Do you have cots, and is there a charge?

Premier Inn says travel cots are available at no extra cost ( Premier Inn: our rooms ). Holiday Inn's Kids Stay Free terms say a baby cot is complimentary , but some hotel rooms pages, such as Manchester Airport's, list a cot "with fee", so check ( Holiday Inn: Kids Stay and Eat Free terms ). Butlin's charges £10 for a travel cot for under-2s if you add it before you arrive ( Butlin's: FAQs ).

How do I reserve one?

Travelodge says you don't need to add an under-2 to your booking, but if you'd like a cot you should contact the hotel directly ( Travelodge: FAQs ). Its booking terms say cots are only available at some hotels ( Travelodge: booking terms ).

Can you confirm it in writing?

If cots are first come, first served, an email reply is the closest thing to a guarantee.

Can every room type take a cot?

Not always. Premier Inn's compact hub rooms aren't designed with space for a cot, and it doesn't provide one there ( hub by Premier Inn: my room ).

Is there a weight or height limit?

Few chains publish one. Premier Inn's cot guide is an exception: under 15 kg and 86 cm , a child who can't climb out , and one child under 3 per cot ( Premier Inn: baby cot guide ).

What kind of mattress does the cot have?

Premier Inn's travel cots are a simple frame with a padded base instead of a mattress ( Premier Inn: our rooms ). The Lullaby Trust suggests contacting the hotel or accommodation manager to check their policy on cot mattresses ( Lullaby Trust ).

Is the mattress cleaned between guests, and does it have a waterproof cover?

Both are on the Lullaby Trust's list. If you're not sure, it suggests bringing antibacterial wipes and possibly your own waterproof cover .

Is cot bedding provided?

Usually not. Premier Inn's cots come with no blankets , so bring your own baby bedding. Center Parcs says it doesn't provide cot bedding ( Center Parcs: FAQs ), and Haven and Butlin's supply no mattress or bedding with their hired cots ( Haven: terms and conditions , Butlin's: FAQs ).

Does a baby count towards the maximum occupancy?

Travelodge family rooms take a maximum of five people, including babies ( Travelodge: booking terms ). Holiday Inn's terms say maximum occupancy rules supersede the Kids Stay Free offer. Neither Premier Inn nor Holiday Inn says whether a baby in a cot counts, so ask if you'll be near the limit.

Will a cot fit with the sofa bed out?

Ask the hotel to picture the room with every bed in use. A family room that sleeps four may have no floor space left for a cot.

Do you have interconnecting rooms?

Premier Inn has them at some hotels , arranged through the hotel ( Premier Inn: family friendly hotels ). Travelodge says its hotels don't have interconnecting rooms , but you can ask the hotel to put your rooms near each other ( Travelodge: FAQs ).

At Travelodge, en suites have either a bath or a shower tray , depending on the hotel and room ( Travelodge: accessibility guide ). If bathtime matters, ask.

Travelodge says some of its hotels don't have one, which matters if you're carrying a pushchair, a cot bag and luggage.

Can I control the temperature in the room?

Premier Inn says not all rooms are air-conditioned ( Premier Inn: our rooms ). Travelodge marks rooms with air conditioning with a snowflake icon when you book ( Travelodge: FAQs ).

Is there a quieter room?

Ask to be away from the lift, the bar and any late-night function room.

Is there space to put the cot away from the window and radiator?

In a small room, this is worth asking before you arrive.

Do kids eat free, and what are the conditions?

The rules are rarely as simple as the headline. At Premier Inn, up to two under-16s get a free breakfast for each adult buying a Premier Inn Breakfast or Meal Deal ( Premier Inn: booking terms ). At Travelodge, up to two under-15s can have breakfast for £1 with each full-paying adult ( Travelodge: our restaurants ). Holiday Inn's Kids Eat Free in Europe is for children 12 and under ordering from the Kids' Menu with an adult guest who orders a full-priced main ( Holiday Inn: terms ).

Is breakfast served at this hotel?

Premier Inn says some hotels don't serve the Premier Inn Breakfast, and some breakfasts are run by a neighbouring restaurant ( Premier Inn: breakfast FAQs ).

Is there a fridge or a microwave?

Standard Premier Inn and Travelodge rooms have tea and coffee-making facilities , but neither chain promises a fridge or microwave for storing or warming milk, so ask. Premier Inn's hub rooms have no kettle at all.

What time can we check in, and can we leave late?

At Premier Inn, check-in is from 3pm and checkout by noon , with paid early check-in from 11am and late checkout to 2pm at some hotels ( Premier Inn: arriving and departing ). Travelodge check-in is also from 3pm , with paid early check-in and late checkout at selected hotels.

Is reception open all night?

Premier Inn and Travelodge both say reception is open 24 hours , which helps if you need a spare blanket at 2am.

Which rate lets me cancel if my baby is ill?

Premier Inn's Flex rate can be cancelled until 1pm on the arrival day ( Premier Inn: room rates ). Travelodge's Flexible rate gives a full refund until midday on the arrival day ; its Lowest Rate can't be changed or refunded ( Travelodge: FAQs ).

Premier Inn and Travelodge may both ask for photo ID at check-in.

What's the most important thing to ask?

Whether there's a cot , whether it's free , and how to reserve it. At Travelodge you contact the hotel directly; at Premier Inn cots are on request ( Travelodge: FAQs , Premier Inn: our rooms )

Do hotels provide cot bedding?

Often not . Premier Inn's travel cots have no blankets , and Center Parcs, Haven and Butlin's all ask you to bring your own bedding

Does my baby count towards the room limit?

It depends on the chain. Travelodge family rooms take a maximum of five, including babies . Premier Inn and Holiday Inn don't say whether a baby in a cot counts, so ask ( Travelodge: booking terms )

Do I need to add my baby to the booking?

At Travelodge, not if they're under 2 , but you contact the hotel for a cot. Elsewhere, check the booking form and terms

Should I ask about the mattress?

Yes. The Lullaby Trust says a provided cot mattress should be firm and flat with no rips, tears or sagging , have a waterproof cover , and be cleaned after each use with fresh bedding ( Lullaby Trust: safer sleep on holiday )

What room temperature is right for a baby?

16 to 20°C , says the Lullaby Trust, so ask whether you can control the heating or air conditioning

Can I trust a hotel cot to be safe?

Check it yourself. The Lullaby Trust warns hotel cots don't always follow safer sleep guidelines

What to ask a hotel before you book with a baby

Most of the surprises on a hotel stay with a baby come from things nobody thought to ask: the cot that turns out to be "subject to availability", the family room that can't fit it, or the breakfast deal that only works if an adult pays for theirs. A five-minute email to the hotel before you book sorts most of it out.

This checklist pulls together the published policies of Premier Inn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn, Center Parcs, Haven and Butlin's, plus the Lullaby Trust's safer sleep advice, checked October 2026. Hotels change their rules, so treat it as a list of questions, not answers.

Key facts

Short answer: Before you book, ask the hotel whether it has a cot and whether it's free, how to reserve one, whether bedding comes with it and whether your baby counts towards the room's maximum occupancy. Get the answers in writing, because chains differ a lot: Premier Inn's travel cots are free on request but come without blankets, Travelodge says under-2s don't need adding to the booking but you contact the hotel for a cot, and Holiday Inn's cot is complimentary under Kids Stay Free even though some hotel pages list a fee. When you arrive, check the cot against the Lullaby Trust's list: a firm, flat, waterproof mattress with no gaps, nothing soft inside, and placed away from radiators, windows and air conditioning.

Quick answers

Question	Answer
What's the most important thing to ask?	Whether there's a cot, whether it's free, and how to reserve it. At Travelodge you contact the hotel directly; at Premier Inn cots are on request (Travelodge: FAQs, Premier Inn: our rooms)
Do hotels provide cot bedding?	Often not. Premier Inn's travel cots have no blankets, and Center Parcs, Haven and Butlin's all ask you to bring your own bedding
Does my baby count towards the room limit?	It depends on the chain. Travelodge family rooms take a maximum of five, including babies. Premier Inn and Holiday Inn don't say whether a baby in a cot counts, so ask (Travelodge: booking terms)
Do I need to add my baby to the booking?	At Travelodge, not if they're under 2, but you contact the hotel for a cot. Elsewhere, check the booking form and terms
Should I ask about the mattress?	Yes. The Lullaby Trust says a provided cot mattress should be firm and flat with no rips, tears or sagging, have a waterproof cover, and be cleaned after each use with fresh bedding (Lullaby Trust: safer sleep on holiday)
What room temperature is right for a baby?	16 to 20°C, says the Lullaby Trust, so ask whether you can control the heating or air conditioning
Can I trust a hotel cot to be safe?	Check it yourself. The Lullaby Trust warns hotel cots don't always follow safer sleep guidelines

The cot: ask these first

The cot is the one thing that can make or break the stay, and the chains handle it in very different ways.

Do you have cots, and is there a charge? Premier Inn says travel cots are available at no extra cost (Premier Inn: our rooms). Holiday Inn's Kids Stay Free terms say a baby cot is complimentary, but some hotel rooms pages, such as Manchester Airport's, list a cot "with fee", so check (Holiday Inn: Kids Stay and Eat Free terms). Butlin's charges £10 for a travel cot for under-2s if you add it before you arrive (Butlin's: FAQs).
How do I reserve one? Travelodge says you don't need to add an under-2 to your booking, but if you'd like a cot you should contact the hotel directly (Travelodge: FAQs). Its booking terms say cots are only available at some hotels (Travelodge: booking terms).
Can you confirm it in writing? If cots are first come, first served, an email reply is the closest thing to a guarantee.
Can every room type take a cot? Not always. Premier Inn's compact hub rooms aren't designed with space for a cot, and it doesn't provide one there (hub by Premier Inn: my room).
Is there a weight or height limit? Few chains publish one. Premier Inn's cot guide is an exception: under 15 kg and 86 cm, a child who can't climb out, and one child under 3 per cot (Premier Inn: baby cot guide).

Mattress and bedding

What kind of mattress does the cot have? Premier Inn's travel cots are a simple frame with a padded base instead of a mattress (Premier Inn: our rooms). The Lullaby Trust suggests contacting the hotel or accommodation manager to check their policy on cot mattresses (Lullaby Trust).
Is the mattress cleaned between guests, and does it have a waterproof cover? Both are on the Lullaby Trust's list. If you're not sure, it suggests bringing antibacterial wipes and possibly your own waterproof cover.
Is cot bedding provided? Usually not. Premier Inn's cots come with no blankets, so bring your own baby bedding. Center Parcs says it doesn't provide cot bedding (Center Parcs: FAQs), and Haven and Butlin's supply no mattress or bedding with their hired cots (Haven: terms and conditions, Butlin's: FAQs).

If you'd rather not rely on what's provided, the Lullaby Trust says a travel cot of your own is fine as a main sleep space if the mattress is firm, flat, in good condition and meets British safety standards. Don't put folded blankets or a quilt underneath to make it "more comfortable". See our best travel cots.

Room size and who counts

Does a baby count towards the maximum occupancy? Travelodge family rooms take a maximum of five people, including babies (Travelodge: booking terms). Holiday Inn's terms say maximum occupancy rules supersede the Kids Stay Free offer. Neither Premier Inn nor Holiday Inn says whether a baby in a cot counts, so ask if you'll be near the limit.
Will a cot fit with the sofa bed out? Ask the hotel to picture the room with every bed in use. A family room that sleeps four may have no floor space left for a cot.
Do you have interconnecting rooms? Premier Inn has them at some hotels, arranged through the hotel (Premier Inn: family friendly hotels). Travelodge says its hotels don't have interconnecting rooms, but you can ask the hotel to put your rooms near each other (Travelodge: FAQs).
Is there a bath? At Travelodge, en suites have either a bath or a shower tray, depending on the hotel and room (Travelodge: accessibility guide). If bathtime matters, ask.
Is there a lift? Travelodge says some of its hotels don't have one, which matters if you're carrying a pushchair, a cot bag and luggage.

Heating, cooling and noise

The Lullaby Trust says the ideal room temperature for a baby is 16 to 20°C, and the cot should be placed away from radiators, windows and air conditioning (Lullaby Trust).

Can I control the temperature in the room? Premier Inn says not all rooms are air-conditioned (Premier Inn: our rooms). Travelodge marks rooms with air conditioning with a snowflake icon when you book (Travelodge: FAQs).
Is there a quieter room? Ask to be away from the lift, the bar and any late-night function room.
Is there space to put the cot away from the window and radiator? In a small room, this is worth asking before you arrive.

Food, milk and breakfast

Do kids eat free, and what are the conditions? The rules are rarely as simple as the headline. At Premier Inn, up to two under-16s get a free breakfast for each adult buying a Premier Inn Breakfast or Meal Deal (Premier Inn: booking terms). At Travelodge, up to two under-15s can have breakfast for £1 with each full-paying adult (Travelodge: our restaurants). Holiday Inn's Kids Eat Free in Europe is for children 12 and under ordering from the Kids' Menu with an adult guest who orders a full-priced main (Holiday Inn: terms).
Is breakfast served at this hotel? Premier Inn says some hotels don't serve the Premier Inn Breakfast, and some breakfasts are run by a neighbouring restaurant (Premier Inn: breakfast FAQs).
Is there a fridge or a microwave? Standard Premier Inn and Travelodge rooms have tea and coffee-making facilities, but neither chain promises a fridge or microwave for storing or warming milk, so ask. Premier Inn's hub rooms have no kettle at all.
Do you have highchairs? Center Parcs puts one in every lodge, Haven and Butlin's hire them for your accommodation, and Butlin's restaurants have highchairs. The hotel chains above don't say, so ask.

Arriving, leaving and cancelling

What time can we check in, and can we leave late? At Premier Inn, check-in is from 3pm and checkout by noon, with paid early check-in from 11am and late checkout to 2pm at some hotels (Premier Inn: arriving and departing). Travelodge check-in is also from 3pm, with paid early check-in and late checkout at selected hotels.
Is reception open all night? Premier Inn and Travelodge both say reception is open 24 hours, which helps if you need a spare blanket at 2am.
Which rate lets me cancel if my baby is ill? Premier Inn's Flex rate can be cancelled until 1pm on the arrival day (Premier Inn: room rates). Travelodge's Flexible rate gives a full refund until midday on the arrival day; its Lowest Rate can't be changed or refunded (Travelodge: FAQs).
Do you need ID? Premier Inn and Travelodge may both ask for photo ID at check-in.

A message you can send the hotel

Copy this, fill in the gaps and email it to the hotel itself rather than central reservations, since it's the hotel team that sets up the cot.

Hello,

We're booking a room for [dates] for [number] adults and our baby, who will be [age] months old. Could you let me know:

1. Do you have a cot for our room, is there a charge, and can you reserve one for us?
2. Does the cot have a mattress, and is it cleaned between guests? Is any cot bedding provided?
3. Does our baby count towards the room's maximum occupancy, and will a cot fit with all the beds in use?
4. Can we control the heating or air conditioning in the room?
5. Is there a fridge, microwave or kettle we can use for milk?
6. Do you have highchairs in the restaurant?

Thank you,
[Your name]

When you arrive: check the cot

The Lullaby Trust says hotel cots don't always follow safer sleep guidelines, so it's worth a two-minute check before the first nap. A cot should have (Lullaby Trust):

A firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
A well-fitting mattress, with no gaps between it and the sides of the cot.
No cot bumpers or soft items inside.
A rigid, firm base.
No damage to the cot.

Then:

Skip bulky bedding such as quilts, duvets, pillows or weighted blankets, which can cause overheating.
Place the cot away from radiators, windows and air conditioning.
Don't let your baby sleep in the car seat once you've arrived: the Lullaby Trust says car seats are for travelling, not a main sleeping place.

If the cot isn't right, ask reception for another, or use your own travel cot if you've brought one.

Holiday parks work differently

Holiday parks publish their baby policies more clearly than most hotels, but what's included still varies:

Holiday park	Cot	Bedding
Center Parcs	Free cot and highchair in every lodge, for under-2s	Not provided, bring your own
Haven	Hire at most parks, subject to availability	No mattress or bedding with the cot
Butlin's	£10 for under-2s, added before you arrive	No mattress or bedding with the cot

Checklist before you book

Email the hotel directly with the questions above.
Reserve the cot, and keep the reply.
Check the room can take a cot with every bed in use, and whether your baby counts towards the limit.
Read the kids' breakfast conditions so you know what the adults need to buy.
Pick a rate you can cancel if your baby is unwell close to the date.
Pack a fitted cot sheet, a baby sleeping bag, wipes and, if you're unsure about the mattress, a waterproof cover. Our packing list builder can help.

Sources

Lullaby Trust: safer sleep on holiday (checking a provided cot mattress, what a cot should have, bedding, placement, 16 to 20°C, car seats, your own travel cot)
Premier Inn: our rooms FAQs, family friendly hotels, baby cot guide, booking terms, breakfast FAQs, arriving and departing, room rates and hub: my room
Travelodge: frequently asked questions, booking terms and conditions, our restaurants and accessibility guide
Holiday Inn: Kids Stay and Eat Free terms and conditions and Manchester Airport rooms
Center Parcs: baby facilities and FAQs
Haven: terms and conditions
Butlin's: FAQs and baby and toddler holidays

Back to hotels and stays.

Last checked and updated: 18 October 2026 · Kiddieko · How we check facts

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What to ask a hotel before you book with a baby

Quick answers

The cot: ask these first

Mattress and bedding

Room size and who counts

Heating, cooling and noise

Food, milk and breakfast

Arriving, leaving and cancelling

A message you can send the hotel

When you arrive: check the cot

Holiday parks work differently

Checklist before you book

More on staying away with a baby

Sources

The Kiddieko letter

What to ask a hotel before you book with a baby

Quick answers

The cot: ask these first

Mattress and bedding

Room size and who counts

Heating, cooling and noise

Food, milk and breakfast

Arriving, leaving and cancelling

A message you can send the hotel

When you arrive: check the cot

Holiday parks work differently

Checklist before you book

More on staying away with a baby

Sources

Related guides

The Kiddieko letter