Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. – Helen Keller
Have kids. Will travel.
My husband and I began our marriage traveling. We honeymooned in Tahiti, backpacked Europe, and cruised the Mexican Riviera. Collectively, we’ve visited more than 15 countries.
Before having children, my husband and I decided that we would continue to travel. Some of our most memorable moments together occurred while traveling, and we hope to create unique, meaningful memories that our children will cherish for the rest of their lives.
So why don’t families with small children travel more often? When you factor in the cost and time that must be dedicated to a vacation, and add the inherent challenges of traveling with small children, many families would rather stay close to home.
Last month, I spent five nights in a spacious vacation home, courtesy of Global Resort Homes. In true Spring Break style, myself and 19 other bloggers were divided amongst three, six-bedroom luxury homes for a vacation unlike any other.
Even before entering our assigned home, I was impressed with how modern, clean, and spacious our home was. I could see our extended families joining us for a longer vacation in the future, without ever encroaching on each other’s space.
Each home includes at least 2 bathrooms (most have 3 or more), themed and decorated bedrooms, comfortable common/living areas with TVs, a laundry room with washer/dryer, and full-sized kitchens complete with appliances, dishes, flatware, and more.
Additionally, families looking to spend some time in the vacation home can relax in their private pool/spa, spend quality time in the game room, or venture out into the resort for a variety of recreational activities.
My husband and I have one too many funny, embarrassing, and/or stressful travel stories involving our children. Anything we can do to ease a bit of that makes for a much more enjoyable vacation. For us, vacationing in a resort home versus a hotel offers these value benefits:
1. Travel lighter. Something as simple as a washer and dryer means we can pack half as many clothes for our kids, freeing us up to focus on what really matters…our children. Additionally, Global Resort Homes partners with No Hassle Vacations to offer rentals on everything from strollers and car seats to cribs and toddler beds.
2. Travel smarter. Because Global Resort Homes partners with Kissimmee Guest Services, guests can purchases tickets for local attractions and feel confident that they’re getting the best prices.
3. Travel longer. Global Resort Homes is located just a few minutes from the entrance of Walt Disney World. Since many families visit Orlando for the sole purpose of a Disney vacation, staying in a vacation home affords families the option of staying longer because their money often goes farther. For example, our family of four would likely only require a 2 bedroom condo. To stay in the Windsor Hills Resort, that would cost us $122/night. Combine that with the amount of money saved eating some meals in, and a one week vacation in Orlando becomes more realistic for us.
Vacationing with small children is difficult, but definitely not impossible. Over the years, we’ve always looked for accommodations that offer extra amenities and space. Vacationing in a resort home offers the benefits of convenience, luxury, space, and value. Here are some tips I suggest for families looking to vacation with Global Resort Homes.
Plan to vacation for at least a week. Small children require frequent breaks to rest, eat/snack, and just be kids. If you don’t allow enough time, you’ll feel rushed and pressured to do too much in one day, resulting in fatigue, moodiness, and stress.
Plan to eat some meals in. Vacationing in a resort home means you’ll have a fridge, oven, microwave, dishwasher, and more. Head over to the closest grocery store early in your vacation to stock up on food, particularly breakfast items and snacks. Knowing my children will have something to eat for breakfast eases the stress and rush of the morning.
Plan for some recreation and downtime. The proximity to the park makes it convenient for families with small children to leave, allow their children time to rest, and then head back into the parks if desired. Also take note of each resort’s community amenities including a playground, fitness center, tennis courts, movie theater, video arcade, and more.
For more information about Global Resort Homes, just visit their website. And be sure to check out their Facebook page for additional savings and offerings.
No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to stay at the resort home as part of the #DisneyGlobalEvent
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
Love this post! Great information!!
Aw….thanks Tara…and thank you for an incredible stay!
Global Resort Homes is so affordable for families! It was so nice to have the extra space rather than just a typical hotel room.
That home is amaaaaazing! And I’m jealous that you’ve been to 15 countries!
I’m envisioning scenes from the Real World (is that even still on??) with all the bloggers staying in one house. What a fun time!
I loved staying at Global Resort Homes and never want to stay at a hotel again.
Glad we got to be housemates again. Hopefully more ventures will come soon. 🙂
What a neat opportunity to try GRH out. I’ve never considered using them, but will definitely check them out for my family. Thanks!
I love this idea!!!!! I am soooo getting in on this! Thanks for the info!
I see myself there with a pomegranate martini and William Levy (don’t tell Henry)
I love VRBOs, I really do. Vacation-homes-by-owner, HomeAway, AirBnB, they’re all so good for traveling families especially. Glad to learn about this one. Are all the homes so looks-the-same chock-a-block suburban subdivision-looking though? I am genuinely curious, thanks.
It’s like a home away from home. This would have definitely made traveling more alluring when my boys were younger.