Clare Hawthorne

When our son—let’s call him Jet—came home from the hospital, he had his own room. Always has. From day one, my husband (we’ll call him R) and I knew that separate sleep spaces were our non-negotiable.

Our first overnight in a hotel, when Jet was around six months old, confirmed it. The pack & play was in our room, and none of us knew what to do. We whispered. We tiptoed. We stared at the ceiling. No one slept.

We briefly considered the usual travel-parent gear—the tents, the blackout pods—but ultimately realized that what worked for us wasn’t gear. It was a door.

With a moderate-luxury budget, that’s meant more Airbnbs and fewer hotel rooms. But over time, we’ve found a few stays that deliver the best of both worlds: privacy, flexibility, and a little style. The kind of places where everyone gets a decent night’s sleep—and no one has to hide in the bathroom with their phone at 8 pm.

The catch? They’re incredibly hard to find.

Minor Upgrades are here to change that. I’m here to help you plan family travel that works—sleep-smart hotel picks, gear that earns its spot in the suitcase, and point-powered perks that feel like actual wins.

Because whether your kid is six months or sixteen years old, no one wants to sleep in the same room.