You plan the perfect family vacation to the coolest destination, only to get stuck inside because the rain canceled all of your plans.
Is your vacation ruined?
No! There are tons of exciting games and activities you can do with your family inside the comfort of your hotel that will make you forget all about that trip to the amusement park.
Sometimes just getting away from the crazy work schedule and piles of laundry is vacation enough, but the fun doesn’t have to stop there.
Try one, or all, of these ideas to make your (suddenly) indoor vacation truly memorable.
1. Have A Pillow Fight
Not all parents are comfortable with pillow fights at home, so the kids will be overjoyed to have one now.
Make sure to put aside all breakable items, nobody wants that room bill. Once the lamps are cleared out of the way, give each person a pillow and set the rules.
No hitting the face or pushing are good guidelines to prevent injury, after that, it’s game on!
2. Go Swimming
Having an indoor pool at your hotel definitely makes things easier. All kids like to get in the water!
Break up pool time throughout the day so they don’t wear themselves out for the other activities, plus, you’ll want to prevent those wrinkly toes.
Most hotel pools will have noodles or other pool accessories, you just need to ask the front desk where they are kept.
Remember to wear water shoes since many hotel pools are made of concrete—and it will tear up the skin on your feet.
Get the family involved in group games like Marco Polo, Stick in the Mud, and swim races.
3. Dance Party
The privacy of your hotel room is a great place to really get your groove on.
Teach the kids all the popular dance moves from when you were younger, then have them teach you a thing or two with all the popular dance moves they do with their friends.
They’ll be excited to share a part of their world with you, and you’ll be the hippest parents in town.
To really make things interesting, play “dance story.” Each member of the family picks a dance move for everyone to do, then everyone does the full choreographed routine at the end.
Just remember to keep the music at an acceptable level, and be sure to call it quits when it becomes the quiet hour.
4. Hide And Seek
This classic game reaches new heights with the unfamiliar and intricate landscape of a hotel.
Set the parameters of the game beforehand to ensure you don’t end up looking all night for the child who decided to hide in the hotel bar.
An empty conference room, breakfast eating area, or a single floor of the hotel are all good places to get the game started.
If you have younger children, have one parent hide with them so you never have to worry about them getting into danger or trouble.
5. Wait On Your Children For Dinner
Order a variety of take-out and then create a menu listing all the options the kids can choose from. They can sit at a table in the hotel room or in an empty dining area for a more realistic feel.
Wait on the kids and let them try their hand at being little adults. Take their drink and dinner orders while writing it down on a notepad.
Attend to all their dining needs and then prank them at the end by handing them the bill!
6. Have a Movie Night
Get some popcorn, drinks, and candy to prepare for your official movie night in. Have everyone get in pajamas and cozy up together on the bed.
You can choose a movie that’s on TV or splurge for pay-per-view to avoid the commercials.
Pick a family-friendly flick that will have you all laughing. You’ll remember that special time together for years to come.
7. Build A Fort
Hotel rooms are the perfect arena for the ultimate fort. You have all the furniture in close proximity to lay blankets on.
You can even create little “rooms” by using blankets as a door, giving each child their own private space.
Crawl through the labyrinth of white sheets and engage in imaginative play.
8. Go On A Scavenger Hunt
Some hotels have pre-made scavenger hunts, so it doesn’t hurt to ask the front desk what they offer.
If one isn’t provided, just use a notepad to list common items you’d find in a hotel and set the amount of time the kids have to complete it.
Items such as a spoon, pen, mints, or a picture of a flower are just some of the ideas you can put on the list.
9. Play International Spy
A busy hotel is the perfect place to play out those James Bond movies.
Have each child try to reach a final destination without being detected by the front desk clerk or one of the maids going down the hall.
You can invent some fun hand signals to use for when to stop, walk, or duck.
10. Write Thank You Notes
Experts say that showing gratitude leaves a lasting positive impression, and who wouldn’t want that for a family vacation?
Have each child write a thank you note to someone they feel has shown them kindness or has made their stay just a little better.
You can leave it in the hotel room, or if your children are comfortable enough, they can give it to the person directly.
If they can’t think of anyone, offer suggestions such as the housekeeper, front desk clerk, servers, or cooks.
Don’t let your sudden change in vacation plans spoil your stay. Get moving with these activities that will have the whole family bonding more than any trip to the botanical gardens.
Please let us know in the comments section if you have any game ideas for a rainy day inside.
