Florida is teeming with great accommodation options, many of which have rooms and amenities that cater to visitors with children in tow. Here’s our short guide to finding a family-friendly hotel in the Sunshine State.
Photo: Brett Sayles / Pexels
Planning a vacation sounds simple. You pick a place, pack the bags, and off you go. Right? Not quite—especially not with kids in tow.
Any parent who’s traveled with children knows the hotel you choose makes or breaks the trip.
It’s not just about where you sleep. It’s where meltdowns either happen or don’t. Where mornings start calmly or spiral before breakfast. It’s the difference between needing a vacation from your vacation—or actually enjoying it.
Comfort Over Chaos
Maybe you’ve been there. A “family-sized” room that turns out to be one bed, one chair, and no floor space. Toys everywhere by day two. No fridge. No quiet. And bedtime? A full-blown negotiation.
It happens. A lot. Hotels look great online. Then you show up and find out they don’t even have a high chair, let alone kid-friendly anything.
But it doesn’t have to go that way. The right hotel can make everything easier. A good one doesn’t just give you a place to crash—it helps you recharge, reset, and actually enjoy time together.
And yes, you can find those places without going broke or spending hours digging through reviews.
Use Smart Search Tools From the Start
Start your search online—but don’t just use any site. Some booking platforms are built for business travelers or couples. They won’t show you what matters when you’re traveling with kids. You need a tool that filters for family-first features right from the jump.
That’s why using a reliable hotel site can help you filter for family-oriented amenities, compare options in real time, and find value-packed resort deals tailored to your needs.
Look for sites that highlight family vacation packages, resorts with built-in perks, or options that let you sort by “kid-friendly,” “family suites,” or “on-site dining.” The extra few clicks save you time later. You won’t waste energy digging through hotels that don’t even offer the basics.
And don’t skip the photos. Not the glossy ones—the real ones. Look at the pool. Check the size of the beds. Read the reviews written by other families. That’s where you’ll find the truth.
Westgate Resorts offers several family friendly resorts in Florida. For example, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, a vibrant resort located 5 miles from Walt Disney World Resort; Westgate Palace Resort, home to a heated outdoor pool, a gym, a steam room, sports courts and a game room; and Westgate Towers Resort, a classic condo complex offering kitchenettes, flat-screens and whirlpool tubs. For the full offer and the latest deals, please check their hotel site .
Space Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Lifesaver
Traveling with kids in a tiny room? That’s a recipe for noise, fights, and zero personal space. Everyone’s on edge by the second night. Someone’s always stepping on someone else’s stuff. There’s nowhere to unwind.
What you need is room to breathe. Hotels that offer suites or connecting rooms make a huge difference. Parents get their own space. Kids get a little freedom. The result? Less tension, more comfort.
Look for extras that make life easier: pull-out couches, bunk beds, even multiple bathrooms if you’re lucky. And if there’s a fridge? Jackpot. You can store snacks, drinks, and leftovers. Heat up a bottle. Keep juice cold. It doesn’t sound like much, but it matters when the kids are hungry and you’re tired.
A kitchenette isn’t overkill—it’s practical. Especially if someone in the family has food sensitivities, or you’re staying more than a couple of days.
Entertainment Shouldn’t Be a Full-Time Job
When kids are entertained, everything runs smoother. You get breaks. They burn energy. And you don’t have to keep inventing ways to pass the time.
That’s why hotels with built-in activities are worth their weight in gold. Think splash pads, water slides, game rooms, scavenger hunts, or movie nights. These aren’t just perks—they’re sanity savers.
In Florida especially, with the heat and humidity, a great pool or shaded play area can make all the difference. A midday swim or a quick break in the kids’ club can reset the whole family before you head back out to theme parks, beaches, or nature trails.
Some places even offer supervised kids’ clubs. You get a few hours to relax. They get fun structured play. Everyone wins.
Even in-room options matter. Does the TV have kid-friendly channels? Are there cartoons available on demand? Small things—but they go a long way during that post-pool wind-down or rainy afternoon.
Food That Works for Real Families
Dining out with kids gets expensive fast. It also gets chaotic, especially when everyone’s starving at once and the nearest option is a 20-minute drive.
That’s why food options matter. A hotel that offers free breakfast? That’s one less decision every day. A restaurant with a kid’s menu? Even better. Somewhere casual you can walk to in flip-flops? Perfect.
Buffets or food courts work great if you’ve got picky eaters. Everyone grabs what they want. No drama. No waiting for table service while the toddler melts down.
And again, if you’ve got that kitchenette, you don’t need to rely on restaurants all the time. You can make a sandwich, heat leftovers, or fix something quick after a long day.
Where You Stay Changes Everything
Location isn’t just about proximity. It’s about what it saves you. Time, gas, patience.
Being close to the places you plan to visit—beaches, parks, museums—means less time in the car. Less yelling in traffic. Less “Are we there yet?”
In Florida, that could mean staying near Orlando’s theme parks to cut down on shuttle rides, or choosing a Gulf Coast resort where you can walk straight to the beach instead of piling into the car every day.
If you’re in a busy area, look for hotels that offer shuttle service. You won’t have to mess with parking fees or downtown traffic. Just hop on, hop off, enjoy the day.
Bonus points for walkability. If you can stroll to a playground, an ice cream shop, or even a waterfront boardwalk? That gives you options when plans change or energy dips.
Safety Isn’t Optional
You can’t relax if you don’t feel safe. Clean rooms. Well-lit hallways. Front desks that actually answer the phone. These things matter.
Check the reviews. Not just for how the lobby looks, but for how the staff handles problems. Is the pool kept clean? Do people mention good security? That’s what tells you the hotel takes your family seriously.
And for smaller kids, pay attention to the safety details. Are balconies secure? Do they offer cribs or baby gates? Can you get a high chair without begging?
Hotels that think of these things up front are usually the ones that do everything else right too.
Clean Rooms, Clear Minds
Nobody wants to stay in a room that feels like the last family just left it. Cleanliness is more than a preference—it’s a peace-of-mind issue.
Since the pandemic, a lot of hotels stepped up their game. But not all of them stuck with it. Read up on current cleaning policies. Look for signs that they’re still following through.
Your kids are going to crawl on those floors. Touch everything. That’s just what kids do. You want to know it’s safe.
Pick What Actually Fits Your Family
You don’t need a five-star resort. You don’t need themed bedding or a fountain in the lobby. You need a place that works for your family—not someone else’s.
That might be a mid-range suite with a kitchenette. It might be a big chain with a pool and pancake breakfast. In Florida, it might be a beachfront spot with sandcastle-ready shores or a resort with quick access to Disney, Universal, or the Keys.
It doesn’t have to be flashy. It just has to fit.
When a hotel gets the basics right—space, food, safety, entertainment—it stops being a stressor. It becomes part of the vacation itself. A good base. A place to come back to and feel okay.