If your family typically spends most of your vacation time exploring and sightseeing, you are missing out on one of the best parts of traveling – luxuriating in your hotel room.
Okay, luxuriating might not be the right word when you’re traveling with kids, but there are lots of hotels with sleepover packages that can make staying in just as much fun as going out.
Here, eight hotels that offer tents (that you don’t have to set up yourself!), treats, family movies and activities that your whole family can enjoy without ever leaving your hotel.
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LEGOLAND New York Hotel Sleepover Series — Goshen, New York
While Legoland New York’s theme park is closed during the winter months, the onsite hotel invites families to come in from the cold and enjoy their LEGO-themed Sleepover Series. You can have breakfast and dinner at Bricks Family Restaurant; meet favorite LEGO characters; participate in storytimes, crafts, dance parties; and, of course, play with more LEGO bricks than you’ve ever seen in your life.
Each guest room is outfitted with a king bed for the adults and a separate sleeping area for the kids with bunk beds, a pull-out trundle bed and a fully-stocked LEGO play area. There’s also an in-room treasure hunt with a special prize (spoiler alert–it’s more LEGOs) and room service is available if you’d rather not leave the room at all.
Ritz-Carlton Chicago American Girl Package — Chicago
This luxury hotel is located on the Magnificent Mile’s Water Tower Place, which is also home to an American Girl Store where you can purchase dolls, clothing and accessories, eat brunch and indulge in salon services with your doll.
The Ritz-Carlton Chicago’s American Girl Package comes with additional perks for children spending the night and the dolls they never leave home without. In addition to overnight accommodations and valet parking, your child will receive a keepsake gift plus an American Girl travel bed for a special themed overnight that you can take home after your stay.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Sleepover Package — Miramar Beach, Florida
The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a sprawling seaside resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast with so many activities, restaurants and shops there’s really no reason to leave. With the resort’s sleepover package, that’s even more true. When booking this package, you can choose from a variety of add-ons, including hot chocolate kits, board games to play in your room, movie night provisions, supplies for a nighttime ghost crab search and more.
Accommodations at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort range from standard rooms in condo-style buildings to spacious, private cottages. There’s something for every type of traveler, whether you are traveling with just your immediate family or the grandparents are along for the ride.
Camp Peninsula at The Peninsula Beverly Hills — Beverly Hills, California
Camp Peninsula at The Peninsula Beverly Hills brings the great outdoors right into the comfort of your hotel room. The “campout” begins at check-in where kids are welcomed to The Peninsula by Peter Bear, the hotel’s life-size teddy bear mascot. Then head up to your room where you’ll find a kid-size teepee along with a plush toy campfire and s’mores set. Parents will get a chance to relax while the kids play games and go on a scavenger hunt during the four hours of childcare included with this package. You’ll also get early check-in, late check-out and use of a BMW for getting around town to maximize your time together as a family.
Eloise at The Plaza — New York City
In case you need a refresher, Eloise is the eponymous hero of a series of children’s books chronicling her life as a resident in New York’s Plaza Hotel. Eloise famously loves adventure, mischief and the color pink. Now, guests can stay in a very pink Eloise suite (complete with poofy, sparkly dress-up clothes), visit an Eloise pop-up shop and partake in an Eloise-themed tea time at the hotel’s Palm Court. The Plaza is just steps from Central Park and only a few blocks from the Central Park Zoo, so you can easily explore the surrounding area while you channel your inner Eloise.
Suite Slumber Party at The Mark — New York City
The Mark Hotel’s Suite Slumber Party provides everything your family needs for a cozy night (or nights) in. When you open the door to your suite, you’ll find a tent that’s perfectly sized for little explorers, chocolate milk and cookies and an in-room family movie. The package also includes breakfast from The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges each morning during your stay. Located on Madison Avenue just steps from Central Park, families can also reserve bicycles or strollers for sightseeing or upgrade to The Mark’s “Picnic in the Park” which comes with a basket loaded with gourmet picnic essentials.
The Langham Chicago Family Swim Package — Chicago
If the first thing your family does when staying in a hotel is drop your bags, throw on some swimsuits and head for the pool, The Langham Chicago’s Family Swim Package allows you to do just that — but with the added bonus of having the pool all to yourselves. Your family will get private access to the hotel’s indoor swimming pool, a $100 credit to use for food and drink to be delivered poolside and pool toys and floats to enjoy while you swim. If you need extra space, you can book an adjoining room for children under the age of 18 at 50 percent off the regular rate.
Nashville Family Adventure Package at the Kimpton Aertson Hotel — Nashville, Tennessee
The Kimpton Aertson Hotel kept kids and parents in mind when designing their Nashville Family Adventure Package. Kids can dine on milk and cookies in the room and the grown-ups receive two adult beverages from Henley, the hotel’s upscale Southern bar and restaurant to enjoy while you screen an in-room movie you can watch as a family. Also included is a Nashville activity guide for exploring outside your room. Every Kimpton Aertson stay comes with kid-friendly perks like child-safety kits for babyproofing your room, car seat and stroller rental and complimentary amenities like nail clippers and lip balm in case you leave anything behind.
Featured photo by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images.