Quick answer Ask for a free crib that’s already assembled before you arrive, not just “available on request.” Request a room near the lobby if you’ll be using a baby monitor once baby’s asleep, since standard hotel walls rarely let the signal through from a room further away. Check for blackout curtains, especially in destinations with late summer daylight, and confirm an en-suite bathroom if you’re traveling solo. If the crib turns out to be a hassle, co-sleeping safely is a completely valid backup, not a failure.

What I genuinely loved about hotels with Nay: the breakfast buffet. I’d feed her, then not have to think about my own breakfast, I just enjoyed it. That small detail matters more than it sounds when you’re managing everything solo, not having to prepare a meal first thing is a real relief for morale, not just convenience.

• An en-suite bathroom, non-negotiable if you’re traveling solo. You can’t leave a baby alone to use a shared bathroom down the hall. I once went a full day without showering because I couldn’t leave Nay and didn’t have anyone I trusted nearby, worth checking this specifically before you book.
• Whether the crib is free, and whether it’ll already be assembled. A crib you have to build yourself after a long travel day with an exhausted baby is a real hassle. If it isn’t set up in advance, factor that into whether you’ll actually use it.
• A room near the lobby if you’re relying on a baby monitor. Signal rarely carries from a standard room to the lobby or bar through hotel walls, ask for something low-floor or close to reception specifically for this reason.
• A quiet-side room, not facing the main street. A baby woken by street noise at 11pm after a rough day is avoidable, ask for courtyard-facing or a quiet wing.
• Blackout curtains, especially somewhere with late summer daylight. In Nordic countries in summer, it can stay light until 10pm. A room without proper blackout means baby struggling to settle, ask specifically or bring a portable blackout solution.
• A mini fridge or kettle in the room. Useful for storing milk or purees and warming bottles. Many rooms have one, confirm at booking, or ask if one can be brought up.
• A high chair at the restaurant if you plan to eat there with baby. Seems obvious, but it isn’t always the case, worth confirming rather than assuming.

Two extra habits worth adopting

• Confirm the crib request again the day before arrival, by phone if possible. Hotels typically have a limited stock, and requests get lost between booking and check-in more often than you’d expect.
• Sanitize crib rails, remote controls, and light switches when you arrive, these get far less attention in standard room cleaning than surfaces guests actually notice.

Done safely, it’s a legitimate choice, not a last resort: a firm mattress, no heavy duvet near baby, no alcohol or medication that affects your alertness. We both sleep better this way, and while traveling, that’s often what actually matters most.

The real limitation

Hotels are large and walls are thick. From a standard room, the signal often doesn’t reach the lobby or bar. My concrete fix: request a room near the lobby at booking, that’s the only reliable way to get a usable range. With that, I can get a drink at the bar, sit in the lobby, or just breathe, without being shut in the room. It sounds small, but for a solo parent in the evening, it makes a real difference.

• Ask the exact minimum age, some baby clubs start from 0 months, others from 8 or 10 months, and plenty labeled “kids club” don’t take babies at all
• Check the daily hours and whether it runs every day or only during peak season
• Ask what’s actually provided, cots for daytime naps, changing facilities, toys appropriate for a non-mobile baby versus a crawler
• Confirm whether it’s included or an extra cost, this varies a lot between resorts

Looking for specific resorts? See our guide to the best family resorts in Spain for babies and toddlers, it breaks down exactly which resorts have baby clubs starting from 0 or 10 months, versus the more common age-4-and-up kids clubs.

Looking for in-room babysitting rather than a baby club?

Many hotels, especially in the UK, offer babysitting through a partner agency rather than an on-site club, useful if you want a few hours out without a structured group setting for baby. This is different from a baby club: it’s usually one-on-one, in your room or a designated area, and booked directly through the hotel concierge with advance notice.

• Ask whether the sitter is hotel-employed or from an external agency, and whether they’re DBS-checked (the UK background check for anyone working with children)
• Book as early as possible, good sitters get reserved quickly during busy periods
• Confirm the cost upfront, it’s rarely included even at hotels that advertise “family-friendly” services

Before you book

• En-suite bathroom in the room
• Free crib, confirmed already assembled on arrival
• Room near the lobby for baby monitor range
• Quiet, non street-facing room
• Blackout curtains, especially in summer at northern latitudes
• Mini fridge or kettle in the room
• High chair at the restaurant if needed
• Breakfast included, a real advantage with a baby

To pack

• Portable baby monitor
• Portable speaker with white noise
• Baby’s usual sleep sack
• Comfort object
• Portable blackout curtain if traveling somewhere with late daylight
• Portable changing mat
• Portable bottle warmer or thermos
• Pre-measured formula or pouches
• Plenty of nappies

My verdict

“A hotel with a baby, done solo, is genuinely my favorite setup.”

Ask the right questions before you book, request the room near the lobby, and don’t fight a crib that needs assembling alone at 10pm after a long travel day. Sleep with baby if that’s simpler. And enjoy the breakfast buffet, it matters more than it sounds.