Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it means when a hotel says it is family friendly. Of course, most lodging options will attach this moniker to their website simply because, with 1/3 of travelers falling in the family category, it’s just good PR. But, what is “family friendly” really? I’ve had a feeling for a long time that it was something more than just providing an awesome pool and the smores at sunset schtick that seems to be popular right now. While spending the weekend at La Torretta Lake Resort and Spa in Montgomery, TX (near Houston), my suspicions were confirmed, as I discovered that family friendly is way more than just great amenities.
Of course, great amenities are always a part of a great family experience, and La Torretta had some great amenities. Let me tell you about a few of my favorites that really set the stage for a great family experience.
The Rooms
Every room at La Torretta is a suite of at least 600 square feet. The rooms have a luxurious, contemporary feel with plenty of space for a family to spread out. I would have loved to have had a mini refrigerator and microwave, but I loved all the space for the kids (and the privacy for the grownups). Best of all, this was the quietest hotel I have ever stayed in, hands down. At the end of the day, I really appreciated not hearing doors banging and the elevator whirring outside my room.
The Pools and Waterpark
The water features at La Torretta offer just about everything that a kid could ask for-a splash park, a lazy river, two high thrill slides, a pool, and a baby splash pad. For parents of babies and toddlers, the splash pad is fenced to give you an extra measure of safety while allowing little ones to play.
For a family like mine with a wide age range, I appreciated the relative closeness of the splash park to the lazy river and “big kid” slides. I felt very comfortable letting my kids have the run of the place while being able to keep an eye on them from anywhere in the park.
My favorite part of the water features at La Toretta was the ‘Adults Only’ pool. With an adults only pool available, I feel liberated to let my kids splash and play as much as they want in the pool, knowing that anyone that is annoyed by that behavior can move along to a splash free zone. As a super bonus, the ‘Adults Only’ pool was located just above, but within sight and shouting distance of the kids pool, so any adults annoyed by their own kids could retreat to calmer waters while still keeping an eye on older kids down below.
The Activities and Extras
It was obvious from the moment we checked in that kids were a valued La Torretta guests. Ice Cream coupons were given to each kid at check-in and fresh cookies were offered daily in the lobby. The kids certainly loved the treats, and I have to admit that I loved the cookies a little too much. There was a long list of activities available for the kids that included Dive In Movies (movies by the pool) and Smores in the evening. Since we were visiting midweek, there wasn’t as much emphasis on these activities, with the Smores being cooked in a toaster oven rather than over a fire and the movie running a half hour later than scheduled. I would have loved to have seen these activities removed from the schedule, rather than have them done with half hearted effort. With that said, I learned that the hotel had just hired a new activities director who was getting up to speed and likely these little hiccups will be taken care of in the near future.
Other activities for kids included a well stocked Kids Club and a fun miniature golf course. While the Adventure Club was only open for drop off in the evenings, I appreciate that the center was open throughout the day and allowed families to drop in and use the games, toys and amenities.
The Family Friendly Difference
La Torretta offered all the right options for families, but where they really earned the family friendly label is not in what they offered to families, but how they treated families. Our two days at La Torretta were filled with toddler induced catastrophes, and with every tragedy, the hotel staff rose to the challenge. When my three year old lost his beloved “night-night” housekeeping searched diligently to find it and then delivered it to our door with such excitement, knowing that it would make a little boy happy. When my three year old locked himself in the hotel bathroom, the maintenance men arrived with every tool in their arsenal and such determination that it was as if their own child was crying behind the door. When my three year old fell off the stool in the coffee shop, flinging his full drink across every square inch of the room, the sweet barista quickly offered him another drink and a cookie to help with the tears. At no time did any of these employees act as if they were bothered or inconvenienced or troubled by the presence of children and the problems they create wherever they go. Really, in any of these circumstances, it would have been logical for someone to be annoyed, but instead they were gracious and loving and (family) friendly.
After all that, it crossed my mind that maybe the takeaway should be that three year olds and hotels don’t mix, but for a traveling family, that isn’t feasible. Instead, I have learned if you are going to travel with a three year old, or any other young person, be sure to choose a hotel that not only offers amenities to keep them happy, but has a spirit that welcomes you with open arms.
~La Torretta Lake Resort offered my family complimentary accomodations during our stay. They did not require that I express a particular viewpoint and all opinions are my own. ~
Wow! That water park looks so fun. It seems like you all had the best time!