Vacationing with children
Essential guide table of contents
Gay Parents are aware that hotel vacationing with a family, is not only extremely expensive but at times, can be both stressful and occasionally fraught with drama.
Hotels don’t really welcome children with open arms. Almost certainly the guests in the room next to yours, won’t either. Children love adventure and fun but they do not love being cooped up with you in a hotel room all day long, especially when it’s raining.
By exchanging homes with other gay parents and exposing your child to new cultures, you will be allowing your child memorable and enriching experiences. You may even discover their inherent aptitude for learning a new language.
Home and Hospitality Exchanging
By swapping or sharing homes with other gay families you will:
- Enjoy a gay friendly space.
- Enjoy a child friendly space.
- Save money
- Travel light
- Make new friends – others just like you.
- Expose your child to new experiences and cultures.
- Allow yourself and your family memorable and enriching experiences.
How do you go about finding the perfect match?
Look through the listings and select other gay parents who live in places you would like to visit. Write to them, telling them all about your home and family. Maybe your potential exchanger is doing exactly the same thing! Your letters may even cross in the mail!
Some practical questions to ask
- How old is your child? Obviously the closer to your own child’s age, the better.
- Can my child play with your children’s toys?
- Do you have equipment suitable for my child’s age – highchair, playpen, whatever?
- Are there any local playgroups my child can join?
- Is your baby sitter available?
- Are there any lesbian/gay friendly activities during the time you’ll be there?
Preparation
Parents with children will already have their own home adequately equipped to care for their own children’s needs. However, when preparing your home to receive other people’s children, make sure of the following:
- Provide ample closet space for clothes, toys, games etc.
- Put away all breakable items. Your own child may well know the areas that are out-of-bounds but your guest’s child won’t. Don’t make it easy for accidents to happen.
- Discuss your mutual needs. Will your guest require a crib, car seat or high chair?
- What videos do you have available to keep him/her occupied?
What does the gay parent gain?
By hospitality exchanging or swapping homes, the needs of your own children will almost certainly be better catered for, ultimately meaning that your own holiday will be stress-free.
With luck, your exchange partner will have an existing and accepting social network into which you will almost certainly feel welcome. You will make new friends and contacts easily and you won’t have to pay the earth for unsatisfactory hotel accommodation.
And…
With all the comforts of home, your own vacation should run more smoothly as everyone in your family gets the relaxing vacation they deserve!