A hotel, an apartment, or an apart-hotel? A key part of enjoying a trip in Europe with kids is finding the right place for lodging. I have always loved staying at hotels for the convenience; however as our family has grown to a family of 5, it can be harder to find hotels to accommodate our family within our budget and logistics.
Hotels can be tricky to book in Europe because of the following challenges:
Room Size and Occupancy Limits: Many European hotels are designed with smaller rooms and have strict occupancy limits, often accommodating only two to four people per room. Finding a room or suite that can legally and comfortably fit five people can be difficult.
Limited Family-Friendly Options: While some hotels cater to families, they may not be as common in Europe compared to other regions. Family rooms or interconnecting rooms can be in high demand and may require booking well in advance.
Cost and Added Fees: Accommodations for larger families often come with a higher price tag. Booking two rooms or a suite can significantly increase costs. Some hotels also charge extra for additional beds or cribs, adding to the challenge of staying within budget.
For us, an apart-hotel (short for “apartment hotel”) is a hybrid accommodation combining the features of a hotel with the space and amenities of a private apartment. It’s particularly suited for travelers who want the comforts of home with the convenience of hotel services.
Here are benefits of staying in apart-hotels in Europe with little kids:
More Space and Privacy: Apart-hotels typically provide more room than standard hotel rooms, often including separate bedrooms, living areas, and sometimes even outdoor spaces like balconies or patios. Kids can nap or play in one room while parents relax in another, avoiding the need to tiptoe around a shared hotel room.
Kitchen Facilities: Most apart-hotels come with a kitchenette or full kitchen equipped with basic appliances like a stove, microwave, and refrigerator. Preparing meals or snacks saves money and ensures you have kid-friendly options. It’s especially useful for managing picky eaters or accommodating special diets. For example, my nephew has severe nut allergies and it can alleviate stress to purchase groceries and cook up his food.
Laundry Access: Many apart-hotels have in-room washers and dryers or communal laundry facilities. With little kids, spills and outfit changes are inevitable. Laundry access means you can pack lighter and handle messes easily.
Family-Friendly Amenities: Apart-hotels often provide child-focused extras like cribs, high chairs, baby bathtubs, and even toys or games. These amenities can make your stay more comfortable and reduce the need to bring bulky items from home.
Home-Like Environment: Apart-hotels often feel more like a home than a hotel, creating a relaxed and familiar atmosphere. This can help kids (and parents) feel more at ease, making it easier to maintain routines like bedtime or mealtime.
Cleaning Services: Additionally, often times you can inquire if there is a cleaning service available. Make sure to check beforehand to set expectations!
I personally love to use Booking.com to search for our lodging. When searching for the right apart-hotel to stay at, consider using the following filters:
Rating: 5 stars ideally or 4 stars
Guest Reviews: Wonderful:9+ (I might consider Very Good: 8+)
Property Tye: Apartments or Hotels
Distance: I like to be a 10 minute walk to the city center or train station (if anticipating day trips)
Based on those, I start to incorporate other personal preferences to narrow down our preferred choice.
5 Apart-hotels we stayed and loved
Here are five apart-hotels we enjoyed staying as we traveled throughout Europe with our kids!
Malaga, Spain:
Málaga, Spain, is worth visiting with kids for its beautiful beaches, interactive museums, family-friendly attractions like the Málaga Aquarium, and vibrant culture paired with a relaxed Mediterranean vibe. We used Malaga as abase city to explore the Andalusia region over a week.
We stayed at the Coeo Apart-Hotel Fresca in the middle of Malaga city center. Features of this aparthotel that we enjoyed were the central location to be able to walk to the parking area where we left our rental car, as well as to the city center full of stores and restaurants. There was a small kitchenette and we were able to all sleep comfortable across 2 beds. The only thing I would have liked if it was just slightly bigger – but given how central it was, it would be tough to find larger space as nice as this one and in such a great location.
For more details on our Andalusia trip, visit my full guide here.
2. Bari, Italy:
Bari, Italy, is worth visiting with kids for its charming old town, family-friendly beaches, delicious Italian cuisine, and the fascinating story of Saint Nicholas, whose relics are housed in the Basilica di San Nicola. We used Bari, Italy as our base in Puglia,
We stayed at the Sweet Life – Luxury Apartments Suite Rooms in the middle of Bari city center. Features of this aparthotel that we enjoyed were the spaciousness of this apartment and the bedroom and bathroom size. I would have liked it if the living area was just a bit bigger, but overall this was a very nice spot!
For more details on our Puglia trip, visit my full guide here.
3. London, England:
London, England, is worth visiting with kids for its world-class museums, iconic landmarks like the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, expansive parks, and family-friendly attractions such as the Natural History Museum and Harry Potter Studio Tour.
We stayed at the XX on our most recent trip to London. Features of this aparthotel we liked were that
For more details on things to do with kids in London, visit my full guide here.
4. Crete, Greece:
Crete, Greece, is worth visiting with kids for its gorgeous beaches, ancient ruins like the Palace of Knossos, interactive cultural experiences, and welcoming family-friendly atmosphere steeped in Mediterranean charm.
We stayed at the Nival Luxury Suites in Chania, Crete. Features of this apart-hotel that we enjoyed were the great central location, accessibility to delicious food, and daily cleaning service. It was a bit on the smaller side for our family and there was a set of stairs, but the location made it worth it!
For more details on our trip to Greece, visit my full guide here.
5. Naxos, Greece:
Naxos, Greece, is worth visiting with kids for its safe, sandy beaches, relaxed family-friendly vibe, mythological sites like the Portara, and charming villages offering authentic Greek culture and cuisine.
We stayed at the Naxos DownTown Apartments & Suites near Naxos New Town. Features of this apart-hotel that we enjoyed were the cleanliness, living area, and customer service of the owner! He gave wonderful food recommendations. There is a set of staircases, so we had to leave our stroller in the lobby, but everyone was very nice about it.
For more details on our trip to Greece, visit my full guide here.
What do you prefer – staying at a hotel or apartment? Describe your preferences below!
