Planning A Staycation? 6 Luxury‑Hotel Tricks Your Kids Will Love

If you've ever taken your kids on vacation, you've experienced that moment when you start to question whether the trip is actually worth the trouble. It usually happens in line at the airport while you're juggling passports and whisper-yelling at your kids to stop fighting. Or, it could be when your kid pukes during the first hour of a six-hour road trip.

My family recently had a totally different getaway. We were invited to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. Our commute was a 20-minute subway ride. We packed quickly and were at the hotel in under an hour. We relaxed in cozy robes, ate amazing food, had a cuddly movie night and enjoyed breakfast in bed. It was a whirlwind of family time that felt much longer than one night away. And it got me thinking that maybe the secret to a truly relaxing family trip is not going very far at all.

The good news is that whether you're splurging for a night away or staying at home, you can recreate the magic we experienced. Here's how:

The big reveal

Walking into the lobby and then unlocking the door to our one-bedroom suite was an awe-inspiring experience—and not just for our kids. Our room was not only beautiful (and so clutter-free!), it had a few upgrades that put a smile on our faces. Even though they're tweens, my kids loved the little tent, outfitted with pillows, a furry blanket and a projector that shone green and blue light on the ceiling. Both kids spent time inside the tent, reading or watching the movie through its window.

The at-home version

• Pick a spot in your house that will be staycation central. It will likely be your living room. Just be prepared to turn that room over to fun for at least a day or two.
• If possible, keep your kids out of the room while you decorate.
• Don't go overboard. A quick tidy and making the couch cozier with extra pillows and blankets can go a long way. Add a string of fairy lights, dim the overhead lights, and you've got a whole new room.

Add-ons

• If your kids are little, make them a pillow fort or set up a play tent. If they're bigger, gather supplies so you can make a fort as a family.
• With the money you saved on potential souvenirs, buy your kids a small surprise. A new stuffed animal brings joy to almost every kid. (We left the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto with the cutest moose stuffies.)

Sweet treats and favourite foods

At check-in, the people at guest services rolled out candy machines and gave our kids coins so they could fill little cups with sweets. When we walked into our room, there were three plates of treats: chocolates, macarons and fruit, plus two life-size video game controllers made of chocolate. My kids (and I) had chocolate on our faces all evening.

The at-home version

• Buy a selection of your kids' favourite treats and create a spread on a table or counter in the room.
• Sneak in a veggie tray or fresh fruit beside the bowls of chips and candy. You'd be surprised at how much of the healthy stuff they'll eat while snacking.

For dinner, we went to the hotel's French brasserie, Cafe Boulud. One of my kids ordered his favourite—chicken fingers and fries—off the kids' menu, the other ordered a gourmet pasta dish that included a cheese emulsion. They ate as much as they could after demolishing the bread basket. A sweet mocktail made my teen feel very grown up.

The at-home version

• If you can, splurge on having dinner delivered. This is your staycation, too.
• Make kid-friendly drinks in fancy cups or glasses. Mint, strawberry slices and maraschino cherries make even apple juice feel fancy.

Turn down service

At 8:00, there was a knock on our door, and a member of the housekeeping team came in to turn the pull-out couch in our room into a cozy bed. It sounds like a small thing, but the transformation from living room to bedroom felt fun. We got into the hotel bathrobes and settled in for a fun evening.

The at-home version

• Before you press play on a movie, make the couch extra cozy, get into the pillow fort (if you can see the screen from there) or make a bed on the floor with lots of blankets and cushions.
• Change into pyjamas, bathrobes or comfy sweats. With the money saved on not buying new vacation clothes, you could spring for brand-new PJs or matching t-shirts.

Movie night

Shortly after our turndown service, there was another knock at our door and a server delivered a movie-night spread featuring two custom movie tickets, cheese and crackers, more candy and popcorn. We also had a Nintendo Switch in our room, which was thrilling because we don't have a game system at home.

The at-home version

• Print out or make movie tickets to make your movie night feel more official. If you're having a video game or board game night, print invitations or score cards.
• Give each kid their own serving of popcorn and candy. Cute paper boxes make it feel like you're at the theatre—but better.

Breakfast in bed

In the morning, we grabbed the in-room tablet and placed our room service order. There's really nothing like having a table full of food rolled into your room—including a silver tray. The kids loved eating pancakes and pastries while finishing the movie we started the night before (we picked a long one).

The at-home version

• Make and refrigerate pancakes the day before or buy pre-made breakfast items, like pastries, toaster waffles and fruit. Then all you have to do is warm up and plate everything.

Remember to relax

While most of these tips are designed to delight your kids, make sure to work in time for yourself, too. My husband and I spent time doing nothing while my kids played video games, and everyone had some quiet reading time before we all went to sleep.

• Schedule activities your kids can do alone. Set them up with crafts, extra screen time or quiet time so you can rest, too.

After all, it’s not always the distance that makes a getaway memorable; it’s the rest and connection you feel when it's over. And the best part of a staycation is that you get to decide when it ends.