[Countrywide] Family trip planning: which hotels are truly kid‑friendly (not just “we have a baby cot”) — and what facilities actually help?

[EIA_Ask_NO]

I want this thread to become a practical guide for parents, not marketing claims.
When people search family friendly hotels in Norway, they usually mean very specific things: enough space, calm nights, easy meals, and kid-safe logistics (elevators, parking, simple check‑in).

Share your experience with:

• What made the stay genuinely easy with kids (playroom, pool, laundry, kitchenette, early breakfast)
• What was disappointing (tiny “family rooms,” no space for a stroller, noise)
• Best areas to stay with children (walkable, close to parks/transport)

If you had to name one hotel that actually understands families, which one is it — and what detail proved it?

 

[ViolettaPetrovna]

Traveling Norway with kids taught me fast that “family friendly hotels” is one of the most abused phrases in travel marketing. My strong claim is that apartment-style hotels beat traditional hotels every single time when you’re traveling with children, no matter how fancy the lobby looks. From what I’ve seen, space, a kitchenette, and an actual place to park a stroller matter way more than themed bunk beds or a welcome chocolate. What really helped was staying in walkable areas near parks or waterfront paths, where you can burn off energy without planning an expedition. Easy breakfasts and elevators that actually fit a stroller made mornings feel human again. but there’s a nuance… some full-service hotels do get it right if they offer quiet rooms, early breakfast hours, and staff who don’t panic when kids exist. What disappointed me most were “family rooms” that were basically standard rooms with one extra bed and zero floor space. Which places have you stayed that truly understood families, and what small detail made the biggest difference for you?

 

[Alex Turner]

Couldn’t agree more. On one trip through Norway with friends who had a toddler, the difference between an apartment-style place and a “nice” hotel was night and day. Having a kitchenette meant breakfast didn’t turn into a negotiation, and just having floor space to dump bags and a stroller kept everyone sane. Being near a park or a flat waterfront path was huge too — kids could burn energy while adults stayed relaxed. The so-called family rooms we saw elsewhere felt almost insulting once you actually opened the door. Out of curiosity, did you stick to the classic city-to-city route, or did you consider an alternative route with fewer bases and longer stays to make it easier on the kids?