What makes holidays with kids easier?!

[SGB7]

I’m setting up 10 self-catering holiday apartments in on the South coast of Devon, and I’m desperate make them as family friendly as possible as when my own were little it was always so hit and miss.
What would make your holiday easier with babies / pre-schoolers (and older ones)?

Plastic plates and cups.
Toys and a few board games. Try and provide things where it’s not critical if a few bits go missing

washing machine and drier.
Safe outdoor space with chairs for the adults to sit and watch
baby gate if stairs
High chair

I wouldn’t bother with a lot of baby stuff - people often prefer to use their own

Minimal ornaments. A bed rail? Even if hidden in a wardrobe so they have the option. Travel cot and high chair. A little selection of books and wooden toys so won't break as easily. A board game.
Plastic plates, bowls and cups sound great!
I wouldn't bother with any baby essentials like steriliser etc as a lot of people will either want to use their own or not use at all
A box or a certain place to put dirty shoes? My Nan always had a box next to the door at the caravan so you haven't got to worry about cleaning them straight away.
A list of local family friendly activities, restaurants, take aways, supermarkets etc

I think as long as you state in the advertising that you are fully family friendly you will do great

Decent washing facilities- for clothes. Eg washing machine and a tumble dryer. Which is regularly maintained and the dryer works.

small box of toys/books/DVDs

non crinkly waterproof mattress protectors

As they’re apartments, what is the outside space like? Do they have a terrace/small square with railings? If so, I would be mindful of having something there - like a blackboard on the railings with chalk/or chalk markers.

Info to local GP/late night pharmacy.

Second child size plastic plates, cutlery and glasses.
You
mentioned a steriliser, maybe say a generic one is available on request as they take up too much room otherwise.

Stationery and paper for kids.

A plastic seat which you can use at the dinner table for toddler who are out of the high chair stage, but still not big enough to use a chair.

A two in one toilet seat in the main bathroom, not en-suite, so you can pull it down to accommodate smaller bottoms. Plus a kids step stool in the bathroom too.

Easy to reach hand wash attached to the wall or something which is not a ceramic thing that is easy to knock over.

Bath towels, tea towels, plenty of dishwasher tablets and proper cleaning equipment.

Blackout blinds on the bedroom windows.

A play park on site!!!

Windows and doors that lock

Just basic stuff like checking every room for possible dangers or hazards.

The number of times we’ve been away & I’ve not been able to leave DC in their own bedroom & ended up sleeping with them because of potentially dangerous things is ridiculous.

last time it was an upstairs window that was easy for DC to climb up to (could climb on bed then easily up onto window sil) and said window didn’t lock

Practical stuff like stairs gates, bed guards, children's cutlery/plates, decent high chair, small step in the toilet.

If you have hard floors then a rug, or even better one of those foam padded 'rugs'.

Also a really basic selection of toys. Things that'll cover lots of ages; wooden blocks, tea set, few cars. Buckets, spades, bodyboards, if near the sea

The thing I find missing in most places is the stair gate and bed guard.

This!!!!!!!

Or provide gro-blinds that people can use.

Really clear info (ideally a floor plan!) of the property, particularly the bedrooms. It drives me mad when places say 'sleeps 6' but you are trying to work out whether someone is in the living room etc. We stayed at one cottage that had a study area in the attic which was perfect for DS's cot (he was 18m) and meant he didn't have to share with his sister or us.

If you can, travel cot with a proper mattress - stated clearly on the website so people know in advance.
Black out blinds
A step stool in the bathroom
Secure garden
Non slip bath mat
Stair gates

I agree about making it really clear in advance is provided inc toys games to make packing easier. Make sure stair gate properly fixed to wall - our then toddler leant on a stair gate in a holiday home which gave way and she plummeted down the stairs on top of it like a sledge. Not seriously injured but could have been.

Comfy sofa/chairs. Decent easy to use microwave, parking, not trying to squeeze too many people into space. Beach toys, if near beach floors which can easily be swept, outdoor tap for rinsing off, brush and pan set to sweep up as horrible to have kids crawling around if can't sweep floors, ideas for local wet days, freezer space

Child sized coat hangers and coat hooks in the apartment. Forever staying places with no where to hang coats up. Space in the apartment is good and kids come with a box of toys and you need somewhere to store the push chair. Cupboard space in the kitchen.

Are the beds all full size singles or doubles? When I stayed in a self catering chalet… the beds were proper beds but definitely not standard size singles or doubles

Do you own them OP

or are you involved in setting up?

As near the beach an area where wetsuits can be rinsed and dried.
Beach toys / crab nets - my two get endless enjoyment from them!
Comfy sofa and blankets in colours that don't get dirty easily

The issue is the more you provide, the more you need to check and maintain. By all means offer extras like high hairs on request. If there is space could you have a communal toy library, so families can pick and choose what is appropriate, likewise dvds. With games and puzzles pieces go missing easily which is frustrating. Maybe umbrellas and waterproofs, beach towels and sunshades. Extra cutlery and crockery including toddler friendly. If you have a dishwasher you don't want to have to put it on after every meal. Hanging space by the door to store wet jackets and boots, even better a heated boot drying rack. Maps of family friendly walks with refreshment stops, any affiliated cafes and attractions offering discounts, local food delivery/takeaways.

We only have Kings and full size singles even on bunk beds.

We’re avoiding cramming in as many beds as possible to make sure everyone is comfortable, for me, beds are always the thing I remember wherever I stay!

Owner and setting up

A bucket and spade library. The beach opposite salcombe has this. We collected a shops worth of buckets and spades over the years. They take tonnes of space at home, we’d invariably forget them and have to buy more on holiday…..but if we could borrow and bring back or even buy and leave (I’ve never been to a self catering unit that has buckets and spades so people either take them to hoard at home or they get binned).

Small plastic tumblers - my kids can be supervised at mealtimes with proper crockery but I hate them using real glasses. Ideally kids cutlery and plates as well.
As you’re near a beach - buckets and spades, maybe those beach tent/windbreak things available to borrow? Picnic blankets.

We stayed somewhere that had a couple of ride on toys and a slide in the garden which was great. It also had some duplo and kids jigsaws which were well-received.

sufficient spare sockets in the bedrooms for baby monitors/nightlights etc would be useful. IKEA sell little dark-activated nightlights (called Morkradd) which are a good idea for late night toilet trips in unfamiliar hallways.

Full size king beds and singles in a chalet? They must be very large chalets!

may I ask your prices? Will give a better idea of what you should be offering

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