Summertime for kids should be fun.  And it should be exciting and memory making and all of that good stuff. But, let’s face it, traveling with kids – as much as most of it can be great – can be a challenge for parents.  And being locked in a room with my three little ones as they jump on the bed, bounce off the walls and touch everything in sight is not as relaxing for me.

At all.  Not even a little bit.

Luckily, Omni Hotels have figured out that on a vacation, mom and dad need a break too!

Last weekend, we drove to Fort Worth, Texas and stayed for two nights at the Omni Hotel.  From the moment we checked in, it was clear that the hotel had kid care on their mind!  The girls immediately got a draw string backpack with lanyard making kits, water ‘bags’, smores flavored snacks and a scavenger hunt guide that had coloring options as well.  My girls were THRILLED!  We’ve never been to a hotel that has fun stuff for them!

We got to or room – an amazing double suite with connecting doors where the girls got one room and we got the other – and in their room, were milk and cookies!  One set for each of them.  I was instantly impressed and they were incredibly thrilled!

We were off to a great start!

The next morning, we got up, took showers in separate bathrooms – cutting our getting ready time in half – grabbed the girls Camp Omni backpacks and headed to breakfast.  At the Cast Iron restaurant, the girls were greeted and given cute little cups and then we were told that kids under 12 eat free on the buffet!  Now THAT is a perk!!

After breakfast it was Scavenger Hunt time!  We had so much fun with this!!  We got to find out where the pool was – which my husband took them to later – the Club Kids room was located and even met the ‘pet’ that long term guests can request to have in their rooms if they are feeling a bit lonely.  Yes, Bubba Blue was a hit with the kids!

After the hunt was done we headed back to the Club Omni room to see what the scoop was for kids.  Now THIS was impressive!  Set up in this huge conference room was an arts and crafts table with every imaginable asset to craft, board games, video game, hula hoops, toys, bean bags, and on and on and on.  Even snacks were there for kids to enjoy!  I got to talking to the ‘Camp Counselor’ in the room – there were generally 2 at all times – and found out that parents can leave their kids there and go explore, go to dinner, go take a nap and so on while the kids play and have fun!  In fact, on Friday and Saturday nights, they show a kids movie and you can leave your children in a safe, enclosed room with counselors that all have a background in kid care (one of ours was a teacher!) and go enjoy dinner in one of the three on – site restaurants!

My husband and I were all over this!  And after hanging out in the room for a while and watching the kids interact with the fun stuff and the camp counselors, we decided to have dinner that evening with just the two of us for the first time in a very – long – time!

After letting the kids play for a while, we took the kids to lunch.  We ate and had fun and then the restaurant spontaneously brought the girls red velvet mini -cupcakes!  Just like that and just because they love kids!   After lunch, I headed to the room and my husband headed to the pool with all three of them.  This was a great pool for kids!  There was a shallow, sun-bathing- deck and then a small pool that was no deeper that 4 feet.  So my kids played and had a blast and wore themselves out!  It was a wonderful way for them to spend an afternoon!And then we made a trip to the beautiful Quiet Water Pool across from the Omni.  It was serene and beautiful and cool on a very hot Texas day!That evening we dropped the kids at Club Omni and headed to a nice, relaxing, long dinner with amazing food at Bob’s Steakhouse.  Upon reporting back we learned that the Robotsmovie was a hit and that my kids never, ever wanted to leave Camp Omni!  They had a blast painting, playing with babies and doing all things kid while mommy and daddy were right downstairs!The next day, we took the girls completed Scavenger Hunt card to breakfast and presented it to the server.  In a few minutes, out came the ‘prize’ that they received for completing the hunt…  a Worms in Dirt Dessert!  How incredibly fun is that?

As we left the very elegant hotel, we stopped off at the gift shops and the girls each used their $10 Camp Omni Gift Card they got in their backpacks to get a treat for home.  They each chose a toy for the way home and I did not have to pay anything out of pocket!  It was a really nice perk!

We rode home in peace, all feeling like we had a nice, fun, relaxing stay without leaving the vicinity of the hotel.  We did not have to find restaurants nearby, things for the kids to do, or headache medicine from working really hard to provide a relaxing trip.  The Omni Hotel and Camp Omni took away the guess work and it was wonderful!

Next time you are traveling with kids or just wanting to have a staycation in your city, head to the Omni Hotel and take full advantage of Camp Omni!  It is surprisingly affordable, too!  Just check out the deal you can get now below:

Adventure Awaits on Your Family Vacation! Camp Omni takes family vacations to a whole new level, offering deluxe accommodations, 15% discount when you stay two nights, kids’ gift cards to be redeemed anywhere in the hotel, a scavenger hunt with a prize upon completion and a welcome amenity. ‘Camp Counselors’ will call in advance to help you plan your adventure with Omni Hotels.

Package Details:

  1. 15% discount on deluxe accommodations (minimum two-night stay)
  2. Complimentary breakfast for kids 12 and under from the buffet or children’s menu
  3. $10 gift card for kids to use anywhere in the hotel
  4. Camp newsletter with scavenger hunt that is redeemable for a merit badge and ‘dirt & worms’ dessert upon completion
  5. Pre-call from camp counselor (concierge)
  6. Welcome amenity with s’mores-flavored marshmallows, collapsible water bottle and a lanyard kit inside a cinch-up backpack

Pricing Details:

  1. From $155 per night
  2. Rate based on 2 kids per room, per night

Camp Omni Terms and Conditions:  Subject to availability.  Blackout dates apply.  Based on availability from June 1 – September 16, 2012.  See participating property for details.  Not applicable to groups, conventions or in combination with other savings or special discounts.

Get more information and book today!

 

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About Omni Hotels & Resorts

Omni Hotels & Resorts creates genuine, authentic guest experiences that take guest on “A Total Departure” to 50 distinct luxury hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. From exceptional golf and spa retreats to dynamic business settings, each Omni showcases the local flavor of the destination while featuring four-diamond services, signature restaurants, Wi-Fi connectivity and unique wellness options. Known for its award-winning, personalized service, Omni leaves a lasting impression with every customer interaction, with a heightened level of recognition and rewards delivered through its Select Guest loyalty program and the company’s “Power of One” associate empowerment program. Earlier this year, Omni’s loyalty program was further expanded with the launch of the GHA Discovery® loyalty program expanding numerous benefits on a worldwide basis as a member of the Global Hotel Alliance. The brand is frequently recognized by top consumer research organizations and leading media outlets. To get additional information or book accommodations, visit omnihotels.com or call  1-800-The-Omni.

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**I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Omni Hotel blogging program, to earn My SocialMoms Rewards Points. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.**