Best Family Hotels in Osaka: Avoid Tiny Rooms and Painful Transfers

Choosing the best family hotels in Osaka is not simply a matter of finding the highest review score or the cheapest room labelled “family-friendly.” The real test comes at 8:30 p.m., when one child is asleep in the stroller, another needs dinner, two suitcases are blocking the doorway and the supposed “quadruple room” turns out to mean two beds plus unpaid bed-sharing.

Osaka is an easy city to enjoy with children, but it is also a city where a small accommodation mistake can create unnecessary daily friction. A hotel may be advertised as five minutes from “Namba,” yet be convenient for the Nankai airport train and awkward for the subway line you use every morning. A room may accept five guests, yet provide only four actual sleeping surfaces. A USJ hotel may save your family before and after a long park day, but cost extra time if most of your itinerary is in Namba, Osaka Castle or the aquarium.

This guide focuses on what changes a family trip in practice: the number of real beds, usable floor space, bathroom layout, laundry options, stroller routes, airport access and the exact station that sits closest to the hotel. Prices move sharply by season, so the symbols below compare the usual positioning of family-sized rooms rather than promising a fixed nightly rate.

The 1-Min Cheat Sheet

• MIMARU Osaka Namba Station — Best for families who need real living space.
  Best for: Four to six people, picky eaters, longer stays and parents who want a dining table after bedtime.
  Transport advantage: Particularly convenient for Nankai Namba and the direct airport railway; also walkable to Dotonbori, Kuromon Market and Nipponbashi.
  Room reality: Apartment-style rooms start around 35 square metres, with a kitchen and separate beds clearly shown by room type. Larger two-bedroom categories add more privacy and, in selected categories, an in-room washer-dryer.
  Price indicator: $$$$ — expensive at first glance, but often competitive against booking two ordinary hotel rooms.
• Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka — Best for airport convenience and in-room laundry.
  Best for: Families arriving through Kansai Airport, stays of four nights or more, and parents who want a separate bedroom.
  Transport advantage: A short, relatively straightforward walk from Nankai Namba, where direct airport trains arrive.
  Room reality: Studios are open-plan; one- and two-bedroom apartments are the categories that genuinely improve family privacy. Kitchen and washer-dryer facilities are a major advantage.
  Price indicator: $$$–$$$$ — the larger apartments cost more, but can replace two hotel rooms and reduce meal and laundry spending.
• Hotel Universal Port Vita — Best for a low-stress USJ visit.
  Best for: Families spending one or two full days at Universal Studios Japan, especially those who value a short walk back after park closing.
  Transport advantage: Close to Universal City Station and the park entrance, with restaurants and convenience shopping nearby.
  Room reality: Several room types have separate bath and toilet areas; selected large and concept rooms sleep four to six. The exact category matters because entry-level rooms are not designed for a large family.
  Price indicator: $$–$$$$ — reasonable on quieter dates, but weekend and school-holiday prices can rise dramatically.
• karaksa hotel grande Shin-Osaka Tower — Best for Shinkansen trips and connecting rooms.
  Best for: Families visiting Kyoto or travelling onward by bullet train, plus groups that want two bathrooms without being separated across a corridor.
  Transport advantage: About a five-minute walk from Shin-Osaka, with JR, Shinkansen and Osaka Metro access.
  Room reality: Connecting-room combinations can sleep up to six and give families two bathrooms. The public bath is useful, but it does not replace the convenience of choosing the correct private-room layout.
  Price indicator: $$–$$$ — often strong value for the amount of space and rail convenience.
• Hotel Keihan Namba Grande — Best value for a modern family room in Namba.
  Best for: Families who want Namba access, a newer property and specific four- or five-person room categories without paying full apartment-hotel prices.
  Transport advantage: Convenient for Nankai Namba and Namba Parks; useful for airport arrivals and south Osaka sightseeing.
  Room reality: Family, bunk-bed and connecting categories are the rooms to target. Some selected rooms have a kitchenette and washer-dryer, but standard rooms do not automatically include them.
  Price indicator: $$–$$$ — usually one of the more balanced choices when the correct family category is available.

Price key: $$ generally means value-to-midrange for a family-sized room; $$$ means upper-midrange; $$$$ means premium apartment pricing or a major peak-date surcharge. Always compare the final price for your exact number of adults and children, including breakfast, taxes and extra-bed charges.

Top Survival Tips for Booking an Osaka Family Hotel

• Treat “Namba Station” as a district, not a single platform. Nankai Namba is the most useful of the Namba stations for direct Kansai Airport trains. Osaka Metro Namba is better for the Midosuji, Sennichimae and Yotsubashi subway lines. JR Namba is farther west, while Osaka-Namba serves Kintetsu and Hanshin trains. Before paying, map the hotel to the exact station and exit you will use with luggage.
• Count sleeping surfaces, not the occupancy number. “Sleeps four” may mean two adults and two young children sharing existing beds. It may also include a narrow sofa bed, a rollaway bed or Japanese futons that must be laid out each night. Open the room diagram and confirm the size and number of every bed.
• Enter children’s ages correctly on every booking site. Japanese hotels often apply age-based bed-sharing rules, and the official website may use a different child policy from an online travel agency. A room that appears available for two adults and two children can disappear—or become more expensive—when one child is counted as an adult.
• Do not assume the word “family” guarantees space. As a practical rule, a room under roughly 25 square metres can feel tight for three or four people once two large suitcases and a stroller are open. Around 35 square metres is far easier for a family of four, while 45 square metres or more becomes meaningfully comfortable for five or six. Layout still matters more than the headline number.
• Book the exact room category, not merely the right hotel. A property can have one excellent 44-square-metre bunk room and dozens of small standard twins. Check that the confirmation names the family, connecting, two-bedroom or apartment category you selected. Screenshots of the bed configuration are worth saving.
• Check whether laundry is truly inside your room. “Laundry facilities” often means a few coin-operated machines shared by the whole hotel. In-room combination washer-dryers are convenient but can take several hours for one cycle. Start laundry before dinner rather than joining the late-evening queue.
• Plan the elevator route, not the fastest stair route. Osaka stations can have lifts that sit away from the most obvious exit. The difference is minor for an adult with a backpack and miserable for a parent carrying a sleeping toddler. Save the hotel’s access map and station exit number offline before arrival.
• Consider a split stay for Universal Studios Japan. Two nights near Universal City can remove the hardest early morning and late evening from the trip. Move to Namba or another central area for the rest of the holiday instead of accepting repeated cross-city transfers.
• Compare the cost of one large room against two smaller rooms. A premium apartment can look expensive in search results, yet still cost less than two standard rooms. One apartment also avoids the risk of rooms being placed on different floors and gives parents a shared space after the children sleep.
• Use luggage forwarding strategically. Ask your current hotel whether it can send luggage to the next accommodation. Even forwarding one large suitcase can make a Shin-Osaka or Universal City transfer much easier with a stroller. Confirm delivery timing and whether the receiving property accepts luggage in advance.

The Full Experience

📍 MIMARU Osaka Namba Station

Best for: Families of 4–6 | Area: Nankai Namba / Nipponbashi | Standout: Kitchen, dining space and real multi-bed layouts | Price: $$$$

Why It Works for Families

MIMARU Osaka Namba Station solves the problem that defeats many otherwise good city hotels: a family needs somewhere to live, not merely somewhere to sleep. Even the 35-square-metre Family Apartment provides a kitchen, dining area and a defined bed for each of four guests. That is a major quality-of-life improvement over eating convenience-store breakfast while sitting on the edge of a suitcase.

The location is strongest for families arriving on the Nankai railway from Kansai Airport. The hotel is around a four-minute walk from the South Exit of Nankai Namba, while Nipponbashi is also within walking distance. Dotonbori and Kuromon Market are close enough for relaxed sightseeing, but the hotel is not directly inside the loudest part of the nightlife zone.

This property also has a playful identity that goes beyond placing a cartoon sticker in the lobby. Board games and social spaces give older children something to do during downtime, while the kitchen helps parents manage allergies, familiar breakfasts or a child who refuses restaurant food after a long day.

Best Room to Book

For four people, the Family Apartment is the sensible starting point: approximately 35 square metres with two single beds and a bunk bed. For five or six, move up to a Two-Bedroom Japanese Apartment or Two-Bedroom Family Suite. These larger categories provide better separation, multiple washbasins or toilets in selected layouts, and an in-room washer-dryer in the relevant two-bedroom room types.

Do not pay the MIMARU premium and then book the wrong category. Most standard family apartments rely on the hotel’s coin laundry rather than an in-room machine. If washing clothes inside the apartment is essential, confirm that the amenity appears on the exact room page and booking confirmation.

Getting There Without the Meltdown

Use Nankai Namba as your arrival target when coming from Kansai Airport. The South Exit is more useful than following a generic “Namba Station” pin. Families using Osaka Metro Namba will face a longer underground and street-level journey, while JR Namba is not the station this hotel is designed around.

The surrounding pavements can be busy, especially at meal times. Keep the final approach saved on your phone and avoid dragging luggage through the densest Dotonbori crowds simply because a map app chooses the most famous landmark.

✅ What Other Travelers Say

Across recent guest feedback, the repeated positives are unusually consistent: families appreciate the generous room size by Japanese city standards, the ability to sit around a table, the useful kitchen and the practicality of accommodating five or six people together. Parents also mention that the bed layout feels intentional rather than improvised.

Guests who stay several nights tend to value the property more than one-night visitors because the kitchen, dining area and storage become more useful over time. The hotel’s games and friendly staff are frequently described as memorable extras rather than the main reason to book.

⚠️ The Catch (Things to Keep in Mind)

The price can be substantially higher than a standard Osaka hotel, especially during school holidays. It delivers the best value when it replaces two rooms or when the family will genuinely use the kitchen and living area. Couples with one small child may find a simpler hotel more economical.

Also note that MIMARU’s child-counting rules are not identical to every booking platform’s display. Enter every child’s age accurately and read whether the quoted maximum assumes bed-sharing. Finally, do not confuse this hotel with other MIMARU properties in Namba or Shinsaibashi; the station access and room mix are not interchangeable.

Check MIMARU Osaka Namba Station family-room availability on Booking.com | Verify room layouts on the official hotel website

📍 Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka

Best for: Longer stays and easy KIX arrivals | Area: Nankai Namba | Standout: Kitchen and washer-dryer | Price: $$$–$$$$

Why It Works for Families

Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka is the grown-up, serviced-apartment alternative to a themed family hotel. The biggest advantage is logistical: after a flight, immigration and baggage collection, a direct Nankai train takes you to Namba, and the residence is only a short walk from the station. That matters more than a glamorous lobby when everyone is tired.

The apartments include cooking facilities and a washer-dryer, which can change the packing strategy for a family. Instead of carrying a week of clothes for every child, you can wash a small load during the stay. A supermarket meal or simple breakfast also saves money and protects the schedule on mornings when nobody is ready to sit through a restaurant breakfast.

The property works especially well for families who prefer a quieter, residential feeling while remaining close to Namba Parks, restaurants and the main entertainment district. It is central without requiring children to sleep directly above the busiest pedestrian streets.

Best Room to Book

A studio is practical for two adults and one younger child, but it remains an open-plan room. Families who care about bedtime privacy should book a One-Bedroom Deluxe, generally around 40–44 square metres, with a separate bedroom and living-dining area. A Two-Bedroom Deluxe, around 77 square metres, is the stronger choice for larger families or grandparents travelling together.

Check whether the quoted occupancy uses an existing bed, extra bed or sofa arrangement. The apartment may technically accept an additional guest, but the comfort level depends on how the sleeping space is configured. A separate bedroom is worth paying for when adults want to talk, work or prepare the next day after the children go to sleep.

Getting There Without the Meltdown

From Nankai Namba, the official route uses the station’s second-floor Central Gate area, followed by an escalator down and a street crossing near the elevated road. The walk is short, but a first-time visitor can accidentally exit on the wrong side of the large station complex. Follow the hotel’s access directions rather than a generic Namba pin.

This is one of the easiest selections in this guide for a family landing at Kansai Airport. It is less ideal for someone arriving at Shin-Osaka with several bags, because that journey requires a subway transfer or taxi.

✅ What Other Travelers Say

Family reviews repeatedly praise the location, helpful staff, cleanliness and convenience of having a kitchen and washing machine. Guests in one- and two-bedroom units often say the apartment format makes a longer stay feel less cramped and helps them maintain a normal family routine.

The residence also receives positive comments for being close to transport and food without feeling as chaotic as the centre of Dotonbori. For parents, this balance can be more valuable than a hotel attached to a shopping arcade.

⚠️ The Catch (Things to Keep in Mind)

The combined washer-dryer is useful, but these machines can run for several hours, especially with a full load. Do not begin the first wash just before bedtime and expect dry clothes an hour later. Smaller loads and an earlier start are safer.

The studios do not provide the privacy that the phrase “serviced residence” may suggest. Families should compare the premium for a one-bedroom unit rather than assuming every apartment has a separate sleeping room. The styling is also functional and calm rather than child-focused; book it for space and logistics, not entertainment.

Check Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka rates on Booking.com | Review apartment types on the official residence website

📍 Hotel Universal Port Vita

Best for: Universal Studios Japan days | Area: Universal City | Standout: Short post-park walk and family room choices | Price: $$–$$$$

Why It Works for Families

Hotel Universal Port Vita earns its place because location becomes part of the parenting strategy on a theme-park day. A short walk back from Universal Studios Japan means no crowded late-night train transfer with a sleeping child, no debate about leaving before the final attraction, and a realistic chance of returning to the room for a break if the weather or energy level collapses.

The hotel offers more than one type of family-friendly layout. Several rooms separate the bath and toilet, allowing one person to shower while another uses the toilet or basin. Larger concept rooms include low-bed options for younger children and spacious group layouts. The Rainbow Room, for example, uses three bunk beds and can accommodate up to six guests in a shoes-off setting.

Universal CityWalk provides nearby food and convenience options, so the family is not trapped in the hotel restaurant. That flexibility is useful when park queues push dinner late or children want something simple.

Best Room to Book

For three or four people, look beyond the smallest standard category and compare Vita Superior or Vita Deluxe Twin layouts, which provide more floor space and, in selected categories, capacity for four. For a larger group, target the specific room designed for five or six rather than assuming an extra bed can be added to any twin room.

Parents of toddlers should inspect the height and edges of the beds in the room photos. A low-bed or shoes-off concept room may be worth more than a scenic view. Older children may prefer the bunk-bed format because everyone gets a defined sleeping place.

Getting There Without the Meltdown

The hotel is close to Universal City Station on the JR Yumesaki Line. From central Osaka, most routes involve travelling through Nishikujo. With a stroller, allow extra time for lifts and platform changes rather than trusting the fastest transfer shown by a route app.

If USJ is only one day in a five-night Osaka trip, a split stay often works best: sleep near the park for one or two nights, then move to Namba or another central base. This avoids repeating the cross-city journey for every restaurant, market and sightseeing day.

✅ What Other Travelers Say

Families consistently highlight the easy walk to USJ, clean rooms, helpful staff and practical bathroom separation. Many parents say the proximity is most valuable at the end of a full park day, when even a simple train transfer feels disproportionately difficult.

Large-room guests appreciate having clearly assigned beds and enough floor space for children and luggage. Breakfast also receives positive feedback, although the best value depends on whether your family will actually eat early before entering the park.

⚠️ The Catch (Things to Keep in Mind)

Rates are highly sensitive to USJ demand. A room that looks like excellent value on a weekday can become one of the most expensive choices on a Saturday or holiday. Compare park-area prices before fixing non-refundable dates.

Universal City is a specialised base, not the most efficient location for a full Osaka sightseeing itinerary. Daily trips to Namba, Umeda or Shin-Osaka add transfers. The shared laundry can also become busy in the evening, and the hotel’s family capacity varies widely by room category. Do not book an entry-level twin and expect the flexibility of the six-person concept rooms.

Check Hotel Universal Port Vita availability on Booking.com | Compare official room categories before booking

📍 karaksa hotel grande Shin-Osaka Tower

Best for: Shinkansen trips and connected family rooms | Area: Shin-Osaka | Standout: Two bathrooms in connecting layouts | Price: $$–$$$

Why It Works for Families

karaksa hotel grande Shin-Osaka Tower is a strategic hotel rather than a romantic Osaka neighbourhood choice. Its value appears when the itinerary includes a Shinkansen departure, several day trips or a late arrival at Shin-Osaka. Removing one major luggage transfer can be worth more than staying beside Dotonbori.

The strongest family feature is the availability of connecting rooms. Two adjacent rooms open through an internal door, allowing parents and children to move between them without entering a public corridor. The arrangement can accommodate up to six in selected combinations and gives the family two bathrooms—a serious advantage during the morning rush.

The hotel also has a large public bath and sauna. This can be a welcome reset for adults and older children after a long day, although families should still check the bathing rules, opening hours and comfort level of every member before treating it as a core feature.

Best Room to Book

For a family of five or six, search specifically for a connecting-room combination, such as two High Floor Superior Twin rooms with sofa beds. For four people who prefer one room, a larger premium twin with two wide beds may work, but confirm whether all guests are expected to share those beds.

Connecting rooms are often sold as a named category or two-room package. Booking two ordinary rooms separately does not guarantee that they will connect—or even sit on the same floor. The phrase “rooms next to each other requested” is not a substitute for a confirmed connecting layout.

Getting There Without the Meltdown

The hotel is about five minutes on foot from Shin-Osaka Station, but the station is large and has several levels. The useful approach is from the side closest to Exit 4. Follow a lift-friendly route and avoid crossing the station from an arbitrary Shinkansen exit with luggage.

Shin-Osaka gives direct access to the Shinkansen, JR lines and the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line. That makes it excellent for onward travel and straightforward for reaching central Osaka. It does not, however, place your family within walking distance of Osaka’s main evening attractions.

✅ What Other Travelers Say

Families frequently praise the clean rooms, breakfast variety, helpful staff and the convenience of connecting rooms. Travellers using Shin-Osaka for day trips especially value being able to return to the hotel soon after leaving the train rather than adding another subway journey.

The public bath and on-site laundry are popular after long travel days. Guests also appreciate that the hotel feels purpose-built for international travellers carrying luggage, rather than being a tiny business hotel adapted reluctantly for families.

⚠️ The Catch (Things to Keep in Mind)

Shin-Osaka is a transport hub, not the neighbourhood most visitors imagine when they picture Osaka at night. You will ride the subway or JR to reach Namba, Dotonbori and many family attractions. Choose this hotel because the railway network supports your itinerary, not because the word “Osaka” appears in the station name.

The hotel is large, so lifts, breakfast and laundry facilities can become busy at peak times. Child bed-sharing rules can also differ between the official site and third-party booking channels. Confirm the exact number of beds and the maximum number of children permitted in your chosen package.

Check connecting-room availability on Booking.com | See official access and room information

📍 Hotel Keihan Namba Grande

Best for: Modern family rooms at a balanced price | Area: Nankai Namba / Namba Parks | Standout: Bunk, family and connecting categories | Price: $$–$$$

Why It Works for Families

Hotel Keihan Namba Grande is a useful middle ground between a compact city hotel and an expensive apartment property. It opened with several room categories designed for groups, including a 44-square-metre Family Room, a 44-square-metre Bunk Bed Room and connecting-room options. This gives families a better chance of finding four real beds without paying for a full two-bedroom apartment.

The location suits travellers arriving at Nankai Namba from Kansai Airport and families who want Namba Parks, Den Den Town, restaurants and shopping nearby. It sits on the south-eastern side of the wider Namba district, which is calmer than being directly on Dotonbori but still close enough for sightseeing.

Selected concept rooms add a kitchen and washer-dryer, making the hotel particularly attractive for a multi-night stay. The important word is “selected”: these facilities are room-specific, not a universal hotel amenity.

Best Room to Book

The Bunk Bed Room is one of the clearest choices for four people because it provides two bunk beds, giving each traveller an individual bed. The Family Room has four single beds and can accept a fifth guest with an extra bed in the relevant setup. A connecting room combines two standard twins and provides four base beds, with selected configurations accommodating more.

For parents who need laundry and light cooking, inspect the amenity list for the exact Hollywood Twin, bunk, family or concept category under consideration. Do not assume that a cheaper standard twin includes a washer-dryer simply because photographs from another room show one.

Getting There Without the Meltdown

The hotel is convenient for Nankai Namba, but it is not equally close to every line carrying the Namba name. Families arriving via Osaka Metro may have a longer walk through or around the station complex. Those arriving at JR Namba should expect an even less direct final leg.

Use Namba Parks as a useful orientation point and save the hotel entrance on your map. The elevated roads and multi-level station surroundings can make the final few hundred metres look more complicated than they are.

✅ What Other Travelers Say

Recent guests commonly praise the modern condition, cleanliness, spacious family categories and convenient Namba location. Families who book the larger quad or bunk layouts value having a washing machine, kitchenette or multiple defined beds where included.

The hotel also appeals to travellers who want a contemporary room without the full cost of a premium serviced apartment. For the right dates, it can deliver one of the strongest space-to-price balances in central Osaka.

⚠️ The Catch (Things to Keep in Mind)

The quality of the stay depends heavily on the room category. Standard rooms can still be compact, and some guests find the darker interior design less cheerful than the marketing photos suggest. Large family and bunk rooms are limited in number and can sell out long before the hotel itself shows as full.

The hotel is close to Nankai Namba, not directly above every Namba platform. Self-service check-in and a busy lobby can also feel less personal at peak arrival time. Families needing cots, bed guards or a specific child setup should contact the property before the free-cancellation deadline rather than relying on a request box.

Check Hotel Keihan Namba Grande family rooms on Booking.com | Verify room facilities on the official hotel website | View Hotel Keihan Namba Grande on Klook

Key FAQs

What is the best area to stay in Osaka with kids: Namba, Umeda, Shin-Osaka or Universal City?

For a first family trip focused on food, shopping and central sightseeing, Namba is usually the easiest all-round base—provided you choose the correct side of Namba for your transport. Universal City is best when Universal Studios Japan is the main purpose of the stay. Shin-Osaka is the smarter choice for Shinkansen travel and frequent day trips, but it lacks the evening atmosphere of central Osaka. Umeda works well for JR connections and north Osaka, although its huge station complex can be tiring with a stroller. The best area is the one that removes your hardest daily journey, not the one that appears most often in generic hotel lists.

Which Osaka family hotels can sleep five or six people in one room?

MIMARU Osaka Namba Station has specific two-bedroom apartments and suites for up to six or more, depending on the category and child policy. Hotel Universal Port Vita has selected large concept rooms for up to six. Hotel Keihan Namba Grande offers family, bunk and connecting configurations that can accommodate five or six in the relevant setup. karaksa hotel grande Shin-Osaka Tower can handle up to six through confirmed connecting-room combinations. Always check the number of actual beds: maximum occupancy may include a sofa bed, extra bed, futon or bed-sharing child.

Is it better to stay near Universal Studios Japan or in central Osaka with children?

Stay near USJ when you plan an early arrival, a full park day and a late departure, particularly with preschool children. The short walk back is worth paying for. For a broader Osaka itinerary, central Namba is more efficient for restaurants, markets and city sightseeing. A split stay is often the best compromise: one or two nights at Universal City, then the remaining nights in Namba or another central district. Pack a small overnight bag and use luggage forwarding or hotel storage to keep the move manageable.

Final Verdict and Your Next Step

There is no single winner for every family, but there is a clear winner for each type of trip. Choose MIMARU Osaka Namba Station when space, a kitchen and proper family living matter most. Choose Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka for the smoothest combination of Kansai Airport access, in-room laundry and a longer stay. Choose Hotel Universal Port Vita to remove the most exhausting part of a USJ day. Choose karaksa hotel grande Shin-Osaka Tower when your holiday depends on trains and connecting rooms. Choose Hotel Keihan Namba Grande when you want a modern, central family category at a more controlled price.

The most important next step is not merely booking the hotel—it is securing the exact room type. Large apartments, bunk rooms, connecting rooms and six-person layouts usually sell out before ordinary twins, especially during Japanese school holidays, cherry blossom season, summer weekends and popular USJ dates. Book a cancellable option early, then recheck the bed setup, child ages, breakfast terms and station route before the free-cancellation deadline.

• Compare current Osaka hotel prices and availability on Klook
• Compare family rooms across Osaka on Booking.com
• Check the KIX–Osaka hotel shared transfer on KKday — useful when train changes, multiple suitcases and a stroller would cost the family more energy than the transfer saves in money. Check the current luggage allowance carefully because a folded stroller may count as a baggage item.

Editorial note: Room configurations, child policies, access details and booking links were checked in August 2026. Hotels and booking platforms can change these terms, so confirm the exact occupancy, bed count and included facilities before payment. Some booking links may be affiliate links; using them may support this website at no additional cost to you.