Before You Book That Holiday Trip: The Safety Questions Parents Should Ask First

Grief expert Melissa Hull shares important questions families should ask before booking holiday accommodations.

The holidays are coming, and before we know it, families will be packing suitcases, loading up the car, and heading out to make memories with the people they love.

Here at Greatful Moments, we love finding ways for families to make memories together. Whether you’re planning a Thanksgiving getaway, visiting relatives for Christmas, or taking the kids somewhere special during their school break, there’s a lot to think about before you leave home.

We usually think about how much the hotel costs, whether there’s a swimming pool, how close we’ll be to restaurants and attractions, and whether the accommodations look nice in the pictures. But there’s something even more important we need to consider: Is the place we’re booking safe for our family?

I know safety isn’t always the most exciting part of planning a holiday trip. Nobody wants to think about something going wrong when they’re looking forward to spending time together. But asking a few questions before making a reservation could help families avoid preventable dangers.

Melissa Hull, a certified heart-centered grief and bereavement specialist, speaker, and author, is encouraging families to look beyond the pretty pictures and ask important safety questions before booking their holiday accommodations.

Her message is especially meaningful because she understands firsthand how devastating it can be to lose a child. Her son, Drew, died in a drowning accident, and she has devoted much of her life to helping others navigate grief while raising awareness about potential dangers.

Let’s take a look at the questions parents should consider before booking that next family getaway.

Six Safety Questions to Ask Before Booking Your Holiday Stay

1. Is our transportation safe?-Whether you’re renting a vehicle, hiring a driving service, or arranging transportation once you arrive, safety needs to be part of the plan.

Ask about vehicle safety, seat belts, and appropriate car seats for younger children. If you’re traveling with little ones, don’t assume a suitable car seat will automatically be available when you arrive. Find out ahead of time whether you need to bring your own or make arrangements for one.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning a trip, but getting everyone to the destination safely is the first step toward enjoying it.

2. Is the room or rental property safe for our family?– Those beautiful vacation rental photographs may show a gorgeous kitchen, comfortable beds, and a swimming pool that looks like something out of a magazine. But photographs don’t tell you everything you need to know.

Before booking a hotel, condo, or vacation rental, ask about smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. If you’re traveling with young children, find out whether appropriate childproofing is available. Check on balcony safety, stairways, and the locks on doors and windows. If you’re booking adjoining rooms, ask about the arrangements and security features. Parents know that children can find trouble in places adults might never consider dangerous. Taking a little time to look at the accommodations from a child’s perspective can help you identify concerns before you arrive.

3. What is the surrounding area like?– Safety doesn’t stop at the front door. Before reserving your accommodations, learn about the neighborhood and the immediate surroundings. Consider how you’ll enter and leave the property, especially if you’ll be returning after dark.

Read recent reviews, look at the property’s location, and ask the owner or management company any questions you have about the area. You don’t have to know every detail about a destination before visiting, but you should have enough information to make an informed decision about where your family will stay.

4. How accessible are emergency services?– Nobody wants to imagine needing emergency assistance while on vacation. Still, knowing what to do before an emergency happens can make a difficult situation easier to navigate. Find out how to contact emergency services at your destination and consider the location of nearby medical facilities. If you’re staying somewhere remote, understand what that means for reaching help. Keep important contact information accessible, and make sure the adults traveling with you know how to respond if something unexpected happens.

5. What events or crowds will be nearby during our stay?– A destination can look one way when you’re browsing its website and feel very different when you arrive during a major event. Check whether festivals, large gatherings, sporting events, or other activities are scheduled near your accommodations during your travel dates.

Melissa Hull encourages families to consider the crowds and activities that may be happening in the area. Knowing what to expect can help you decide whether the location is a good fit for your family and whether you’ll need to make additional arrangements. This is particularly worth considering when traveling with children or when you want a quiet, relaxing holiday.

6. What water safety measures are in place?– This is an especially important question for families staying near swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water. Don’t assume that a pool or waterfront property has every safety feature your family needs. Ask about barriers, gates, access points, and other protective measures.

Parents should also consider their children’s ages, swimming abilities, and supervision needs. Even children who know how to swim need appropriate supervision around water. If a property has a pool or hot tub, find out how children could access it and what precautions are in place when the area isn’t being used. Water can be part of a wonderful family vacation, but it deserves our attention and respect. Taking precautions before arrival is far better than discovering a safety concern after you’ve unpacked.

Don’t Stop at the Booking Photos– Once you’ve found a property that looks promising, take the next step and ask questions directly. Read reviews, check the available property information, and contact the owner or management company if anything is unclear. If you have concerns about the surrounding area, you can also seek appropriate local safety information.

The important thing is not to assume that every safety feature you have at home will automatically be available wherever you travel. A few extra questions before making a reservation can help you decide whether a property meets your family’s needs.

Turning Personal Loss Into a Mission to Help Others– Melissa Hull’s work is deeply connected to her own experience of grief. After losing her four-year-old son, Drew, in a drowning accident, she began a long and difficult journey toward learning how to live with that loss.

Today, she works as a grief and bereavement specialist, speaker, and author, sharing what she has learned with people navigating the loss of someone they love. Her book, Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief, shares her personal journey and explores how people can continue living meaningful lives while carrying grief.

Hull’s work also incorporates meditation, spiritual connection, energy work and Reiki, grounding practices, emotional processing, and mindset work. Through her resources, she aims to help people find ways to move forward without pretending that grief simply disappears. You can learn more about Melissa and her work on her official website. You can also learn more about her book, Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief, and find purchasing information.

Now I would like to share some Greatful Thoughts to Take With You- Friends, planning a holiday should be exciting. We want to think about the family pictures we’ll take, the places we’ll visit, the food we’ll enjoy, and the memories we’ll carry home with us.

But being prepared is part of taking care of the people we love. Before you click that booking button, take a few extra minutes to ask questions. Check the safety features. Think about your children’s needs. Find out what you need to know about pools, balconies, transportation, and the surrounding area.

And please remember that asking questions doesn’t mean you’re expecting something bad to happen. It simply means you’re doing your best to make an informed decision for your family. Melissa Hull’s message is a reminder that safety deserves a place in our travel plans, even when it’s easier to focus on the fun.

Here at Greatful Moments, we believe the little things matter. Sometimes those little things are the questions we ask before we ever leave home. May your holiday travels be safe, your family time be meaningful, and your memories be filled with reasons to be grateful, thankful, and blessed.

🦋 🐸 ✝️

Greatful Moments — Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

Learn More Melissa Hull: Official website Her book: Dear Drew: Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief

Sources and Further Reading: The original press release provided by Melissa Hull’s representatives references the following sources for its travel-safety discussion:

Editorial note: The nearly 82 million traveler figure refers to AAA’s 2025 Thanksgiving forecast. It should not be interpreted as a forecast for the 2026 holiday season.

GratefulMoments.com

Greatful. Thankful. Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates