Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
10.
Many attractions and hotels offer discounts for seniors, so be sure to check ahead
of time for bargains.
11.
Plan your evening meal early to avoid long waits. And make reservations if you're
dining in a popular spot, even if it's early. Take some crayons and paper to keep
kids occupied. If planning a family-friendly trip seems overwhelming, try a tour
operator-travel agent aimed at kids and their grandparents.
HOW
to
CHILDPROOF
a
HOTEL ROOM
TODDLERS AND SMALL CHILDREN
up to 3 years of age (and sometimes older) can
wreak mayhem if not outright disaster in a hotel room. They're mobile, curious, and
amazingly fast, and they have a penchant for turning the most seemingly innocuous
furnishing or decoration into a lethal weapon. Here's what to look for.
Always begin by checking the room for hazards that you cannot neutralize, such
as balconies, chipping paint, cracked walls, sharp surfaces, shag carpeting, and win-
dows that can't be secured shut. If you encounter anything that you don't like or is too
much of a hassle to fix, ask for another room.
If you use a crib supplied by the hotel, make sure the mattress is firm and covers
the entire bottom of the crib. If there is a mattress cover, it should fit tightly. Slats
should be 23⁄8 inches (about the width of a soda can) or less apart. Test the drop sides
to ensure that they work properly and that your child cannot release them accident-
ally. Examine the crib from all angles (including from underneath) to make sure that
it has been assembled correctly and that there are no sharp edges. Check for chipping
paint and other potentially toxic substances that your child might ingest. Wipe down
surfaces that your child might touch to diminish the potential of infection transmitted
from a previous occupant. Finally, position the crib away from drape cords, heaters,
wall sockets, and air conditioners.
If your infant can turn over, we recommend changing him or her on a pad on
the floor. Likewise, if you have a child seat of any sort, place it where it cannot be
knocked over, and always strap your child in.
If your child can roll, crawl, or walk, you should bring about eight electrical out-
let covers and some cord to tie cabinets shut and to bind drape cords and the like out
of reach. Check for appliances, lamps, ashtrays, ice buckets, and anything else that
your child might pull down on him- or herself. Have the hotel remove coffee tables
with sharp edges and both real and artificial plants that are within your child's reach.
Round up items from tables and countertops such as matchbooks, courtesy toiletries,
and drinking glasses and store them out of reach.
