Once upon a time, the PR moguls who run Las Vegas marketed to families encouraging us to bring our kids out to the center of all things hedonistic and sinful. It didn’t last long.

Las Vegas, Nevada, is not typically known for being a kid-friendly travel destination. HOWEVER, it is possible to bring your kids to the casino-laden city and they will actually enjoy themselves. However, however, the choices for leaving your kids in a supervised hourly care center is slim.

There are two centrally-located, highly-rated supervised child care facilities in Las Vegas on or near the strip.

Kids Tyme at The Orleans Hotel & Casino

Kids Tyme Children Activities - Orleans Hotel - Las Vegas

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A view of the Seaport Hotel from the Boston Harbor

When the Seaport Hotel in Boston opened back in the 90s, it was one of the first hotels on the about-to-be-revived South Boston waterfront.  Now, finally, the waterfront is a Boston hot-spot, with the Boston Convention Center, Institute for Contemporary Art, and the Boston Children’s Museum easily within walking distance.  The Seaport is still one of the best hotels in Boston, with deluxe accommodations, a fabulous restaurant, and family activities nearby.  It is also a “green hotel“, featuring environmentally friendly policies.

This Thanksgiving Holiday season, the Seaport Hotel, in conjunction with their on-site restaurant Aura Boston, is offering a wonderful special with two options.  If you are certain of your plans, you can fully pay for your room in advance, with no option for cancellation, and lock-in the fabulous rate of $99 per night, which includes overnight accommodation, usage of the Wave fitness club and pool, and wireless internet access.

If you need the option of canceling or changing your reservation, you can get the flexible holiday rate of $149 per night. Both rates are available from November 22nd – November 30th, 2009.

To book this special rate, visit the Seaport Boston’s promotions page.

If you do stay over the Thanksgiving holiday, you can also book reservations for Thanksgiving dinner at Aura Boston.  The special Thanksgiving menu includes a kid’s menu.

Photo credit: the Seaport Boston

One of the big hassles of travel, IMHO, especially when traveling with kids, is having a hotel experience which ends up draining you, rather than restoring you. Cramped space, inadequate beds, poor lighting, all can take the fun out of a family trip. When we travel, the hotel is our home base and we have high hopes that spending time there will be relaxing and restorative, giving us the energy to continue exploring our visiting city.

Sutton Place Hotel

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My family and I are big-time Disney World visitors. Having been Orlando residents for the last 13 years, we have taken advantage of our close proximity to the parks and themed hotels. That said, there are still tons of things we still don’t know about Disney World and learn about new improvements and specials all the time.

Sleep in a Pirate Bed

This past summer, our friends booked and invited us to one of the Pirate-themed hotel rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Our reaction: “Disney has Pirate-themed hotel rooms???” We had NO idea. My ignorance is now your bliss. You’re welcome.

If your kid or spouse is pirate-obsessed, the Pirate-themed rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort are the perfect weekend getaway destination. Not only do the headboards look just like a pirate ship, but the in-room refrigerator is inside of a rustic-looking barrel and the shower has a Black Pearl image “carved” into the sides. Nearly every decorative feature of the room is in some way themed after pirates. Not a single detail is left untouched by a pirate.

When you’re ready to leave your pirate room, head down to the pirate ship at the Caribbean Beach Resort pool. There are 2 water park-sized slides and an entire pirate area for toddlers and young children.

October and November as well as April and May are ideal times to visit Disney and the Pirate-themed rooms with cooler weather and smaller crowds. Call 407-WDW-MAGIC or book online.

Skull & Crossbones Bathroom Curtain

Flat Panel TV on Pirate Cargo Boxes

Photo credit: Terry Greear