by Helen Truszkowski

As the parents of young children, planning your holiday inevitably means putting the kids' needs first and your own desires second.

Increasingly nowadays, however, it needn't be that way. There are a swarm of hotels and resorts that offer something for every member of the family.

Once you've picked an island or even shortlisted a few resorts, there's still much to consider before arriving at one spot. The real key to a successful holiday is asking a bucketful of questions before you book.

WHAT YOU NEED TO ASK

• What kind of supervised activities do you offer for my children's age-group? What do they include? Do some activities or excursions cost extra? Are all your staff trained? (You'll want the staff to be a minimum age of l8 and have at least two years experience working with children.)


• Does the hotel have children's menus? Can you cater for special diets? Can I get a kid's meal outside hours? Are kids excluded from the restaurant at any time?
  
• Do you have an on-site doctor or registered nurse?


• Do you offer cots, buggies, highchairs or other children's supplies? At what cost? (Make sure to ask about the 'little things': bedsheets for the cot; extra charges, if any, for buggies; nappies; bottle warming)


• Do you have a pool with a shallow end or separate toddler's pool? Are there lifeguards on duty? Is the pool enclosed?


• Do you offer a baby-sitting or baby-listening service? If not, can you recommend an off-site baby-sitting service charging reasonable rates? What qualifications do their staff have? Can they provide references?


• Do you offer an in-house laundry service? (Only a parent knows the perils of travelling with a limited amount of clothes and a messy toddler).


• Do you offer any resort transport? If not, how well are you serviced by public transport?


• What is the room layout? Do any of your rooms offer kitchenettes, a kettle or mini refrigerators? (Think about your needs. You may decide you need an all-suite hotel rather than a standard double room. It can make sound financial sense)
  
• Are there any reductions for children?


• Do you offer discounts on adjoining rooms? If so, how much?


• Are the rooms child-safe? What kind of doorknobs does the bathroom have? (Bathrooms are one of the most hazardous places for children. You'll be able to child-proof a regular doorknob, but not a lever style doorknob).


• Does the hotel have a smoke alarm and a sprinkler system? Are there clearly marked exits on every floor?


• Do you provide any courtesy rooms between checkout and transfer?

Thankfully more and more resorts now have websites, so you can often preview rooms as well as the pool and the resort itself. Bear in mind that if you are a family with three or more kids many family travel arrangements - such as 'kids stay and eat free' - are restricted to one child per paying adult. Bear in mind, too, that sometimes a maximum of four individuals are allowed per room. Many family resorts have family suites or cottages that can accommodate a larger family, but expect to pay extra for the 'fifth wheel.

Finally, remember it's not just the facilities that matter, but a relaxed, child-friendly approach which can make all the difference.

For more advice on ethical family travel, visit www.responsibletravel.com