Nighttime is sometimes the hardest part of the travel day. Children are tired of being cooped up in the car and are cranky. Adults are tired of being cooped up in the car, and are trying not to be cranky. Sometimes it’s really hard to get everyone settled down.
If the hotel has a pool, use it – even though it’s a hassle to get everyone changed. Something about the water makes everyone more relaxed, and it makes the kids sleep better. Ditto for a playground or play area.
Packing just one overnight bag with everyone’s stuff makes getting in and out of the hotel easier. Besides clothes for the next day, pajamas, bathing suits, and cosmetics, pack some things to make the hotel stay more fun and easier on the parents. To make the hotel room homier, I always bring packets of hot chocolate for the kids, and Sleepy Time Tea for me. For younger children, consider bringing a bath toy or two, and maybe some bubble bath. Plastic cups make great bath toys if you forget your own! But again, being in the water will help relax restless children. After the bath, soothing lotion with lavender is really nice.
If you have room for the children’s pillows, bring them. They will feel much cozier with something of their own. If you are bringing stuffed animals put a mailing label on them in case they get lost. If you are traveling with a cell phone, you can put that number on the animal too. A few years ago, a very special stuffed friend of ours got lost in the Denver airport. They were kind enough not only to call, but to express mail it to us!
I always try to keep the kids on the quiet side inside the hotel. If they’ve been in the car all day, they are tired of things like coloring books. Card games are good, because it’s hard to play cards in the car. Picture books they can look at while you read can be very soothing. And most kids will enjoy exploring the hotel and the hotel room.
Also consider things like the Anytime Anywhere Game, and Dice Creatures. Both of those are quiet games that can be played just about anywhere. If you have a laptop, you can bring a favorite movie on DVD. I really wish we’d had that available when my boys were small! You can also bring a lullaby tape or CD like Return to Pooh Corner to soothe everyone.