If Theresa Jorgensen’s family had been a bit smaller, SixSuitcaseTravel might have never seen the light of day. That would have been a huge loss for large traveling families across the country.
Theresa spoke with me recently from her home in Parker, CO, just outside Denver. “My husband is one of seven kids, and every year his family hosts a family reunion.
“After feeling frustrated trying to search for a hotel for a family reunion that could also accommodate six of us, I wondered how many hotels really do accommodate six,” said Theresa.
“We were amazed how many hotel results on the popular travel Web sites listed accommodations for six but upon further review of the direct hotel link, did not. So we started to do some research. That was about 3,000 cities ago.
So far we have identified more than 2,750 hotels in about 1,100 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico that cater to large families. So if you’ve been having trouble finding hotel accommodations for your family of five, six, seven or eight, we have good news. We’ve done the research for you.”
I have some personal familiarity with this problem. A year ago, we left on our annual Mystery Trip the night before we had planned due to an approaching ice storm. We drove as far as Sandusky, OH, and were looking for simple, inexpensive accommodations for five adults.
The weather-prompted early sendoff meant an unexpected—and therefore unbudgeted—expense. It amounted to another restaurant meal for five adults plus an extra night’s lodging.
I wanted to go clean but cheap, and I wanted us all in one room. We could make do with five in one room for one night, right? Wrong—or so it seemed after my umpteenth call. Finally, a Hampton Inn relented when I pleaded my case: Just one night, wouldn’t arrive until late anyway, etc., etc.
So we pulled it off. But I never thought about the fact that large families of five, six and up face this all the time. (Just to make sure we’re all on the same page here, we’re talking one room with permanent bedding.)
Theresa says a good section of her market are home schooling families. “Families who home school are often larger, and they find just what they’re looking for at the site. It solves a long-standing problem faced by big families.”
My nephew and his wife are a case in point. There are six of them, and they rarely find any hotel that will let them stay in one room. Two rooms or no deal. Well, for them, it’s no deal, and most of the time they opt for a travel trailer. It’s not always ideal, but it is at least affordable.
Theresa’s wesite lists hotels friendly to large families by state. Click on a state, and you’ll get a drop-down list of cities that have agreeable hotels.
Also listed are bedding type and a code for complimentary breakfasts. FCB is free continental breakfast while FBB designates a free breakfast buffet. FHB stands for free hot breakfast.
Other bonuses: Info about swimming pools (IP and OP for indoor and outdoor respectively). Listings note if the room is equipped with a fridge, microwave or kitchen and state the availability of an airport shuttle.
Theresa’s site has been up and running since October of 2008, and the reaction from both large traveling families and various hotel chains has been very positive. Little wonder.
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