According to AAA, more than one-third of the families surveyed in early 2016 were planning on enjoying a vacation in the near future. If you have a newborn, you know how difficult it can be to meet all your baby's needs in the comfort of your own home, let alone in an unfamiliar hotel room. If you're planning on taking a much-needed extended family vacation with a newborn, here are a few simple tips that can help you make your hotel stay more enjoyable:

Choose the Ideal Hotel Room

In the past, chances are you chose a hotel room based upon its price, proximity to shopping and restaurants, and the size of its pool. These are still important amenities to keep in mind. However, now that you have a newborn, there are other attributes you need to look for. Here are a few points to keep in mind while choosing a hotel room for your new family:

Consider a Suite – From the travel crib and all those toys to a bouncy chair and extra diapers, newborns take up a lot of space. Booking a suite will provide you with the extra room you will need to store all of your baby's needs. Additionally, having a separate bedroom is ideal when it's time for baby to take a quiet, uninterrupted nap.

Are Cribs Available? – Before you book the hotel, ask if they have any cribs available. If they don't have cribs available, consider a portable crib, instead. There are several models available that are designed just for newborn.

The Ideal Room – Ideally, you want to find a room or suite that is quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of busy families. Consider a room that isn't adjacent to the lobby or pool. A room at the end of a hallway is often the best bet because there is less foot traffic and noise to worry about.

Setting Up the Room

You've booked the ideal hotel room, and now it is time to begin enjoying your relaxing vacation. However, before you begin seeing the sights, or enjoy a nap, it is vital to create a makeshift nursery. For example, you can easily turn a desk or dresser into your diaper station. Store the extra diapers and wipes in a drawer to keep them out of the way.

Your newborn will be able to sense that your hotel room is a new and strange place. This is why it is important to make it as quiet and comfortable as possible. For instance, grab a roll of tape and use it to close the gap in the curtains. This will ensure that the room is nice and dark. Purchasing a small table fan or white noise machine will also help create some ambient noise that can help your baby sleep.

Finally, if there is still noise from the other families in the hotel, one of the best ways to drown it out is to simply place an extra pillow or rolled up pillowcase or towel in the gap between the door and floor.

A Few Additional Tips

Creating the ideal space for your baby is key, but there are a few other simple ways you can enjoy your family vacation even more. Here are a few extra tips to help make your hotel stay more relaxing:

Pack a teddy bear, blanket or crib sheet from home. These familiar items will smell like your house, which will be very soothing to your newborn.

When in doubt, let your baby sleep in the bathroom or the closet. These spaces are generally darker, more confined and quiet, which is the ideal situation for the baby.

Don't hesitate to ask the hotel staff for help. Chances are, you won't be the first family with a newborn to stay at the hotel. The staff will prove invaluable, so don't feel ashamed to ask for a little help!

Staying in a hotel with a newborn might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. With a little planning and preparation, it's possible to enjoy a relaxing vacation as a family.