Family-Friendly Features Guests Love: Win Over Summer Holidaymakers with Kids

Marketing tips

Family-Friendly Features Guests Love: Win Over Summer Holidaymakers with Kids

4 Jul 2025

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By Amanda Sanders

As peak travel season approaches, one guest profile takes centre stage: the family traveller. From toddlers to teens, parents booking summer holidays are looking for safe, convenient, and fun experiences that cater to everyone in their group. The good news? If you're a short-term rental host, a few simple adjustments can make your property more appealing to families - leading to more bookings, longer stays, and glowing 5-star reviews. At Travelnest, we help thousands of property owners prepare for peak season. When you work with us, you’ll also have access to your own dedicated property expert who can guide you on implementing the most impactful family-friendly features and optimising your listing to attract more bookings.

1. Prioritise child safety

Nothing matters more to travelling parents than peace of mind. If your property is safe and secure, it's far more likely to attract families.

Consider adding:

  • Stair gates (for multi-level properties)

  • Plug socket covers

  • Corner protectors for low furniture

  • Secure balcony locks or fencing for outdoor spaces

Travelnest Tip: Include “family-friendly” or “child-safe” in your listing description and tags. Many parents filter listings using these terms.

2. Stock up on family essentials

Families often travel with a lot of gear. By supplying a few practical items, you can reduce packing stress and earn bonus points from busy parents.

High-impact items include:

  • Travel cot and high chair

  • Plastic plates, bowls, and cutlery

  • Step stool for bathroom access

  • Changing mat or portable potty

Not sure which items make the biggest impact? Your Travelnest property expert can help you prioritise based on your property size and guest profile.

3. Add entertainment for all ages

Rain or shine, kids need something to do. Whether they’re winding down in the evening or taking a break from sightseeing, in-property entertainment can make or break a stay.

Easy wins:

  • Board games, puzzles, and books

  • Smart TV with kid-friendly streaming apps

  • Colouring books, Lego, or toy box

  • Wi-Fi strong enough for multiple devices

Bonus: If you offer a garden or patio, consider outdoor toys like a football, badminton set, or paddling pool for warmer months.

4. Highlight local family attractions

Families want more than just a place to sleep - they're looking for activities. Help them plan their trip with recommendations tailored to kids and parents alike.

Suggestions to include:

  • Local parks and playgrounds

  • Beaches with lifeguard coverage

  • Soft play centres or trampoline parks

  • Zoos, aquariums, or mini golf spots

  • Cafés with children’s menus or play areas

Travelnest Tip: Create a printed or digital local guidebook with a “Travelling with Kids” section and leave it out in plain sight.

5. Make check-in and checkout easy for parents

Travelling with children can be unpredictable. Offering flexibility makes a big difference.

Best practices:

  • Enable self-check-in

  • Allow early check-in or late checkout when possible

  • Send clear instructions ahead of time (ideally with pictures)

6. Photograph and promote your family features

It’s one thing to offer family-friendly amenities - it’s another to show them off. Make sure your listing images highlight child-friendly spaces and items.

Include photos of:

  • The high chair, cot, and games shelf

  • Outdoor play areas or fenced gardens

  • Kid-friendly dining setups

  • Cosy nooks for reading or quiet time

Need help deciding what to highlight? Your Travelnest expert can advise on which images convert best and how to position them across platforms.

How Travelnest helps you attract family bookings

At Travelnest, we support hosts in getting ready for peak demand from family travellers. Here’s how we help:

  • Distribution across top platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com

  • Optimised listings for visibility in family-related searches

  • Smart pricing tools to stay competitive during school holidays

  • A dedicated property expert to guide you through setup, presentation, and positioning for family appeal

Families notice the details and reward them with reviews

If your property offers comfort, convenience, and fun for parents and kids alike, families will keep coming back. And they'll tell other families too.

List with Travelnest today and get support from an experienced property expert who can help you make your space a go-to for family holidays.

Family-Friendly Features Guests Love: Win Over Summer Holidaymakers with Kids

Start, promote, and manage your rental property with Travelnest

  • Global exposure

  • Guest messaging

  • Payment processing

  • Smart pricing

  • Calendar sync

  • Travelnest Direct

  • On-hand support

  • Management dashboard

Start, promote, and manage your rental property with Travelnest

  • Global exposure

  • Guest messaging

  • Payment processing

  • Smart pricing

  • Calendar sync

  • Travelnest Direct

  • On-hand support

  • Management dashboard

Start, promote, and manage your rental property with Travelnest

  • Global exposure

  • Guest messaging

  • Payment processing

  • Smart pricing

  • Calendar sync

  • Travelnest Direct

  • On-hand support

  • Management dashboard

Start, promote, and manage your rental property with Travelnest

  • Global exposure

  • Guest messaging

  • Payment processing

  • Smart pricing

  • Calendar sync

  • Travelnest Direct

  • On-hand support

  • Management dashboard