MiniTime is a new website for parents to share their first hand their own experiences, photos, reviews, and recommendations for family-friendly travel to benefit the rest of us. Think TripAdvisor but with kids in mind.

With reviews and suggestions from frequent travelers you get loads of ideas and an overview of what to expect on your journey--or even suggestions if you're not sure where you want to go. Of course the longer it's up the better it will get, because any crowd-sourced review site is only as good as the number of users. But this one is off to a nice start. 

The search engine actually recommends hotels and attractions based on your interests and your kids' ages--I love that they understand the differences between a 2 year-old and a 13 year-old, and that the search doesn't assume you have a maximum of two children.


MiniTime also features a variety of trip tips including helpful packing checklists by age. Plus it really does tell you the kinds of things parents can't always find automatically on a regular booking engine or even a hotel website. Want to know about suites with doors? Video game systems in the room? Cribs and rollaway beds? All noted here. In fact, there are icons next to each destination indicating amenities like babysitting, kids' clubs, in-room refrigerators, and separate kiddie pools. How refreshing not to have to call to ask these things (and then have the desk clerk give you the wrong info half the time).

If you love it, join the community by creating a profile and adding your own travel experiences, reviews and photos to help others in need of an easy and painless family escape.