Sometimes you just need to get away, but three hours into a plane ride and you’re probably wondering why you thought a vacation with kids would be fun and relaxing! With so many awesome hotels and destinations right here in LA, why not leave out the headache-inducing middle-man and take a staycation. We’ve rounded up a few of the best spots that offer something above and beyond for kids of all ages.

photo: Gordon via Flickr

Orlando Hotel
Will your littlest family member, aka, the beloved American Girl doll, be accompanying you on vacation? Then check yourselves into the Orlando Hotel, where your gal and her pal can enjoy an unforgettable American Girl package. The special starts off with a paparazzi-inspired photo-op upon your arrival and includes a special breakfast, robe and slippers for your tiny companion, and even a doll-sized bed complete with pillow chocolates at turn down, all of which you can take home when you leave. With the Grove just around the corner, you can add on even more to the experience with a visit to the American Girl doll store. If dolls aren’t your brood’s cup if tea, however, then check out the Universal Package which includes two tickets to Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Parent Perks: he Orlando offers plenty of grown-up fun, too, with a full service boutique spa, an outdoor saltwater pool and even a fitness center if you want to squeeze in a workout.

8384 W. 3rd St.
Mid-City
323-658-6600
Online: theorlando.com

photo: Norman’s M. via Yelp

The Magic Castle Hotel
Your mini magician will be thrilled to learn that a stay at this budget-friendly spot will gain you entrance into the elusive Magic Castle. While the hotel can make a reservation at the club for you, kids are still only allowed at the weekend brunch show, so be sure to mention that you are traveling with tots when you book your room. The hotel also offers another very unique kid-friendly feature: all the snacks you can eat! For anyone who has ever packed an extra suitcase full of food just to avoid over-priced mini bar snacks, the free offerings like sodas, candy, snack bars and poolside popsicles (see the hotline above, to call for them!) will come as a very welcome amenity.  There are also pint sized robes in your closet, and if you want to celebrate birthdays here they’ll have cake waiting for you.  It’s a perfect birthday celebration (in town) getaway for kids and their friends.

Parent Perks: A two-bedroom suite for under $400 means you can have some privacy after the kids go to bed without having to completely break the bank.

7025 Franklin Ave.
Hollywood
323-851-0800
Online: magiccastlehotel.com

photo: Montage Beverly Hills

Montage Beverly Hills
Your budding artists will enjoy a getaway at this gorgeous Beverly Hills hotel thanks to the Paintbox Program. Young guests ages 5-12 can get creative with arts and crafts and activities offered daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Daily themes include cooking, magic, being eco-friendly and Hollywood. You can sign your kids up for a full ($100) or half ($70) day that includes snacks, lunch, and some playtime at the pool. The program also features a Children’s Night Out on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-10 p.m. for $70 so you can manage to get away for a kid-free night on your vacation.

Parent Perks: Besides the obvious benefits of Children’s Night Out, the Montage also offers plenty for grown-ups to do while your tots are busy painting and crafting, like a state of the art spa and fitness center, a wine cellar with over 800 different selections and a glittering rooftop pool with private cabanas.  The above photo is the view from the pool, so even if all you do visit the roof while the kids are occupied, it’ll feel like a vacation for you, too!

225 N. Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills
888-860-0788
Online: montagehotels.com/beverlyhills

photo: The Langham Huntington Pasadena

The Langham Huntington Pasadena
What traveling tot doesn’t love a good tea party? Every Sunday afternoon, kids are invited to join the Chocolate Afternoon Tea, complete with sweet treats and a giant chocolate fountain. And once every quarter (March 5, June 4 and Sept 17, 2017), the Langham also offers young guests an invitation to a very special Imagine Tea. Magic-filled entertainment, a menu of PB & J, colorful cookies, and of course, caffeine-free teas await when you make your reservation. Tiny tea lovers are even invited to use their own imaginations and attend dressed-up as their favorite character or animal. Don’t forget to join the Langham Huntington Kids Program ($30 fee) when you visit. Junior guests will be greeted with a “Theodore” teddy backpack loaded with a Little Junebugs craft pack, a certificate for a complimentary  dinner at The Terrace and a Langham chocolate bar.

Parent Perks: The Chaun Spa offers treatments inspired by traditional Chinese Medicine, like Bamboo Massage and Hot and Cold Stone Therapy. The fitness center goes beyond the typical treadmills and ellipticals and offers yoga, tai chi, and pilates classes for guests.

1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave.
Pasadena
626-568-3900
Online: langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/pasadena

photo: Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
Being steps away from the beach without having to worry about finding a parking place is enticing enough, but for your little beachcombers the real fun begins when you arrive and they are offered their pick from a giant basket of ocean-themed stuffed toys. In your room, delighted tots will find a sand pail and shovel loaded with gummy treats. The hotel also has a collection of water toys and complimentary bicycles the whole family can use to cruise down the bike bath. If you want to relax on the beach in seclusion during the summer months, grab a ride on the hotel Jeep to the private Miramar Beach Club where you can enjoy snacks and lounge chairs on the sand like a VIP.  It’s like Hawaii, without the flight!

Parent Perks: The hotel offers childcare services for $25 per hour for two children ($30 for three or four) so that you can enjoy a kid-free dinner at the intimate FIG Restaurant and drinks at The Bungalow.

101 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica
310-576-7777
Online: fairmont.com/santa-monica

photo: Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire

Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel
If pint-sized pampering is right up your kid’s alley, then check in at the Four Seasons where the whole family can relax in luxury. With treatments like the Princess Facial, Rock Star Massage, and Pop Star Polish, kids can unwind right along with parents at the spa. Besides the posh pampering, the entire hotel is brimming with kid treats, from water toys and an ice cream cart at the pool to a welcome wagon full of toys they can choose from at check-in.

Parent Perks: Besides the kid’s treatments, the spa offers plenty of grown-up indulgence including couple’s and prenatal massages. You can also make arrangements in advance for childcare services and enjoy a vacation date night at Wolfgang Puck’s CUT.

9500 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills
310-275-5200
Online: fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire

photo: Great Wolf Lodge

Worth The (Slight) Drive: The Great Wolf Lodge
Everyone knows the Disneyland Resort Hotels are awesome for a weekend getaway, but have you checked out the latest addition to the Anaheim neighborhood? Besides being in perfect proximity to the theme parks, Great Wolf Lodge is an attraction in itself. In fact there’s so much to do, you may just want to skip the Happiest Place on Earth (and the lines that come with it) for a fun and exciting vacation without ever leaving the hotel. As if the hotel’s gigantic indoor waterpark wasn’t enough, this amazing place also features story times, family games, a nightly PJ dance party, a magical treasure hunt, a bowling alley, arcade, craft station, kids’ spa treatments, and glow in the dark mini golf.

Parent Perks: This place is pretty much all about the kids, but it will definitely earn you the title of best parent ever for a good month or two. But so you can keep up with the kids, there’s an in-house Dunkin Donuts.

12681 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove
888-960-9653
Online: greatwolf.com

What are your favorite hotels (local, national or international) with awesome kid (and parent) perks? Share any we missed in the comments!

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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