Kid-Friendly Hotels

A panel of parents and their kids put U.S. hotel chains to the test for Parents magazine, which ranks the hotels for kid-friendly qualities in its July issue. Editor in Chief Sally Lee shared the results with CBS This Morning Co-Anchor Thalia Assuras.

Armed with a modest stipend and a detailed questionnaire, 28 families selected by the magazine tested a total of 32 hotels across the U.S. to evaluate their provisions for younger guests in terms of comfort, hospitality and plain old fun.

Nine chains made the grade: Loews, Sonesta, Embassy Suites, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Wyndham, Radisson, Hilton, and Sheraton.

But Lee says a few stood out from the rest.

"We also asked the families to make some unusual requests while they were staying at the hotel and see if the requests were fulfilled," says Lee.

Which chains made it to the top? "We had nine major chainsÂ…and the number one five-star site was Loews," says Lee. "They had many of the same things that other hotels had to offer, which is discounts for a family, a kids club, but they went the extra mile."

That extra mile included a childproofing kit for parents with kids under age four, a free gift, and special touches like Rugrats pillowcases, a bucket and pail set, and a selection of videos for children. In all, Lee says, it lives up to its slogan, "Loews Loves Kids."

The Hyatt, although expensive in some areas, also made the grade. "If you go to a Hyatt, they're great. It doesn't matter where you go, they'll always put a lot into their kids' camp," Lee says. "Price is a factor, but sometimes parents want to go and just enjoy themselves and splurge. What was more important to us is that they be kid-friendly."

Lee suggests that customers let hotels know of any special needs like extra towels and mini-bar preferences prior to check-in. Many hotels have "Kids Eat Free" or "Kids Stay Free" deals. Others offer family weekends which may include tickets to a nearby theme park or attraction.