14 Important Resort Amenities For Family Travel

By
Christina Minch
– September 19, 2011Posted in: Travel

Must-Have Resort Amenities for Travelling Families.

Travelling with kids is tough business. While childlike wonder at new sights and sounds is wonderful to witness, young children can also be extremely difficult to travelling companions. Their patience is minimal. When they are hungry, they expect food to magically appear, pronto. When they are thirsty, parents will need to immediately procure juice, milk or water; otherwise, they may be subjected to lengthy periods of whininess. When they need to go to the bathroom, it is almost inevitably an emergency. Older kids are easier in some ways, but often come with their own special set of issues. By the time you reach your destination, parents are an exhausted mess. Some of the most successful resorts and owners of rental vacation homes understand these difficulties and have found creative ways to meet the needs of such weary travelling families. By tailoring your resort’s amenities to the help meet the needs of parents and kids alike, you can help attract travelers back year after year. If you are looking to operate a lovely, memorable retreat in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and Minnesota, consider offering a few of these perks to help keep kids and adults happy during their vacationing experience.

1. Pool. Pools are wonderful amenities for travelling families. The kids will be delighted they get to relax and play in the water. Parents of older kids can relax poolside with a good book while their children swim. While younger non-swimmers will obviously require a different level of supervision in the water, they can also be a lot of fun to splash around with after a long car drive or airplane flight. Resort owners in the cooler climate of the Minnesotan or Wisconsin Northwoods may want to consider installing a heated pool facility or an indoor pool to provide a longer swimming season for out-of-town visitors in the cooler months of fall, winter and spring.

2. Complimentary Breakfast. Breakfast is a wonderful perk to offer families visiting your resort or vacation property. A breakfast buffet doesn’t need to be an elaborate affair to satisfy the needs of hungry families. Simple, continental fair with an array of cereals, fruit, yogurt and bagels will allow families to get a good start to their day’s adventures without spending a lot of extra money. Families will really appreciate having breakfast; resort operators are able to provide this service at a low additional cost. It’s a win-win for everyone. While owners of smaller vacation rental cabins may not be able to easily provide this service to guests, they can anticipate the needs of their visitors by stocking the kitchen with a small bit of fruit and cereal bars instead.

3. Pre-order Grocery Service. Owners of resorts with cooking facilities for their guests can offer a service to guests to pre-stock their refrigerator with items requested on a grocery list a day or two before the guests’ arrival on the property. Resort owners who offer this service can reasonably charge an additional fee; however, many vacationing families will be delighted to pay for this service to avoid the hassle of finding a grocery store and stocking up on supplies as soon as they arrive.

4. Coin Operated Laundry Facilities. There is nothing more annoying than being on the road for days, looking in your suitcase and realizing you don’t have any more clean socks. Many high-end resorts offer laundry service where dirty laundry is picked up from guest rooms in the morning and returned cleaned and folded at the end of the day for a sizable charge. While this service is certainly luxurious, many families would rather be able to throw a load of underwear and socks in themselves for a couple of bucks while they take a dip in the onsite pool.

5. Room Service, so parents can get out. Older kids will love the independence of being able to order food to be delivered to their room or cabin while they enjoy a movie or some TV in the evenings. Parents will enjoy the opportunity to get out and enjoy the rare opportunity for romantic dinner without the kids.

6. List of Local Eateries/Restaurants. When unfamiliar with an area, travelers can often struggle to find a good spot to eat. Maintaining an up-to-date list of recommended eateries and dining establishments can be tremendously helpful for families. Highlighting local restaurants and the type of fare they serve along with the relative costs will help families make the perfect choice for their lunches and dinners. If your resort or vacation cabin rental facility does not offer any type of room service, providing a list of restaurants willing to deliver is another great way to help serve the needs of travelling families.

7. List of Recommended Local Attractions. Some families carefully plan out their vacation agendas before they leave home. Others play it by ear, taking each day as it comes. For the latter, maintaining a list of recommended area attractions including museums, parks, historical sites and the like will provide travelers with ideas about how to best spend their days. In the Northwoods, providing information about area lakes including updated boating, fishing and hunting restrictions is a great way to serve the needs of your guests interested in such activities.

8. Coupons for Local Businesses. Resorts owners and vacation cabin rental owners can help their guests receive the best possible deals by collaborating with other local businesses to provide coupons and other discounts for goods and services. The guests will be able to purchase souvenirs, admissions to attractions and food at reduced prices. Local businesses can increase their visitor traffic. Property owners should give careful consideration to what type of businesses they will collaborate with in this manner. While providing great coupons to local establishments can be a great way for independent businesses to support one another, collaborating with a less than stellar businesses and restaurants may leave a bad taste in the mouths of resort guests.

9. Mini-Fridge/Access to a Microwave. Eating out is expensive. Being able to bring leftovers home from restaurants or picking up quick-prep food from a local grocery can be a great occasional alternative to an expensive meal out for travelling families. Having some type of kitchen facilities can help families prepare a quick meal or a late-night snack.

10. Cocktails. After a long day sight-seeing, parents will truly appreciate the opportunity to relax with a beer or a glass of wine before dinner. Kids and non-drinkers can sit and enjoy sipping a fruity soda or other non-alcoholic drink. Having a cocktail hour for guests can also be a great way for people to meet other visitors from different areas of the country or world. It is also a great way for resort owners to have the opportunity to meet their guests and spend some time getting to know their patrons. Spending some time getting to know your guests will personalize their experience, increasing the likelihood of them having positive memories of their time staying at your establishment.

11. Separate Eating Area Outside of Room. Having an area off of the lobby or a separate building at an RV resort or campground where guests can eat is another great way to allow folks to get out of their rooms and meet new people. Such an area also decreases the likelihood that guests will make difficult to clean up messes in their rooms or private resort area; a good thing for both resort owners and guests alike.

12. Day Camp Activities for Older Kids. Having opportunities for older kids to spend the day away from their parents is a great way to foster their independence and allow adults some time to explore area shops, museums and spas without worrying about their children for the day. Activities organized around water sports, fishing and outdoor games are great ways to entertain children in the beauty of the Northwoods. Educational hikes will allow kids to learn about the area’s fauna and wildlife. They might even learn something!

13. Games and Other Family Activities. Resort and campground owners should consider provide an array of games for families to play. Board games, shuffleboard, arcade games, billiards (pool), basketball and the like are great ways to encourage family togetherness and provide enjoyable ways for guests to relax in the evenings.

14. Boat rentals, fishing poles and other outdoor equipment for use or rental. Having an array of outdoor equipment for the use or rental by guests is a great way to anticipate the needs of your visitors. Guests will be relieved of the necessity of bringing their own gear to their visit to the Northwoods. Equipment rentals might include pontoon boats, motor boats, canoes, fishing poles, fish cleaning stations, water skis, ATV’s, snow-mobiles, cross country skis and the like. Easy access to hiking trails is also great for guests looking for an opportunity to explore the beautiful scenery of this extraordinary area.

While these amenities are a great way to meet the needs of travelling families, there are some practicalities to consider. It is important to keep in mind that there may be additional insurance necessary to protect yourself as a resort owner if some of these perks are offered to your guests. Be sure to check with your insurance agent, legal advisor and financial advisor before offering services such as day camp activities, swimming, ATV’s, snow-mobile, boating and the like to ensure that you are adequately protected from liability.

The experience of visiting a resort or campground should be relaxing and enjoyable for the whole family. Good resort operators know a resort is so much more than just a place to stay; it is a complete package. Offering great amenities for families will help increase the chances of having families back year after year to your establishment. It will also help increase the likelihood that visitors will provide invaluable word-of-mouth advertising to their friends and family looking for the perfect venue for relaxation in the Northwoods of Minnesota and Wisconsin.


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About Christina Minch

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Christina Minch is a graduate of the University of Dayton and the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. While she enjoys working as an advocate, her true passions are writing and spending time with her two children and her wonderful husband of ten years. In her spare time, Christina especially enjoys hiking, reading, gardening, cooking and, of course, traveling with her family. She currently resides in southwest Ohio.