.

So my question for those of you who consider it very important to have a separate room to sleep in from your child--was it like that for you growing up? On family vacations, did each family member have separate hotel rooms/large suites with multiple bedrooms? If not, and you vacationed more like me (whole family stuffing in one room)--is it just that you have a much larger vacation budget than your parents did? Are you more "high maintenance" than your parents were?

[Anonymous]

It doesn't seem like a vacation if we have uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Often I see on here posters mentioning that they "need" a suite or a separate room for their baby in their hotel. There is no way they can share a room with their child while on vacation for a few days. I have to admit, it makes me roll my eyes a bit. We are a family of 6 and have no problem sharing rooms with our kids (sometimes even all 6 of us in one room, if it has 2 Queen beds plus a pull out sofa!) Our travel budget is pretty limited and I just can't see spending tons of money for separate sleeping accommodations when it's only a few nights.
It was like that for me growing up too--I grew up with 2 brothers and 2 parents and EVERY time we went to a hotel, we got a room with 2 double beds and a rollaway cot.

So my question for those of you who consider it very important to have a separate room to sleep in from your child--was it like that for you growing up? On family vacations, did each family member have separate hotel rooms/large suites with multiple bedrooms? If not, and you vacationed more like me (whole family stuffing in one room)--is it just that you have a much larger vacation budget than your parents did? Are you more "high maintenance" than your parents were?

+1 and yes, obviously to your last question. Sorry, but that's my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of those posters. Thank you for rolling your eyes at me. Super helpful. But to answer your questions: no, I did not take family vacations like that as a kid. My parents didn't have a lot of money and so travel was limited. I have two kids. One can and will sleep anywhere. The baby is a very sensitive sleeper and it's just not going to be a good vacation if we all sleep in the same room. Hopefully as he gets older that will change (he is one) but for now we can afford to do the extra room and make it a relaxing vacation.

[Anonymous]

I grew up poor and we didn't take vacations that included staying in a hotel (I was one of 8 children).

DH and I are both professionals and now make a boatload of money. When we travel, which is frequently, DH and I almost always have our own room and each kid has his/her own bed. But the idea of you rolling your eyes at me has me in stitches.

[Anonymous]

We usually sleep in the same room-we just like to have separate space do that we aren't constrained by the kids' bedtimes and nap times (our kids are young). We've certainly done standard hotel rooms with no problem, but the cost of a suite is often not much more and makes for a more enjoyable experience. We make good money (not crazy money, but we're comfortable) and don't do extravagant vacations so a minor hotel upgrade isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Growing up-we camped a lot, visited family a lot (overseas), and I don't remember too many hotel rooms. My parents are definitely fans of the budget hotel though. I'm sure they'd consider some of the hotels we stay in to be too expensive. My inlaws were broke, so vacations were minimal and mostly camping at the beach. I don't think we're higher maintenance-I still love camping and don't need luxury hotels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We usually sleep in the same room-we just like to have separate space do that we aren't constrained by the kids' bedtimes and nap times (our kids are young). We've certainly done standard hotel rooms with no problem, but the cost of a suite is often not much more and makes for a more enjoyable experience. We make good money (not crazy money, but we're comfortable) and don't do extravagant vacations so a minor hotel upgrade isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Growing up-we camped a lot, visited family a lot (overseas), and I don't remember too many hotel rooms. My parents are definitely fans of the budget hotel though. I'm sure they'd consider some of the hotels we stay in to be too expensive. My inlaws were broke, so vacations were minimal and mostly camping at the beach. I don't think we're higher maintenance-I still love camping and don't need luxury hotels.

This matches my preferences and experience almost exactly. We prefer the suite so we can spend the evening sharing a glass of wine and some nice conversation after the kids go to bed, but don't mind sleeping in the same room as them at all. But the vast majority of our 'vacations' are to visit family and we stay at their homes where this isn't an issue.

[Anonymous]

Traveled recently with my 3 year old and 1 year old. 3 year old loves to sleep with us, no problem. 1 year old needs dark and quiet. I was really worried about naps and bedtime since she would be able to see us, even if we were sleeping too. Ended up with a handicap accessible room, which has a larger bathroom. Crib went in there, DD got dark and quiet

[Anonymous]

I like being able to stay up late with DH having a few beers and sitting on the balcony, or watching TV, reading, maybe doing chores for the next day like laundry. I'll stay in one room for the right hotel and now that the kids are 5 and 7 we have even survive with a fridge but without a kitchenette. But a 1 BR suite is usually worth the upgrade for me.
We grew up camping and sharing one big tent and peeing in the bathhouse so, not connected to my rearing.

[Anonymous]

I have a toddler and a 3 month old. We don't travel to many places where we won't be staying with family, but when we do, we try (budget permitting) to get at least a separate living room, if not a separate bedroom. DH and I like the opportunity to spend time together when the kids are asleep, and I'm not a fan of hanging out in the bathroom whispering for a couple of hours. Also, naps and early bedtimes are still an issue, and if we're all crammed into one room, naps will be hard to get.

That said, when the kids are older, I expect we'll be a one room, double beds family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We usually sleep in the same room-we just like to have separate space do that we aren't constrained by the kids' bedtimes and nap times (our kids are young). We've certainly done standard hotel rooms with no problem, but the cost of a suite is often not much more and makes for a more enjoyable experience. We make good money (not crazy money, but we're comfortable) and don't do extravagant vacations so a minor hotel upgrade isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Growing up-we camped a lot, visited family a lot (overseas), and I don't remember too many hotel rooms. My parents are definitely fans of the budget hotel though. I'm sure they'd consider some of the hotels we stay in to be too expensive. My inlaws were broke, so vacations were minimal and mostly camping at the beach. I don't think we're higher maintenance-I still love camping and don't need luxury hotels.

This matches my preferences and experience almost exactly. We prefer the suite so we can spend the evening sharing a glass of wine and some nice conversation after the kids go to bed, but don't mind sleeping in the same room as them at all. But the vast majority of our 'vacations' are to visit family and we stay at their homes where this isn't an issue.

+1 on wanting to have a separate space to relax during naps and after bedtime with a young child. No problems at all sharing the bedroom, but I've had the experience of sitting in a dark room every night after 7pm and it definitely wasn't very relaxing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Often I see on here posters mentioning that they "need" a suite or a separate room for their baby in their hotel. There is no way they can share a room with their child while on vacation for a few days. I have to admit, it makes me roll my eyes a bit. We are a family of 6 and have no problem sharing rooms with our kids (sometimes even all 6 of us in one room, if it has 2 Queen beds plus a pull out sofa!) Our travel budget is pretty limited and I just can't see spending tons of money for separate sleeping accommodations when it's only a few nights.

It was like that for me growing up too--I grew up with 2 brothers and 2 parents and EVERY time we went to a hotel, we got a room with 2 double beds and a rollaway cot.

So my question for those of you who consider it very important to have a separate room to sleep in from your child--was it like that for you growing up? On family vacations, did each family member have separate hotel rooms/large suites with multiple bedrooms? If not, and you vacationed more like me (whole family stuffing in one room)--is it just that you have a much larger vacation budget than your parents did? Are you more "high maintenance" than your parents were?

Curious, OP, how do you manage early toddler bedtimes? Does everyone go to sleep at 8 pm?

[Anonymous]

I like to have sex on vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to have sex on vacation.

+1 -- and I have no idea (thank God) what my parents did in this regard or whether DH and I are "high maintenance" compared to them -- don't even want to go there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Often I see on here posters mentioning that they "need" a suite or a separate room for their baby in their hotel. There is no way they can share a room with their child while on vacation for a few days. I have to admit, it makes me roll my eyes a bit. We are a family of 6 and have no problem sharing rooms with our kids (sometimes even all 6 of us in one room, if it has 2 Queen beds plus a pull out sofa!) Our travel budget is pretty limited and I just can't see spending tons of money for separate sleeping accommodations when it's only a few nights.

It was like that for me growing up too--I grew up with 2 brothers and 2 parents and EVERY time we went to a hotel, we got a room with 2 double beds and a rollaway cot.

So my question for those of you who consider it very important to have a separate room to sleep in from your child--was it like that for you growing up? On family vacations, did each family member have separate hotel rooms/large suites with multiple bedrooms? If not, and you vacationed more like me (whole family stuffing in one room)--is it just that you have a much larger vacation budget than your parents did? Are you more "high maintenance" than your parents were?

Curious, OP, how do you manage early toddler bedtimes? Does everyone go to sleep at 8 pm?

My kids are older now (youngest is 8) but when they were younger they would usually fall asleep on the drive home from whatever we did that day. We'd carry them in asleep and they were pretty sound sleepers so Dh and I could still quietly watch tv or whatever and they wouldn't wake up.