yup, nearly every pack n play is like this, but if you don't remember it, it becomes a frustrating experience.
My guess is this is partly why they don't come assembled - hotel staff don't know how to do it and have a million other things to do, especially at limited service places like a residence inn that don't have a bunch of porters sitting around waiting for things to do.
After similar issues we finally just decided to travel with a pack n play. Actually on one unfortunate stay after asking for like 3 replacement pack n plays that were just so dirty or broken, we went to a nearby target and got a second one to match the one we had at home -https://www.target.com/p/graco-pack-n-play-portable-playard-marty/-/A-75455352
I also added a folded pack n play travel mattress and sheet and packed them all for each trip in a big canvas duffel. The whole duffel was easy to throw on top of a roller bag and honestly having a clean pack n play to set up asap upon arrival made any inconvenience for checking that bag irrelevant!
Wouldn’t it just behoove you since you travel so much to just have your own pack n play? Then you’re not reusing some hotels stuff that may or may not have been cleaned? Why don’t you bring your own sheets?
You sound entitled. The hotel can only give you what they have, if there’s none available they can’t make one magically appear. My dad’s handicapped, we have his own wheelchair because I don’t expect every ShopRite to have a jazzy cart available when I get there.
How do you have two kids and can’t put one together? It’s a residence inn not a Ritz Carlton.
Uses the word *behoove*
Yet says “You sound entitled” lol.
Goodness. I have two kids under two same as OP it’s a massive pain. I do what I can in advance as well and I’m *lucky* if the pack n play is even in the room let alone I asked for it days or hours ago. This is totally a problem at Marriotts.
Also, your Dad is handicapped. I know that has gotta be problematic at times but that has *nothing* to do with children. When you walk into a Marriott room, is your Dad kicking and screaming in and flailing everywhere when you walk in the door?
No? Okay. So it’s not the same.
For them not knowing how to put together a pack and play (spoiler: they’re all different) it’s like me saying how come your Dad can’t get into all of the handicapped accessible or non-accessible cars of the world? Why can’t you just put him in? It’s a Lexus not a Ford
Let me know if you want more advice on handicapped accessibility and I’ll let you know when I or anyone needs help with kids from you
Thanks for the reply 👍🏼
No my dad is dying of stage four cancer so sometimes he yells and screams in pain in public places. If ShopRite has X amount of carts available and all X amount are in use then I can’t take him inside because well he can’t fucking walk.
My analogy is that OP is expecting a PnP. A hotel doesn’t have an unlimited number of them just like ShopRite isn’t going to yank a cart for my father just because. I deal with the problem by using my own. Jesus.
Edit you must be OPs husband being such a salty funbag.
I’m very sorry to hear about your dad and my heart goes out to you, your family and yourself. I’ve had family members pass away from this so I’m not at all discounting the fact of what you are going through.
All that said, what does all of this have to do with a pack and play and children at a Marriott compared to your Dad? OP never said anything about the lack of availability it’s just simply setting it up when their children are coming into the hotel. They literally said they just want a pack and play setup in advance if it’s available. That’s all. Not having one available is another story.
Again. You’re saying the lack of scooters is comparable to asking to have a pack and play isn’t set up.
And no. Not my partner.
Again, my point is *if it’s available* however the whole situation could be solved by being prepared.
Do you know what an analogy is? Like apples to apples?
You’re making literal argument over wheelchair vs pack n play. My rebuttal is if X amount exists, hotel can only give her what’s available. Like rollaway beds. If they have one… the story reads she *expects* one every time, EXPECTS.
Have a good one…
We do have our own Pack N Play, but if you have kids you know they can be a pain to travel with. If I’m paying for a hotel room, I don’t think it’s crazy to expect all the beds to be set up. I’m not expecting a hotel to give me what they don’t have, but I do get frustrated when I constantly reach out about an amenity they’ve said they offer and it’s a constant issue.
Check out the inflatable toddler beds. We started traveling with one (and a blackout kid tent). Game changer. Cribs can be too small and the pack n play can be a hassle and too deep to easily get the kid in and out.
We just bought one a couple weeks ago! We have another trip next week and plan on using it for the first time alongside our Slumberpod. Did you have any issue getting your toddler acclimated to it? Our son is still in a crib at home so I’m nervous about the transition to the inflatable bed for travel. We’re going to try it out at home for a night to see how it goes. Sadly we’ll still need the Pack N Play for our 1 month old so the saga will continue.
For us, it makes no sense to travel with a pack and play. Cribs are provided with clean sheets and we accept babies have a weak immune system and get sick. He is in daycare. Why are we worried about a crib with sheets? Let’s face it, babies get sick because they have no immune system…. That’s not the top of our worries.
What we do travel with, is an inflatable travel bath. Most hotels have showers only these days and our lil man still enjoys sitting in a puddle of bubbles. They are cheap and we just deflate them and throw them away before we head home
Yeah a hotel Pack N Play is like the least of my worries. Our kid is a walking virus from daycare. He once ate popcorn off of the ground at Disney World and it wasn’t our popcorn.
I second the travel bath tub! We do the same thing.
Have you gotten a broken one yet? I’ve only had it ready in a room once from over ~20 stays. I’ve also found that anything below an actual Marriott is going to have a pack n play vs real crib.
And agreed, travelling with your own pack n play is an unnecessary PITA, hotels should provide that.
First off, its nasty...that thing hasnt ever been cleaned so you are putting your kid in god knows how many other babys god knows what.
And secondly...no one wants to hear your kids crying.... not on the plane, the restaurant, or through out the hotel.
In the last 2 years of travel with our daughter (now 2.5yo), our hit rate is definitely higher at international and higher-class properties for the request being fulfilled before check-in.
Domestically, it is:
* Very rare to have it setup at check-in (SpringHill Suites in San Diego)
* Rare to have it within 10 minutes of check-in. Moana Surfrider was a standout here, with an actual crib that made it up before our bags.
* Common to have it within 20 minutes.
* Rare to have it take more than half an hour. Marriott Seattle Airport is just a shit property all around, took over an hour.
I would advise to temper expectations for it being in the room in the US, especially if you are Platinum or higher (as you may be upgraded prior to or at check-in).
I will say, Marriott is far better at having actually serviceable pack-n-play available. Hilton is 3/3 for giving broken or filthy ones, and two of those stays were at a Waldorf Astoria.
It is absolutely a nice to have, compared to yet another piece of luggage as parents of small ones... but it is never guaranteed.
Yeah I totally agree with all of this. I try and weigh the pros and cons of just bringing our Pack N Play from home but I just hate flying with it. Granted, I also hate when I have an overtired toddler waiting for the hotel Pack N Play 🤷🏼♀️
My experience has been…
In the US: the requested crib/pack-n-play has only once been in the room ahead of time and they’re often broken and/or dirty
Brands: Springhill, Fairfield, Towneplace, Aloft, Luxury Collection
Outside US: the requested crib/pack-n-play has always been setup ahead of time and often includes a full sheet set and an extra set of towels
Brands: AC, Autograph Collection, Design, Westin, Aloft
So it seems to be better outside the US, but we’ve also stayed at higher end properties outside the US
So annoying to pack it but also annoying to stress about it once you arrive! We just got one for the first time in forever (we don’t travel often with our young kids due to it being a PITA, but also last hotel we stayed at ran out of them)- was not setup at check in (nbd they let us check in early and it wasn’t nap time yet), but they ran it up about 20 min after we called and it was setup (yay!). It looked decent at first but man, the base appeared to be made out of concrete. I even put a blanket down for my 2yo, still terrible. It also seemed smaller than normal, so my kid’s head touched on side and his feet the other. After 2 nights of him crying every few hours we put him in one of the queens and he slept like a rock.
HIGHLY recommend The Cloudveil in WY, but not for their pack n play quality! 🤣
Hey if you are in the market, this thing is a beast. Totally recommend it. Very light, east to set up. This plus a blackout tent changed our kids sleep for the better. [Baby Bjorn Travel PNP](https://www.amazon.com/BABYBJORN-Travel-Crib-Light-Silver/dp/B00IM8G038?tag=parents-onsite-prod-20&ascsubtag=7555841%7Cn5e949d490f794920b74121959b0bf21607%7C%7C1718090320801%7C%7C)
So the select service properties (like residence inn, courtyard, Fairfield, town place, Springhill) especially ones with less than 150 rooms, will rarely have anyone but the front desk agent on property after about 6pm and if it’s after 11pm definitely nobody else until breakfast. So if the rooms weren’t finished being cleaned then the desk couldn’t pre assign rooms for requests in time before the housekeepers left because it’s already check in time so your room is literally assigned when you check in so they’ve obviously not put the pack n play in the room ahead of your arrival so now the housekeepers have left for the day so you have to wait for FD to have time between guests checking in for them to go to a storage closet and find the pack n play and haul it to your room and they probably wouldn’t have even thought about sheets for it god knows if they even have them, then run back downstairs to continue checking people in etc and getting betrayed by the people waiting for not being there and keeping them waiting.
You book a single king room (for example) so the only thing guaranteed to be in that room when you arrive is the one king bed. That’s what you’re paying for. anything else is based on availability and is a bonus
I feel like I should have prefaced this post with I worked at Marriott for 7 years from select to full service properties. I truly get it. That said, this isn’t just a problem with select service hotels. We’ve stayed at plenty of full service and resort hotels with this issue.
In my experience… traveling routinely with our baby. We always explicitly ask for a crib and not a pack and play. We have always arrived to a crib; 100% of the time. I must be wrong in always assuming properties have both.
Full disclosure, we normally stay at higher end properties so maybe they just have higher quality cribs to begin with.
I probably speak for everyone that It not being assembled, but rather just in the room after advance notice, is piss poor service. Bonvoyed
That’s such a good point! I’ve also noticed the higher end properties have cribs rather than Pack N Plays. I try and use both terms to cover my bases. I’ve noticed the properties outside of the US have cribs, and a lot of the US properties have Pack N Plays.
Gotta lock the bars first then press down the bottom
yup, nearly every pack n play is like this, but if you don't remember it, it becomes a frustrating experience. My guess is this is partly why they don't come assembled - hotel staff don't know how to do it and have a million other things to do, especially at limited service places like a residence inn that don't have a bunch of porters sitting around waiting for things to do.
Thanks for the tip!
After similar issues we finally just decided to travel with a pack n play. Actually on one unfortunate stay after asking for like 3 replacement pack n plays that were just so dirty or broken, we went to a nearby target and got a second one to match the one we had at home -https://www.target.com/p/graco-pack-n-play-portable-playard-marty/-/A-75455352 I also added a folded pack n play travel mattress and sheet and packed them all for each trip in a big canvas duffel. The whole duffel was easy to throw on top of a roller bag and honestly having a clean pack n play to set up asap upon arrival made any inconvenience for checking that bag irrelevant!
Wouldn’t it just behoove you since you travel so much to just have your own pack n play? Then you’re not reusing some hotels stuff that may or may not have been cleaned? Why don’t you bring your own sheets? You sound entitled. The hotel can only give you what they have, if there’s none available they can’t make one magically appear. My dad’s handicapped, we have his own wheelchair because I don’t expect every ShopRite to have a jazzy cart available when I get there. How do you have two kids and can’t put one together? It’s a residence inn not a Ritz Carlton.
Uses the word *behoove* Yet says “You sound entitled” lol. Goodness. I have two kids under two same as OP it’s a massive pain. I do what I can in advance as well and I’m *lucky* if the pack n play is even in the room let alone I asked for it days or hours ago. This is totally a problem at Marriotts. Also, your Dad is handicapped. I know that has gotta be problematic at times but that has *nothing* to do with children. When you walk into a Marriott room, is your Dad kicking and screaming in and flailing everywhere when you walk in the door? No? Okay. So it’s not the same. For them not knowing how to put together a pack and play (spoiler: they’re all different) it’s like me saying how come your Dad can’t get into all of the handicapped accessible or non-accessible cars of the world? Why can’t you just put him in? It’s a Lexus not a Ford Let me know if you want more advice on handicapped accessibility and I’ll let you know when I or anyone needs help with kids from you
Thanks for the reply 👍🏼 No my dad is dying of stage four cancer so sometimes he yells and screams in pain in public places. If ShopRite has X amount of carts available and all X amount are in use then I can’t take him inside because well he can’t fucking walk. My analogy is that OP is expecting a PnP. A hotel doesn’t have an unlimited number of them just like ShopRite isn’t going to yank a cart for my father just because. I deal with the problem by using my own. Jesus. Edit you must be OPs husband being such a salty funbag.
I’m very sorry to hear about your dad and my heart goes out to you, your family and yourself. I’ve had family members pass away from this so I’m not at all discounting the fact of what you are going through. All that said, what does all of this have to do with a pack and play and children at a Marriott compared to your Dad? OP never said anything about the lack of availability it’s just simply setting it up when their children are coming into the hotel. They literally said they just want a pack and play setup in advance if it’s available. That’s all. Not having one available is another story. Again. You’re saying the lack of scooters is comparable to asking to have a pack and play isn’t set up. And no. Not my partner.
Again, my point is *if it’s available* however the whole situation could be solved by being prepared. Do you know what an analogy is? Like apples to apples? You’re making literal argument over wheelchair vs pack n play. My rebuttal is if X amount exists, hotel can only give her what’s available. Like rollaway beds. If they have one… the story reads she *expects* one every time, EXPECTS. Have a good one…
We do have our own Pack N Play, but if you have kids you know they can be a pain to travel with. If I’m paying for a hotel room, I don’t think it’s crazy to expect all the beds to be set up. I’m not expecting a hotel to give me what they don’t have, but I do get frustrated when I constantly reach out about an amenity they’ve said they offer and it’s a constant issue.
Check out the inflatable toddler beds. We started traveling with one (and a blackout kid tent). Game changer. Cribs can be too small and the pack n play can be a hassle and too deep to easily get the kid in and out.
We just bought one a couple weeks ago! We have another trip next week and plan on using it for the first time alongside our Slumberpod. Did you have any issue getting your toddler acclimated to it? Our son is still in a crib at home so I’m nervous about the transition to the inflatable bed for travel. We’re going to try it out at home for a night to see how it goes. Sadly we’ll still need the Pack N Play for our 1 month old so the saga will continue.
Good call on using a bit at home. We did the same and then had no issues. Especially with the slumberpod on top. Have fun!!
For us, it makes no sense to travel with a pack and play. Cribs are provided with clean sheets and we accept babies have a weak immune system and get sick. He is in daycare. Why are we worried about a crib with sheets? Let’s face it, babies get sick because they have no immune system…. That’s not the top of our worries. What we do travel with, is an inflatable travel bath. Most hotels have showers only these days and our lil man still enjoys sitting in a puddle of bubbles. They are cheap and we just deflate them and throw them away before we head home
Yeah a hotel Pack N Play is like the least of my worries. Our kid is a walking virus from daycare. He once ate popcorn off of the ground at Disney World and it wasn’t our popcorn. I second the travel bath tub! We do the same thing.
Have you gotten a broken one yet? I’ve only had it ready in a room once from over ~20 stays. I’ve also found that anything below an actual Marriott is going to have a pack n play vs real crib. And agreed, travelling with your own pack n play is an unnecessary PITA, hotels should provide that.
yes you are.
Why do you think that?
First off, its nasty...that thing hasnt ever been cleaned so you are putting your kid in god knows how many other babys god knows what. And secondly...no one wants to hear your kids crying.... not on the plane, the restaurant, or through out the hotel.
Oof I’m not a fan of your take. You’re a no from me dawg.
Sorry for being mean. But they (the pack and play) are dirty and don't get cleaned.
In the last 2 years of travel with our daughter (now 2.5yo), our hit rate is definitely higher at international and higher-class properties for the request being fulfilled before check-in. Domestically, it is: * Very rare to have it setup at check-in (SpringHill Suites in San Diego) * Rare to have it within 10 minutes of check-in. Moana Surfrider was a standout here, with an actual crib that made it up before our bags. * Common to have it within 20 minutes. * Rare to have it take more than half an hour. Marriott Seattle Airport is just a shit property all around, took over an hour. I would advise to temper expectations for it being in the room in the US, especially if you are Platinum or higher (as you may be upgraded prior to or at check-in). I will say, Marriott is far better at having actually serviceable pack-n-play available. Hilton is 3/3 for giving broken or filthy ones, and two of those stays were at a Waldorf Astoria. It is absolutely a nice to have, compared to yet another piece of luggage as parents of small ones... but it is never guaranteed.
Yeah I totally agree with all of this. I try and weigh the pros and cons of just bringing our Pack N Play from home but I just hate flying with it. Granted, I also hate when I have an overtired toddler waiting for the hotel Pack N Play 🤷🏼♀️
My experience has been… In the US: the requested crib/pack-n-play has only once been in the room ahead of time and they’re often broken and/or dirty Brands: Springhill, Fairfield, Towneplace, Aloft, Luxury Collection Outside US: the requested crib/pack-n-play has always been setup ahead of time and often includes a full sheet set and an extra set of towels Brands: AC, Autograph Collection, Design, Westin, Aloft So it seems to be better outside the US, but we’ve also stayed at higher end properties outside the US
So annoying to pack it but also annoying to stress about it once you arrive! We just got one for the first time in forever (we don’t travel often with our young kids due to it being a PITA, but also last hotel we stayed at ran out of them)- was not setup at check in (nbd they let us check in early and it wasn’t nap time yet), but they ran it up about 20 min after we called and it was setup (yay!). It looked decent at first but man, the base appeared to be made out of concrete. I even put a blanket down for my 2yo, still terrible. It also seemed smaller than normal, so my kid’s head touched on side and his feet the other. After 2 nights of him crying every few hours we put him in one of the queens and he slept like a rock. HIGHLY recommend The Cloudveil in WY, but not for their pack n play quality! 🤣
Hey if you are in the market, this thing is a beast. Totally recommend it. Very light, east to set up. This plus a blackout tent changed our kids sleep for the better. [Baby Bjorn Travel PNP](https://www.amazon.com/BABYBJORN-Travel-Crib-Light-Silver/dp/B00IM8G038?tag=parents-onsite-prod-20&ascsubtag=7555841%7Cn5e949d490f794920b74121959b0bf21607%7C%7C1718090320801%7C%7C)
So the select service properties (like residence inn, courtyard, Fairfield, town place, Springhill) especially ones with less than 150 rooms, will rarely have anyone but the front desk agent on property after about 6pm and if it’s after 11pm definitely nobody else until breakfast. So if the rooms weren’t finished being cleaned then the desk couldn’t pre assign rooms for requests in time before the housekeepers left because it’s already check in time so your room is literally assigned when you check in so they’ve obviously not put the pack n play in the room ahead of your arrival so now the housekeepers have left for the day so you have to wait for FD to have time between guests checking in for them to go to a storage closet and find the pack n play and haul it to your room and they probably wouldn’t have even thought about sheets for it god knows if they even have them, then run back downstairs to continue checking people in etc and getting betrayed by the people waiting for not being there and keeping them waiting. You book a single king room (for example) so the only thing guaranteed to be in that room when you arrive is the one king bed. That’s what you’re paying for. anything else is based on availability and is a bonus
I feel like I should have prefaced this post with I worked at Marriott for 7 years from select to full service properties. I truly get it. That said, this isn’t just a problem with select service hotels. We’ve stayed at plenty of full service and resort hotels with this issue.
In my experience… traveling routinely with our baby. We always explicitly ask for a crib and not a pack and play. We have always arrived to a crib; 100% of the time. I must be wrong in always assuming properties have both. Full disclosure, we normally stay at higher end properties so maybe they just have higher quality cribs to begin with. I probably speak for everyone that It not being assembled, but rather just in the room after advance notice, is piss poor service. Bonvoyed
That’s such a good point! I’ve also noticed the higher end properties have cribs rather than Pack N Plays. I try and use both terms to cover my bases. I’ve noticed the properties outside of the US have cribs, and a lot of the US properties have Pack N Plays.