Traveling with kids can be tricky, and finding the perfect hotel can make or break your family trip. Discover my Google Maps hotel hack for family trips! Learn how to spot dreamy stays, read real reviews, and avoid hidden problems before you book.
I love using Google Maps to find family-friendly hotels because it’s helped me uncover dreamy stays all over the world.
WHY I LOVE USING GOOGLE MAPS TO FIND FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOTELS
Google Maps isn’t just for directions—it’s a secret weapon for finding amazing hotels.
- Local convenience – It helps me pick hotels near restaurants, parks, and attractions for a truly family-friendly stay.
- Hidden gems – Some of my dreamy finds in St. Maarten, San Diego, and Spain wouldn’t appear on regular booking sites.
- Real reviews – I can read traveler photos and honest feedback to avoid surprises.
- Plus, the search features that help me confidently find a hotel, which I’ll share below.
This is a view of the beach from Coral Beach Club in St Maarten. Check out the view in this YouTube video.
Step 1: Start With High Star Ratings (But Know When to Adjust)
When I’m looking for hotels on Google Maps, I like to start with hotels rated 4.5 or above. That usually guarantees a safe, comfortable stay.
But if you’re traveling to a remote area, those high ratings aren’t always available. In that case, I’ll lower the filter to 4.0 and above.
The key here is how you search the reviews when you’re looking at lower-rated hotels. Don’t sort by “most recent.”
Planning a trip soon? Check out my tips for flying overnight with kids before you go.
Step 2: Once You Pick A Hotel, Sort By Lowest Reviews
In the reviews tab, I always start with the lowest review ratings. Why? Because this is where you get the dirt on the hotel.
It’s so easy for hotels to bury the bad reviews. And because of my job, I go on hotel tours all the time, and staff will literally admit that they scrub ratings.
This is a photo of a hotel I booked after having to leave another hotel that was rated well for bed bugs. This one was also rated well, with great views, but this is what I saw when I turned on the hotel for the first time.
Not the ones I recommend—but the sketchy ones I avoid posting on YouTube. Some hotels even make people review the hotel before staying just to get Wi-Fi access.
This photo is from Pacific Terrace Resort in San Diego. It was a wonderful stay. You can see a video I made of their family-friendly amenities here.
So when you scroll, skip the fake reviews like “Nice view!” from people who never stayed overnight. Look for reviews that mention real problems: mold, broken toilets, bad food.
Step 3: Use Ratings Wisely
I’ve had great luck finding hotels on Google Maps by combining my strategy of starting with high ratings and then digging into the low-rating reviews for each property.
But when a hotel is around 4.0 stars, it can be a gray area—you need to look closer. Sometimes negative reviews are from previous management, or complaints are about things that have changed.
For example, I once found a hotel getting bad reviews for a restaurant that had since closed, which was unfairly dragging down its overall rating.
So when you find a hotel that looks good (but you’re not sure) on Google Maps, it’s smart to double-check reviews and ratings on other trusted platforms like:
- Expedia – Great for star ratings, photos, and verified traveler reviews.
- Booking.com – Often has detailed family-friendly filters and recent guest reviews.
- Tripadvisor – Excellent for real traveler photos, rankings, and forums for insider tips.
- Hotels.com – Helpful for loyalty rewards and seeing historical pricing trends.
- Trivago / Kayak – Useful to compare prices and see multiple platform reviews at once.
Step 4: Check Out The Family-Friendly Amenities
Once you’ve narrowed down your hotel choices, take a close look at the family-friendly amenities. These can make a big difference for a smooth and fun trip with kids:
- Breakfast options – Free or on-site breakfast can save time and keep mornings stress-free.
- Pools or beach access – Perfect for kids to burn off energy and for family relaxation.
- Bath tubs or whirlpools – Great for little ones or for a soothing soak after a day of sightseeing.
- Suites or pull-out couches – Extra space keeps everyone comfortable and makes bedtime easier.
Checking these details ahead of time ensures your stay is comfortable, convenient, and truly family-friendly, so you can focus on making memories instead of dealing with surprises.
This is a photo from Hotel Aiguaclara in Begur, Spain. It was a wonderful stay with a delicious breakfast included in the price.
My Final Thoughts
I truly believe travel is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, especially with family. Finding the right hotel doesn’t have to be stressful—you just need a strategy.
I hope these tips help you find the best hotels on Google Maps and make your next family trip smoother, safer, and more fun.
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