WRONG!
Now a days my family is getting bigger. I'm not talking about adding more people. I mean my babies are now teens/pre-teens. We need more space!
We're planning a weekend trip to Vegas soon. It's close enough to Salt Lake that we can get there in 6 hours. And it's a nice change of pace from our daily routine.
So when I look for a hotel this is what I look for.
#1. A room big enough for everyone.
So staying on the Strip is out of the questions. Something about being split up from my family on a family trip doesn't make sense. So I'm looking for family rooms or suites. Sure the cost might seem more but in reality it's the cheaper route.
1 single room on the strip can cost $60 a night (we're staying 3 nights) x 2 rooms (praying these rooms are adjoined) + $20-$30 hotel fees for each night = I'm looking at $540 minimum for hotel cost!
So we stay off the strip. But still close enough that we can walk or shuttle (if the hotel offers). So staying off the strip can cost us about 40-50% less since we are not paying those nasty hotel fees.
#2. BREAKFAST INCLUDED!!!
Look below....
I use bookings.com for my hotel searches. There's tons of searching sites but this is the only site I've found where I can book now and pay when I get to the hotel. And I can cancel up to the day before just in case my plans change with no charge.
Anyways this is my search for Vegas and family of 6. The sites my cost will be around $268-$310 for the weekend at these hotels. And this is a great price for my size family.
But looks what happens when I add breakfast included in my search.
Now the cost is $325-$347! The cost is around $40 more but knowing my family this is a great price. For $40 more I'm paying an average of $13.33 a morning for breakfast. That's like paying $2 a person. Even if my family goes to a dollar menu for breakfast I'm looking at spending around $5 a person! So this is a great price. Plus we can eat as much as we want. So we fill up on breakfast!
#3. Kitchen!
Mini fridge and microwave are a must! I can usually read this in the room description but sometimes I get surprised to find a kitchenette or a full size kitchen in my room. The reason why I look for a kitchen is.....remember that cost for doing to a $1 menu- Now cut that cost in HALF! All thanks to using the kitchen items provided in our hotel room.
On the first day we arrive at our hotel our family just chills. We relax, unpack, shower, and stretch our legs for driving so long. And I assess the kitchen area. Once everyone is cleaned and refreshed we go to the grocery store. My husband insist on finding a Super Target. This way we can get the food and whatever else we might have forgotten. Like swim trunks, sun screen, socks, toothbrushes, whatever. Plus we're all about saving with cartwheels and red cards.
So while at the hotel I will make my list of items we'll be using for the next few days.
Wraps: our go-to meal
-tuna pouches (high protein)
-tortillas
-pre cooked frozen chicken
-small mayo
-produce
( apples, celery, lettuce, avocado, oranges...
things what won't smash in my bag while we're out exploring)
And added yummies for our kids:
-cup of noodles
-yogurt tubes
-juice boxes
etc.
So my family will fill up at the hotel breakfast. Then we go out and enjoy our destination.
While at Vegas our kids want to go to the M&M store and the Coke store. Last time we tried the Cokes of the world and we all loved it! And they want to do this again.
Anyways my husband and I budget to eat out at a restaurant 1-2 times and know we'll pick up a few snacks here and there.
For restaurants we plan to take advantage of lunch specials. Cost of restaurants are about 50% less during lunch hours which are normally from 11-3pm. We sit down around 2-2:30 and enjoy a great meal at a fraction of the cost. But most days I will pack up my daytrip bag with waters, snacks, and wraps so my family doesn't get the HANGRY! After we eat we explore some more. While my husband and I can go long into the night exploring and finding the cities treasures our 6 & 7 year old are sleepy and cranky by 8pm. So we head back to our hotel, give them bubble baths, and enjoy an easy microwave meal.
Hotel picks can vary. Based on where we are going my family likes those little extras:
Pools for Vegas are nice. But pools for California are dumb. Seriously the ocean is a few miles away.
Exercise room- we will never need!
Parking cost- I only find places that offer free parking.
Internet access- doesn't everywhere have this. Even if not our iPhones is all we need since we're vacationing to unplug.
TV/DVD player- we don't care. We never watch the TV anyways.
High Security- We've got the highest protection; God!
Well that's what my family and I do pick the best hotel for us. Good luck on your searches and go adventuring!
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