The one thing I’ve missed most during this pandemic, right after seeing friends and family regularly, is traveling. As someone who doesn’t really splurge on designer clothes but will always splurge on a luxury travel experience, being homebound for months has been really hard. This past January, to celebrate my birthday, my family and I took a staycation. At the time, we didn’t feel safe traveling by air with the kids, so we opted to stay local and celebrate in the Tri-State area since we’re in New Jersey.
We visited the Four Seasons Philadelphia and it was the best decision we could’ve made for a COVID safe family staycation in style. With Mother’s Day this weekend, planning a COVID safe family staycation is a great option if you’re not ready for air travel yet (or if flights aren’t in your budget), and you want to celebrate.
Here are 5 tips for planning a COVID safe family staycation:
1. Pick A Luxe Kid-Friendly Hotel
At the Four Seasons Philadelphia, we truly got the best of both worlds – luxury and family-friendly. We were welcomed upon entry by the friendliest concierge.
They knew all our names, escorted us to our rooms and had welcome gifts waiting for us upon arrival. Cupcakes for the kids, and a mousse cake with flowers for me. At the Four Seasons Philadelphia, they have a Celebrate Above The Clouds package so if you’re celebrating a special occasion (like Mother’s Day, a birthday, etc), they will provide special gifts for you upon arrival. You can choose from flowers, champagne, dessert – anything that will make your stay special.
2. Choose a Location You Don’t HAVE To Leave
When you’re aiming for a COVID safe family staycation, you want to stay somewhere with the full package so you can limit going in and out or being exposed to people. Back in January, I was terrified of doing indoor dining with the kids (they touch EVERYTHING!), so we were really intent on staying somewhere with delicious in-room dining options and safe amenities on site. The Four Seasons Philadelphia has an amazing in-room dining menu with kid friendly options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
They also have a super luxe pool and they limit the number of people who can attend at a time. You have your own private session with just your family for an allotted time. That put my mind at ease knowing the number of people in the space was limited, and that they were doing full cleaning & sanitization between sessions.
3. Carve Out Self-Care Time
The BEST part of the staycation weekend for me? Soaking in our luxurious bathtub with a glass of champagne. One of my favorite amenities in our Four Seasons Philadelphia suite was the big soaking tub. I turned on some music (there are bluetooth speakers in the bathroom), poured myself a bubble bath and a tall glass of champagne, turned on the TV for the kiddos and closed the door.
Nothing in the world mattered in that moment. Mamas, y’all know what I’m talking about. Next time we go, I’m going to opt into a massage at their spa. That would’ve been the cherry on top but they were booked! Which is another tip – make sure you book services early! With COVID, everything is much lower capacity. Even the kids got in on the self-care tip. They indulged in long baths in the tub too and the Four Seasons Philadelphia even provided mini bathrobes and slippers for them to lounge around in. We had such a great stay.
I hope this post is helpful for those of you with families! If you’ve taken any amazing staycations during the pandemic, leave a comment below and let us know WHERE!
Photo Credit: Taylor Baldwin
Disclaimer: We received complimentary services and a discounted rate for our stay in partnership with the Four Seasons Philadelphia. All opinions expressed are my own.
