What are the little things that make a big difference on a family day out/ holiday/ meal

[carriemumsnet]

Hi there,

I've been asked to speak at the British Hospitality Association conference next week, where there will be top folks from restaurants and cafes, hotels and travel and theme parks/ attractions and I'd love to know from you what are the little things that make a big difference to your enjoyment of a family day out/meal out/ family holiday or hotel? What makes a place feel welcoming to families, what makes you want to go back? Who is getting it right do you think and why? And what could they do a lot better (apart from making it all much cheaper!). I can't promise to fit everything in but think it's a great opportunity to let them know what we think.

They are also talking about whether you would encourage your child to take a job in the hospitality industry (or would take one yourself) and if not why not? So any thoughts on that also welcome.

Thanks so much as always.

It is usually easier to discover the dog policy on a hotel website than it is to find out if they can accommodate babies and toddlers.

One word - Ikea.

Toilets accessible for children, good baby changing, accessible high chairs, plenty to occupy children, a good menu...I could go on....

If they could replicate that I would be there with bells on.

I hate it when kids meals are brought out on a boiling hot plate. "Watch out its hot" - yeah , my two year old is really going to take notice of that.

I like:
Jugs of water available
No ice in kids drinks
Kids cutlery - we LOVE Wagamamas kids chopsticks.
Kids meals that are not just something and chips (again , LOVE Wagamamas)

Oh yeah in addition to my son getting out of the hotel room , I realise I never have found truly preschooler friendly accommodation even in purpose built family resorts. Eg Centreparcs have under counter ovens and no stairs gates to enclose kitchen, one cottage we went to saying it was family friendly had loads of china knick knacks on low windows that we couldn't hide them all before the excited children got to them , plus no stair gates on internal stairs plus a massive thing of laundry powered in an open cupboard at floor height. Lalandia had great outdoor space but gardens not fenced in so kids could wander off on the roads at any time. I actually find finding suitable accommodation stressful. You can't just provide a high chair and a cot and say its family friendly. They are actually the least of our worries. One good thing we have found is doctors / nurses at resorts that you can see on the day. We have had many ear infections on holiday including a very stressful ambulance ride in Mallorca due to no painkillers to get fever down and a subsequent serious febrile convulsion.

Asking whether we want the kids food bringing out as soon as it is ready, or whether we want the meals to come out all together

My main bugbear is outside space.

If there's a play area, outside eating area or garden, it needs to be properly enclosed for me to feel comfortable. And by properly enclosed I mean with a self closing gate and chicken wire or mesh in the bottom 2/3ft of a standard post and rail fence. Not open to the car park, or the road, or into the restaurant straight past the kitchen, or with a gate that keeps being left open by other parents.

I haven't actually found one single restaurant or pub which has managed this, despite advertising themselves as family friendly.

Oh, and I LOVE the fact that Zizzi not only do an under and over 5's kids menu, but also offer a small plate of pasta for about £2 for weaned babies - who really don't need three courses.

Another Carluccio's fan here although I think it's always the staff who add the things that make me return somewhere. Taking little kids out to eat can be a faff so anyone who eases that gets my thanks.

e.g.

A Slug & Lettuce waiter who remembered us from a visit 2 months previously and brought the things I'd forgotten to ask for as he knew I wanted them last time, namely 2 cold bowls, straws, a few extra napkins. I tipped well and also told the manager what a great employee he had.

DS2 used to evacuate a week's worth of bowel movement in one go When he did this in Carluccio's the lovely, lovely waitress stayed with my 2 yr old for 10 mins while I sorted the baby's poonami (in the loo, obvs). I knew her from previous visits. She chatted with him about his food until I came back. We went when it was quiet but still, what an amazingly kind touch.

Bringing kids' food quickly but not just one kid's - both or nothing!
Breadsticks or something to nibble.
Letting me order straight away.
Being nice to my kids.
A pack with colours, stickers, something to make.

I love:
Kids menus that have two "tiers" for under-5s and over-5s (or similar), so the portion sizes are different

Waiting staff being nice to kids makes a HUGE difference, and they have the biggest impact on the dining experience. other little things they do in ASK Italian, for example, is bring vegetable crudites as soon as you sit down with a little one, ask if you want the kid's main brought out with the adults' starters, and bringing the bill quick so we're not all sat waiting impatiently with the LO not understanding why we can't go!

Family areas - so you're not worrying about disturbing other diners/guests without kids, who are entitled to a meal in peace!

Working in the hospitality industry is hard work and badly paid, but it does give you a good work ethic, and it also makes the rest of your working life seem like a breeze in comparison!

Bella Italia are fab for this. Kids menu's in 3 sizes, beige n chips or a smaller pasta or pizza dish off the main menu, colouring sheets and a fancy crayon and their drink in a little bottle with a curly straw they can take home. We all really enjoy going there.

I would like larger toilet cubicles and paper towels as well then it would be perfect.

Colouring sheets and high chairs that are easy to wipe down.

I'd love it if there was at least something DS could order off the menu as he has some food allergies and it makes him so happy to order something instead of me handing him a lunchbox with his food in it.

Some places are great (Harvester and a couple of local cafes are our go-to places) but some still seem to think that allergies are either a non-issue lifestyle choice, or so unusual that you'd think our DS was the first child with an allergy. We had a lady in M&S once tell us that even though there was nothing he could order from their menu, he wasn't allowed to eat some pitta and hummus that we had bought in their food hall 5 minutes earlier!

Benches at regular intervals! We went to Oban last year, having been there 2 years previously. They seemed to have removed all the benches from the seafront! Elderly and disabled people, who are still part of the family need to sit down when they are tired! I really don't care about initiatives to discourage homeless sleepers!

Yy to larger toilet cubicles.

If you have a kids activity week eg over half term, and families have already paid a lot in entrance fees, make all the activities free.

We were in Cornwall last week at the Eden Project and the lost gardens of Heligon and they were both really good for this.

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. I'll build in as many of your suggestions as I possibly can.

Thanks again