A mom who’s been traveling with her kids for 19 years opts for cheap, unique accommodations over all-inclusive resorts

“My process usually starts with trying to find an interesting place to stay,” Cannon told BI of her trip-planning strategy. “I tend to start with unique accommodations and boutique hotels.”

Many families with young kids tend to book stays at all-inclusive resorts, and Cannon said she sees the appeal.

“They really make it easy for you. There are change tables, and everything is generally safe and set up for you,” she said, “At that toddler stage, it is very rewarding. But it’s all hands on deck.”

The accommodations Cannon has opted for instead of resorts have been larger than typical hotel rooms — giving parents a sense of privacy. Cannon added that it’s crucial to ensure the safety features yourself when researching these types of accommodations.

“We could put the baby and toddler in a separate room for naps,” she said, “or so they could go to bed early, and we could still enjoy our space.”

Cannon found that atypical accommodations were more fun as the kids got older. They’ve stayed in places with farm animals, wildlife, and firepits on the property.

“We took our first jungle-type adventure to Panama when my daughter was 6,” she said. “We stayed in a treehouse lodge.”

In Cannon’s experience, another perk of booking these stays over all-inclusive resorts is that they’re usually cheaper.

“There is often little correlation between price and the experience our family has at any given accommodations,” she said. “One of my niches through the years has been finding unique places to stay.”

For example, the family has since stayed in another treehouse in Oregon, a stationary train caboose in Nova Scotia, and a lighthouse hotel on Prince Edward Island in Canada — all cost less than $200 a night during their trips.

“They weren’t very expensive, but they were adventures,” she said.