One of the questions I get asked a lot when people hear I’m planning a big trip is: “How do you choose where to stay?”

And honestly? I spend a lot of time thinking about that.

Because when you’re traveling with kids, your hotel isn’t just a place to sleep. It’s where you start your mornings, where you regroup after long sightseeing days, where you stash snacks and refill water bottles, and sometimes where you hide out for a quiet hour when everyone needs a reset.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the right hotel can make a trip feel easy, while the wrong one can make every day just a little bit harder.

What’s interesting, though, is that my “hotel checklist” actually looks very different depending on where we’re traveling. The things that make a great family hotel in the United States aren’t always the same things that matter most in Europe.

Here’s how I think about both—and how that led me to choose the three places we’ll be staying on our Summer 2026 trip to Europe, specifically for our stay in Italy.

How I Choose Hotels in the United States

When we travel around the U.S., I tend to lean toward convenience and family-friendly amenities. American hotels are often designed with families in mind, so I happily take advantage of the things that make travel smoother.

Here are the features I look for first:

Walkability to major attractions
If we can park the car and explore on foot, that’s a huge win. Being able to walk to museums, restaurants, parks, or historic sites makes the whole trip feel more relaxed. A lot of US cities aren’t designed for pedestrians, so if we must drive, I look for places with free parking, and easy access to those major attractions.

A pool (always a favorite)
Even after a full day of sightseeing, my kids somehow still have energy for swimming. A hotel pool is often the perfect end-of-day reset.

Free breakfast
Mornings are simply easier when breakfast is downstairs. It saves time, saves money, and avoids the inevitable “I’m hungry” five minutes after we leave the hotel.

Rooms with enough space for everyone
A standard US hotel room (outside of major cities like NYC) offers plenty of space for our family. Even so, if I can find a good deal on a suite to give us extra “lounge space” I book it!

When we’re traveling in the U.S., I’m usually happy choosing reliable hotels near the action with the amenities that make life easier for parents.

How I Choose Hotels in Europe

When we travel in Europe, my priorities shift quite a bit.

European hotels often don’t have the big amenities we’re used to in the U.S.—you won’t always find pools, giant breakfast buffets, or oversized rooms. But what they do offer is something different: character, charm, and a stronger sense of place.

So instead of focusing on amenities, I prioritize things that help us experience the destination more fully.

Walkability or metro access
Being able to easily reach the main sights—either on foot or by public transportation—is always at the top of my list.

Central, but not chaotic
I love being close to the major attractions, but I don’t necessarily want to stay in the busiest square in the city. A quieter nearby neighborhood lets us explore all day and still “turn off” at night. We use white noise machines to sleep, but I’ve learned that hustle and bustle outside doesn’t allow our family to get good rest.

Family-sized rooms
This is a big one. Many European hotels max out at three guests per room, so I specifically look for family rooms or guesthouses that comfortably accommodate four people.

Small hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses
Instead of large chains, I often look for smaller properties. They tend to feel more personal and help us experience a little bit of local life. A lot of those smaller hotel owners have given us some of the best advice about where to eat, or what to experience, that we don’t find with some of the larger hotels.

*These smaller properties must still offer air conditioning in the summer. I get it’s not a common thing in Europe, but another thing we’ve learned is the girls are too “Americanized” in that respect to go without.

A simple, local breakfast
Fresh pastries, good coffee, and a cozy breakfast room can be just as memorable as a big buffet. It gives us a simple way to start our mornings, and it is always delicious!

In Europe, I’m usually choosing hotels that feel more immersive and personal, even if they don’t have the long list of amenities we’re used to in the U.S.

The Hotels We Chose for Our Summer 2026 Italy Trip

When I started planning our Europe trip, I used all of those priorities to guide my research.

I wanted places that would make our days easy, give us comfortable space as a family, and help us experience each destination a little more like locals.

These three hotels ended up being the perfect fit.

Florence: B&B Firenze 400

Florence is one of those cities that feels like it was made for wandering. Around almost every corner there’s a beautiful piazza, a tiny café, or a gelato shop calling your name.

But Florence is also very busy, especially during the summer months.

When I started researching where we should stay, I knew I wanted something that gave us the best of both worlds:

• Close enough that we could walk into the historic center easily
• Far enough away that we could escape the crowds at the end of the day

That’s exactly what drew me to B&B Firenze 400.

It’s a smaller bed-and-breakfast style property in a quieter neighborhood just outside the main tourist core. The rooms are comfortable, there are family-friendly options that work for four people, and the overall feel is much more like staying in a neighborhood than staying in a big hotel.

And honestly, that’s something I really value when traveling with kids.

After a full day of museums, art classes, and sightseeing, we’ll be able to walk back through the neighborhood, maybe stop for pizza or pastries nearby, and slow the pace down for the evening.

As a mom, that “reset space” matters more to me than fancy amenities.

Realistically, I booked this B&B months ago for a great price, and when our plans shifted a bit and I needed to add another night, I was shocked at how much the price went up. One extra night was more expensive than the two nights I had already secured. So, my advice is to book these spaces early – as they are in-demand and very popular!

Ravenna: Hotel Astoria

Ravenna is one of those destinations that isn’t always on the typical tourist itinerary, but it’s actually full of incredible history and art—especially its world-famous Byzantine mosaics.

Because Ravenna is a smaller city, my hotel priorities here were pretty simple.

I wanted:

• A comfortable place for our family of four
• Easy walking distance to the historic sites
• A location that makes it easy to pop back to the room if we need a break

Hotel Astoria checked all of those boxes.

The location makes it easy to explore Ravenna on foot, which is exactly how I like to experience smaller European cities with kids. We can head out in the morning, visit a few mosaic-filled basilicas, grab lunch, wander the streets, and if anyone needs downtime, we’re never far from our room.

That flexibility makes such a difference when traveling with children.

And sometimes the best travel memories happen during those slower moments—grabbing gelato in the afternoon, sitting in a piazza, or letting the kids run around a bit after a morning of sightseeing.

Ravenna feels like the perfect place for that kind of day.

Rome: Tucci’s Guest House

Rome is incredible, but it’s also big, busy, and a little overwhelming if you don’t choose your location carefully.

When I started researching hotels here, I kept running into one common challenge: many rooms in Rome are designed for two or three guests, not four.

So finding a place that could comfortably accommodate our family was my first priority.

Tucci’s Guest House stood out right away.

Not only do they offer family-sized rooms that work for four people, but the location near the Colosseum also gives us a great balance:

• Easy access to major sights
• Close to public transportation
• A neighborhood that feels lively without being chaotic

I also love that it’s a small guesthouse instead of a large hotel. Smaller properties often feel more personal, and the hosts usually have the best recommendations—like where to find great coffee or which nearby restaurant is worth trying.

After long days exploring places like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Vatican City, I know we’ll be grateful to return to a comfortable space that feels calm and welcoming.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned traveling with kids, it’s this:

Even the most exciting cities are better when you have a cozy place to land at the end of the day.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, the “perfect” hotel looks a little different depending on where you’re traveling.

For our family, the priorities usually look like this:

In the United States

• Pools
• Free breakfast
• Larger rooms
• Walking distance to attractions

In Europe

• Walkable neighborhoods
• Easy metro access
• Family rooms for four
• Smaller B&B or guesthouse style
• Local charm over big amenities

Both approaches work beautifully—it’s just about matching the hotel to the destination and the kind of experience you want to have.

And honestly, finding those just-right places to stay is one of my favorite parts of planning our trips.

Because when the hotel fits your family well, everything else about the trip tends to fall into place too.

Ready to book your next adventure and want someone to put this much thought into every detail for your family? Let’s talk! 💛

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