Family Friendly Hotels in Murree: What to Look For

The best family hotels in Murree are the ones that suit your children's ages and your car situation, not simply the ones with the best views. For toddlers and older grandparents, a resort with a kids' club, parking and a flat site in Bhurban or Lower Topa is the easiest. For families who want to walk to dinner, a hotel on or just above the Mall Road works better, if you check the room, the heating and the noise first.

This page is about what makes a hotel suitable for a family and where the resort-style options are. For a comparison of Murree's neighbourhoods, see our guide to where to stay in Murree.

What a family room should mean

The phrase "family room" is used loosely in Murree. Before booking, ask the hotel for the following in writing or by message.

• The actual size. Is it one large room with extra beds, or two connected rooms? A family of five in a standard double with a mattress on the floor is not a family room.
• The number of beds and bedding. Nights are cold even in summer, and blankets should be enough for the number of people.
• A working heater. Ask what kind, and whether it is included in the price or charged per night. Gas heaters need a ventilated room, and our note on gas heater safety explains why.
• Hot water. Ask whether it comes from a geyser that runs all day or only at set hours.
• The floor and the stairs. Many Murree hotels are built into a slope, and the room you are allocated may be up two or three flights with no lift. That matters with a pram, small children or older parents.

What safe surroundings look like

Murree hotels stand on steep hillsides, so safety for children is mostly about the building and the ground around it.

• Balconies and railings. Check that the balcony railing is high and solid, and that there are no gaps a small child can get through.
• The approach. In winter and in the monsoon, steep lanes ice over or turn slick. A hotel on a main road with its own parking is safer than one at the end of a narrow lane.
• Traffic. Hotels on Cart Road and at the Jhika Gali and Kuldana junctions sit beside busy roads. Ask which side the family room faces.
• Fire exits and gas. Look for a clear stairway and be careful with any heater in a room where children sleep.
• The Mall Road at night. It is busy and crowded on summer evenings and weekends, so keep a close eye on children and agree a meeting point in case anyone is separated.

Resort hotels with kids' facilities

If you want the hotel to be part of the holiday, two well-known resorts stand out.

Pearl-Continental Bhurban sits in the mountains within about a 15-minute drive of the Mall Road. Listings and the hotel's own site describe a kids' club and play area, family rooms, pools and a cinema. It is at the upper end of the price range and you will need the car for anything outside the resort.

Ramada by Wyndham Murree Lower Topa Resort is among the pine forest a few kilometres below town on the Expressway. Booking sites list a kids' club, babysitting and a children's pool. Again, expect to use a car to reach the town.

Facilities and prices at both change, so confirm what is open on your dates, especially pools and the kids' club in the colder months.

Hotels on the Mall Road

Hotels on or near the Mall Road put you within walking distance of food, shops and the chairlift routes, and suit families who don't want to drive in the evening. They range from simple guesthouses to modern chain hotels such as Hotel One on the Mall Road. Vehicles are heavily restricted on the Mall, so ask exactly where to park and how to get luggage and small children from the car to the room.

Noise is the trade-off. Rooms facing the Mall hear crowds and music late in the night in season, so ask for a room at the back.

Booking tips

1. Book early for summer weekends, Eid and August. Murree fills up and rooms that remain are often the worst ones.
2. Prefer weekdays. Traffic, crowds and rates are all lower, and the town is calmer for children.
3. Ask for the total price. Ask about tax, service charges, heater fees and breakfast so you know the final figure. Rates change through the year, and any online figure is a guide only.
4. Carry your CNIC and family documents. Hotels can ask for identification on check-in. Our page on nikah nama and hotel check-in covers what is asked of couples.
5. Confirm by phone the day before, and get the booking in writing.

Which type suits your family?

• Toddlers or a pram: a resort in Bhurban or Lower Topa, with a flat site, parking and facilities on the property.
• Older children who like to explore: a hotel near the Mall Road, so they can walk out in the evening.
• Grandparents: a hotel with a lift or ground-floor rooms and heating. The Mall Road slopes are tiring.
• A tight budget: a simple guesthouse a short drive from the centre with parking usually gives you more space for the same price than one on the Mall. See our Murree trip cost guide for how the rest of the budget works.

If you would like help choosing and booking, our trip planning page is the place to start.

Frequently asked questions