Skipping the guest room for a hotel stay
Holiday travel tips to keep calm and kind on your journey
Holiday travel can be stressful but kindness and preparation make it easier for everyone.
- A recent report found 61% of Americans prefer staying in a hotel over a relative’s home for holiday travel.
- Travelers cite a need for privacy and personal space as a primary reason for booking a hotel.
- Some families find that having their own space at a hotel leads to a more restful and enjoyable holiday season.
Home may be where the heart is, but not the suitcase. That’s because some travelers visiting family for the holidays are opting for their own hotel room rather than mom’s place.
New York-based Eric Katzman used to stay with his friends and family when he and his wife had only one child, but now that his kids are about to turn 13 and 10, he realized his family needs more space and privacy.
For either Thanksgiving or Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, his family heads down to a small coastal town in Florida to visit his in-laws, but now they book a nearby hotel for more room and privacy.
“When they were little, it was a little easier,” he told USA TODAY. “As the kids got older, they need more space.”
According to HotelTonight’s first-ever holiday trend report, 61% of Americans would rather shack up in a nearby hotel instead of at the homes of friends or family during their holiday trips.
It can seem harsh at first, given the mainstream notion that the holidays should be spent with loved ones. However, that bit of privacy goes a long way for holiday travelers and can help avoid the dreaded family tensions that often surface during this time of year, the report found.
“With the joy of the holiday season comes the hustle of packing, crowded airports, and limited time off, so it’s understandable that travelers may be seeking personal space to escape the chaos,” Ron Sandel, HotelTonight’s general manager, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Ultimately, some travelers have found that extra space for themselves leads to a happier, more restful holiday season with their families.
Here’s why some travelers are picking a hotel over staying with loved ones.
Seeking out more privacy
In the HotelTonight report, over half of travelers choosing a hotel room over their family’s house are seeking more privacy.
Katzman and his family used to stay at his in-laws’ house, their guest room leaves much to be desired.
“I didn’t think it was a real thing, I only saw it in movies and television shows, but they have a Murphy Bed,” he said. “If we do stay there, no matter the configuration, it’s about pulling out air mattresses, folding out the couch, moving coffee tables.”
About three years ago, he started booking a hotel room instead – and found it works better for his kids.
There are additional benefits to staying in a hotel during the holidays. “We also asked our users what hotel perks were an absolute must during their stay,” Sandel said. “We found that they appreciate the unmatched hotel experience – 57% just want their own bed, 41% want high-quality linens and sheets, and 36% enjoy the on-site restaurants and bars.”
Katzman agrees, adding that the pool gives the kids something to do and “you can’t beat” the continental breakfast included at his hotel for his family of four. “Having free breakfast is a huge help,” he said.
‘It feels counterintuitive’
Every Christmas, Chris Oberman, his wife, and their two-year-old son head back to the Netherlands, where they’re from, splitting time between their sets of parents. Only this year, for about half of the trip, the South Korea-based family will stay in a hotel near Oberman’s parents’ house rather than with them.
“After two trips of disrupted sleep and constantly making sure (our son) doesn’t throw breakable items – our parents’ houses aren’t exactly toddler-proofed anymore – we realized we needed our own space,” he told USA TODAY.
Previously, the couple would set up a camping bed for their son at their families’ houses and fold it away when he wasn’t using it. It was easier when his son was younger, Oberman added, but it’s trickier to handle his bursts of toddler energy in a full house. By the end of those trips, the couple has felt more drained than relaxed.
The hotel stay will run them about $620 extra, but Oberman said it’s worth the extra cost.
“It’s not an easy decision, it feels counterintuitive, but we’ve been able to enjoy our time with family more, we’ve had more energy ourselves, and it’s made the entire trip for our son a bit easier,” he said.
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