I worried that driving across the country with two small children, a dog, and my husband would be a memory I would long to forget. However, it was one of our most fun family adventures. In my previous post, I mentioned that dropping expectations, teamwork, and Harry Potter audiobooks made the trip less stressful. The other key ingredient to this successful trip: staying in great hotels. If it were up to Ryan, we would have stayed in roach motels off the highway. Thankfully, he let me take the lead when it came to booking our hotel stays. I found four hotels, each with their own unique styles and stories, that I can’t wait to tell you about. These hotels graciously gifted us with either a complimentary stay or with a discounted stay rate in exchange for an honest review of their hospitality.

When looking for a hotel that fits your families needs, here are the MUSTS:

1. A room or suite with TWO queen size beds.

   In all the hotels, either Ryan or I would share a bed with Nolan or the dog. We traded off based on Nolan’s preference for the night. Early on, we tried putting Nolan in a bed on his own but throughout the night he would jump out of bed and try to squeeze in bed with us. This got annoying so when we decided one parent would surrender to a foot or finger in the eye all night from a wiggly 3 year old.

2. Complimentary Water

   Hydration is key. One night in a hotel, we couldn’t find the complimentary water and literally called down to the front desk to send some up with our room service. After spending hours in the car, you need a fresh supply of water to get you through the night and early morning. It’s also helpful to have for formula feedings. We travelled with gallons of filtered water but on occasion we’d forget to bring it in the room. The complimentary water served as a stand-in for Austin’s night or morning formula.

3. A hotel with a restaurant

   This way it doesn’t matter what time you arrive or have to leave the next day — food is just a short walk away. We got by with room service and early morning breakfasts. I’m not a big fan of continental style breakfasts so a hotel with a quality restaurant was important for me.

4. Valet Parking

   It might seem like an unnecessary expense or a pain, but if you budget for the cost ahead of time, it’s a life saver as you’re juggling a baby, dog, and tired parents. Just give them the keys and get to your room.

5. Trendy but not exclusive

   I like hotels that have style and local flair. If I’m staying away from home, I want it to be comfortable and be an escape away from home. I wanted this trip to feel like a vacation as much as it was a relocation trip.

6. Grass for Remi

   Each of the hotels were located in a city so we needed to make sure there was grass nearby for potty breaks for our dog. Google Earth came in handy when picking the locations of our hotel stays.

7. Budget, Budget, Budget

   This is a big area that no one really likes to talk about. As I mentioned before, I do not like staying at hotels that are cheap. I find that at lower prices, they lack the comforts I enjoy. Therefore, with trips like this one, I search for deals and I’m not afraid to ask for extra. Get on the phone, talk to the hotel. Tell them about your family and see how they can work with you to make your trip more fun and financially beneficial. You never know if you don’t ask. I will spend more on a hotel and be more frugal with food. Ryan and I often split our meals with each other or the kids. This helps us reduce our overall trip expenses. Plus when we’re on the road, because most of our trip is spent in the car or at gas stations, we only eat 2 full meals a day. The rest of our food is snacks we packed in the car. Pro tip: That’s another way to save money.

Day 1: Phoenix, Arizona

Stay: The Camby Hotel

Our first stop was a 6 hour drive to Phoenix. We stayed at the Camby Hotel. It was once a Ritz-Carlton but now it is the perfect millennial destination. The decor was a mix of modern and iconic art, highlighting timeless musical artists. They even have a room where you can select a record to play on a record player for the whole lobby to hear. The Camby is known as the most talked, blogged, and posted-about destination for exciting city experiences. I could absolutely see why. The staff was so kind to me and our family. The boys were each gifted with stuffed camels in honor of the hotel’s mascot. They even gave Remi dog treats when they saw her. Before we left, we dined for breakfast at the Artizen, where we enjoyed delicious and nutritious food to keep our bellies full for our next 7 hour drive.

Day 2: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Stay: Hotel Andaluz Albuquerque

The staff at Hotel Adaluz Albuquerque showed us the power of local hospitality, led by now friend, Nancy Nester. The hotel is rooted in rich history, exemplified in architecture that has been restored since its original build in 1939, by hotel mogul Conrad Hilton. This hotel is pure beauty. We walked inside, in awe of its stunning Spanish style design that looked stuck in time. Our favorite part about our stay was interacting with the staff. They truly seemed to love their jobs and city. Our stomachs were full thanks to the delicious culinary creations of Chef Marc Quinones at the restaurant, MÁS, Tapas y Vino. Hotel Adaluz Albuquerque was also extremely welcoming of our dog, Remi. She was greeted with homemade dog treats and smiles. We certainly felt at home here and wish we could’ve stayed longer. We will definitely return if we pass through Albuquerque again.

Day 3: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Stay: The Colcord Hotel

By this point in our cross country road trip, we were getting sick of the car and each other. We got to the stunning, historical Colcord Hotel late at night. Yet, when we walked inside, I was amazed at the beautiful marble everywhere. It was glamorous and cozy at the same time. Our room’s bathroom was even supplied with hair products, soaps, and lotions from one of my favorite brands, L’Occitane. That night, I enjoyed a yummy salad and Ryan ate a BBQ burger courtesy of room service. The next morning we needed to get on the road early so we ate breakfast at the on-site restaurant, FLINT. The wait staff were so kind, even at 7 am. I didn’t fully appreciate the beauty of this historical hotel until we were walking away, as captured in the above photo. This was another gem. I wish we had more time to enjoy the amenities and city.

Day 4: Memphis, Tennessee

Stay: Big Cypress Lodge

The final hotel stay on our massive road trip was Ryan’s favorite. When I learned there was a hotel inside a Bass Pro Shop, I knew we had to stay there. The Bass Pro Pyramid of Memphis, TN did not disappoint. It is an oasis for any outdoorsman. Upon walking inside, Ryan literally said he was in “euphoria.” I’m not sure he knew what the word meant but it was an accurate depiction of his distracted state of awe. I didn’t think he could be any happier. Then we reached our room that had an outside balcony overlooking the inside of the store. He said the only thing missing was the ability to sit out there with a cigar. It was the perfect “glamping” experience for me. We loved the log cabin design of the room, from the antler chandelier to the deer head above the beds. There was even a fireplace in our room. This was the most perfect way to end our hotel stays. They even sent us home with a fleet of rubber ducks for the boys to use during bath time. Ryan already promised his return.

My biggest advice for parents traveling long distances with children is to stay true to the things you like. I am a firm believer that children follow the direction and energy of their parents. If you want to stay in nice hotels, do it. Teach your children the importance of respecting property and people. Let them be kids but also show them that kids can have a great time anywhere.

Thank you to the hotels mentioned above who treated our family so well. Staying with you gave us something to look forward to on our long drives. We can’t wait to make another stop back with you in the future.

*Our dog Remi is a certified Canine Good Citizen and registered Emotional Support Animal. We stayed in dog-friendly hotels or occupied hotels in accordance to laws regarding traveling with an ESA.

*For this series, the above hotels gifted either a night’s stay, dining, parking, or all the above for free or at a discounted rate.