(MONEY Magazine) – So this is the summer you promised to pack the kids in the car for that long trek to Grandma's, the Grand Canyon or Disney World. (Oh, the things you do for your family.) We figured the least we can do for parents facing that ordeal is to offer suggestions for child-friendly lodging--places where the tadpoles will be distracted long enough for you to snatch a few hours' peace or even get away for a day trip with your mate.

Your surest, if most expensive, bet is to call your travel agent or a lodger's 800 reservation number to book a room at one of the large, upscale national hotel chains, such as Hilton and Hyatt. Many welcome kids with amenities ranging from simple gifts like a wrist kite to supervised activities and even babysitting services. Be warned, however, that you may pay around $200 a night this summer, compared with $50 or less at a typical no-frills interstate motel, like a Day's Inn or Budgetel. But if it comes down to a choice between splurging or a splitting headache (or two), here are the best of the bunch:

--Hilton Hotels. The chain has 21 resorts that offer supervised children's activities in the summertime, ranging from arts and crafts to hula dancing. For example, the Pointe Hilton Resort at Squaw Peak in Phoenix offers day camp--and they mean all day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.--for $45, or $8 an hour. A two-story loft that sleeps at least six and includes a kitchenette will set you back $239 this summer. That price includes breakfast for four. Extra guests can eat for $10 each. Pet privileges vary from one Hilton to another, so ask when you call (800-HILTONS).

--Holiday Inns. The SunSpree Resort Lake Buena Vista, Fla. and the Hotel & Suites Main Gate East in Kissimmee, Fla. are both less than 10 miles from Disney World and Universal Studios, and both offer Kidsuites for an extra $49 on top of the $75 to $109 room rate. The suite is actually two separate rooms with a queen-size bed, TV and VCR for parents in one, and a playhouse duded up like a western fort, Noah's ark or a space capsule in the other. The playhouse sleeps three and has its own TV, VCR, Nintendo and cassette player for your children to fight over. Pets 25 pounds or less are welcome at no extra cost. For more information, call Lake Buena Vista (800-FON-MAXX) or Kissimmee (800-FON-KIDS).

--Hyatt Hotels. Summer camp activities, like slumber parties and wildlife hikes, are available at 16 locations for children three to 12. Cost: about $7 an hour. Young buccaneers visiting the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, for example, go on a four-hour treasure hunt for $39, including meals. Rates range from $195 to $230 for a standard room that can sleep five comfortably. Sorry, no pets. For more information, call 800-233-1234.

If you prefer homier digs, consider one of the nation's more than 15,000 bed and breakfasts or country inns. Prices vary widely from $37 a night in, say, a rural community to $595 for trendy spots in northwestern Connecticut or Santa Catalina Island, Calif. You won't find many organized kid activities at these places, but many have yards to play in or are near parks. For example, the Inn on the Alameda in Santa Fe is a stone's throw from fishing, hiking and cultural sites. For $155 to $185 a night you get a room with two queen-size beds and private bath. Continental breakfast is included. For help finding an inn, call Bed & Breakfast Reservation Services Worldwide (504-336-4035) or the American Bed and Breakfast Association (804-379-2222).