After 17 years of dragging my kids around the world, I’ve learned that where you stay can make or break your trip. Book the wrong place and you’ll spend your vacation stressed. Find the right fit and suddenly everyone’s happier.
So let’s talk about your options. Not the Instagram-perfect version, but what actually works when you’re traveling with kids.
Hotels: The Easy Button
Look, there’s a reason hotels are still the default. Someone else handles everything. Breakfast appears. Clean towels show up. Something breaks and you just call the front desk.
For families, hotels check a lot of boxes. You get daily housekeeping (lifesaver when traveling with messy kids), usually a pool, and someone at the desk who can tell you where to eat or what to do. Plus you can walk out the door without worrying about checkout chores.
Chain hotels are predictable, which matters more than you’d think. When you pull up exhausted after eight hours in the car, knowing exactly what you’re getting is worth something. The room will look like the photos. The WiFi will work. Nobody’s going to surprise you.
But here’s what’s happening with hotel prices in 2026. Overall rates are only going up about 1-2% across most U.S. cities, which is actually slower than inflation. Sounds good, right? Except luxury hotels are a different story. High-end properties are seeing 3-4% increases, and they’re packing their suites at premium prices while leaving standard rooms empty. So if you’re booking multiple rooms for a family of five, you could still easily hit $300+ per night in major cities once you add parking, resort fees, and breakfast for everyone.
The sweet spot? Hotels work best for shorter trips, city stays where you’ll be out exploring anyway, or when you just want someone else to handle everything.
Where to book: Expedia has solid deals on family-friendly hotels, and you can often bundle with flights to save more.
Vacation Rentals: More Space, More Complications
I’ve stayed in dozens of vacation rentals over the years. When they’re good, they’re fantastic. Full kitchen, laundry, separate bedrooms, and way more space than a hotel room. My kids can spread out, I can do laundry instead of packing 47 outfits, and having a kitchen saves money when you’re not eating out for every meal.
The math used to be simple. Rentals saved you money. Not anymore.
Here’s what changed in 2026. Those cleaning fees everyone complains about? They’re real, and they’ve gotten worse. I’ve seen rentals charging $150+ cleaning fees for a two-night stay. When you add platform fees, taxes, and all the hidden costs, vacation rentals in popular destinations often cost the same or more than hotels.
And the chore lists. Some hosts expect you to strip beds, start laundry, take out trash, and basically clean the place before you leave. After paying a huge cleaning fee. It’s frustrating, and honestly, I get why people are annoyed.
But vacation rentals still work in certain situations. Longer stays where the cleaning fee gets spread out. Places where you need a full kitchen (hello, picky eaters). Destinations where hotels are limited or crazy expensive. And when you’re traveling with another family or extended family, splitting a house beats coordinating hotel rooms.
Just read reviews carefully. Look for recent complaints about cleanliness, surprise fees, or unreasonable checkout requirements. And check the total price before you book, not just the nightly rate.
Where to book: Airbnb and Vrbo are the big players. Compare prices on both since the same property sometimes shows up cheaper on one platform.
House Swapping: Free Rent If You’re Brave
Full disclosure: I haven’t done this through a formal service, but I know people who swear by it. The concept is simple. You swap homes with someone else for a set period. They stay in your house, you stay in theirs. No money changes hands.
The upside? Free accommodation. You’re staying in a real home with everything you need. Some people even swap cars, which is a bonus.
The downside? You need to trust strangers with your house. And your schedule needs to align with someone who wants to visit your city during the exact time you want to visit theirs. It takes planning and flexibility.
If you’re organized and open to it, services like HomeExchange and HomeLink connect families who want to swap. Just make sure you have a solid contract and clear expectations about what happens if something breaks.
Housesitting: Like House Swapping, But With Pets
Similar concept, different setup. You watch someone’s home and pets while they’re away. They get peace of mind. You get free accommodation.
I haven’t done this one either, but friends who have tell me it’s great for longer stays in one place. You’re living in a neighborhood like a local, not bouncing around tourist areas. And if you miss having pets at home, bonus.
The catch? You need to trust strangers with your house. And you’re tied to the house because you’re caring for animals. Can’t disappear for three days. And you need to be comfortable with the responsibility. But for the right family, especially if you’re staying somewhere for weeks, it could work.
Hostels: Not Just for College Kids
Okay, hear me out. I know what you’re thinking. Hostels are for 22-year-olds on gap years, not families. But things are changing.
Modern hostels often have private family rooms. Not dorm beds, actual private rooms with bathrooms. Plus you get access to common areas with kitchens and laundry, which saves money. And the price is usually way better than hotels.
I’ll level with you. I haven’t stayed in hostels with my kids. But I’ve talked to families who have, particularly in Europe and Australia, and they’ve had good experiences. The key is choosing the right hostel. Look for ones that advertise family rooms and have good reviews from other parents.
Where to look: Hostelworld and Booking.com both list hostels with family-friendly options.
Staying With Friends: The Best Deal (If You Do It Right)
Here’s the option nobody talks about in travel guides, but it’s honestly one of my favorites when it works. Staying with friends.
I’ve done this countless times. Friends in different cities, old college roommates, family connections. When you’ve got people you’re close to in your destination, it’s great. The kids see how other families live. You catch up with people you care about. And yes, it saves money.
But you have to do it right. Don’t just show up and expect to be entertained. Bring groceries. Cook dinner. Offer to take everyone out for a meal. Clean up after yourself obsessively. And know when to give them space. Nobody wants houseguests who act like they’re at a hotel.
I always bring a host gift. Something thoughtful from home, good wine, or something they mentioned wanting. And I’m clear about logistics before we arrive. What time works for check-in? Do they have plans while we’re there? Should we rent a car or will we need rides?
The best friend-stays happen when both sides are excited about it. If you sense any hesitation, book a hotel nearby and just visit. Friendship is worth more than free lodging.
What Actually Matters When You’re Choosing
After staying in everything from five-star resorts to sketchy apartments to friends’ guest rooms, here’s what matters most:
Location beats everything. A mediocre hotel in a great location wins over a gorgeous rental an hour away from everything you want to do.
Read recent reviews. Not the summary rating. Actually read what people who stayed there in the last few months have to say. Photos can be old. Pricing can change. But recent reviews tell you what you’re really getting.
Factor in the real cost. That $89/night rental isn’t actually $89 once you add cleaning fees, service fees, and taxes. Compare total prices, not nightly rates.
Think about your trip style. Quick city weekend? Hotel. Beach vacation where you’ll cook breakfast and hang by the pool? Rental. Road trip hitting multiple places? Mix it up based on what makes sense in each spot.
Consider everyone’s sleep needs. If your kids are light sleepers or you need separate rooms to survive, plan accordingly. Cheap isn’t worth it if nobody sleeps.
Making Your Final Decision
There’s no perfect answer. The best accommodation for your family depends on where you’re going, how long you’re staying, who’s traveling, and what matters most to you.
I’ve stayed in all of these options over the years, and I keep coming back to different ones depending on the trip. Sometimes I want the ease of a hotel. Sometimes I need the space of a rental. And occasionally, crashing with friends is exactly the right call.
The key is being honest about what you need versus what sounds good in theory. That Pinterest-worthy rental might look gorgeous, but if it’s 45 minutes from everything and you’ll spend half your vacation driving cranky kids around, the boring hotel downtown wins.
Start by figuring out your budget, your location priorities, and your must-haves. Then search with total price transparency turned on, read those reviews, and book something that works for your actual family, not someone else’s Instagram feed.
And if you need help planning the rest of your trip? I’ve got free resources that’ll help:
- Weekend Trip Planner for quick getaways
- Road Trip Planning Guide for longer drives
- Vacation Planner Checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything important
Want even more detailed destination guides? Check out the Twist Travel Shop for itineraries that take the guesswork out of planning.
