Planning a multi-generational family vacation is exciting. Parents may have a bit of a break as grandparents soak up the time with grandchildren. Cousins have the opportunity to play together. And adult children can (hopefully) have a bit of adult time with siblings.
Whether it’s a luxury getaway in the mountains or a cultural city break, a week on a resort in a sunny destination, or a multi-day trip around Europe, we recommend planning your trip well in advance to allow for everyone to plan their schedule, and budgets, accordingly.
But that’s not the only thing you’ll want to think about. We’ve rounded up a few tips to ensure you return home with memories to last a lifetime.
Where to go
While it may be hard to get everyone to agree on where to go, think about what types of destinations appeal to those joining for the family vacation -mountains, city break, active, resort, or cruise.
Then, what destination is accessible for those planning to attend? If just travelling for a weekend, do you want to take multiple flights to reach your destination with layovers? If it’s a longer European vacation, do you mix it up with city and country?
Also take into consideration what activities are available in each destination for all ages travelling together. You may want to provide diverse accommodations for those who may be travelling on different budgets.
Consider your accommodation options
Depending on where you’re travelling, you may want to consider options outside of a standard hotel. Is a downtown hotel in a bustling city the best option for light sleepers or those who tuck in before the partygoers? Depending on the group size, would a private villa be preferable to several hotel rooms on a resort? Do you want to share every meal together? Is a multi-level rental practical for younger children on the move or travellers who may struggle with flights of stairs?
City centre hotels attend to be located near to the attractions but have a bigger price-tag than the smaller boutique hotels located just outside the city centre. B&B’s, located a little further from the main attractions tend to be quieter, homier and more comfortable to small parties with young children and provide a quiet place for a mid-day siesta if the young children (or adults) require it. However, consider the transportation time it takes to get to and from the attractions you want to visit.
Creating an itinerary
Creating the itinerary is perhaps the most exciting part of trip planning.
We recommend discussing must-see and must-do activities in advance of your travels to allow all travellers to plan the time spent together, and the time independently. Beyond that, it will allow for those on different budgets to consider what activities to add to the itinerary, and what to give a pass. We do recommend however to include at least one memorable experience that everyone participates in. Bringing your list of must-see and must-do activities to a travel advisor is a great way to ensure your time is maximized in each location as they can custom build you an itinerary that will include your accommodation with what you want to see and do.
To ensure children remain excited and engaged throughout, have them participate in the planning process. Provide ideas including museums to visit, authentic experiences, and food they may be interested in sampling based on their interests. Another option is to include a cultural cooking lesson that the entire family will enjoy and that the kids will gobble up.
If a cultural walking tour is on your list of things to do, we suggest booking a private walking tour as this typically provides a much more enjoyable experience for everyone. Doing so will allow you to take in the sights at your own pace. It also allows you to enjoy the walk based on your interests while providing those who may not be able to walk long distance (or those with shorter legs) to stop once and awhile and take a break. Another option is to consider an interactive tour such as a food tour where everyone samples different plates together at a (typically) more laid-back pace.
Plan some down time into your itinerary, as you’ll want time to absorb what you’ve seen, to catch up with family members you’ve not seen in a while and take in a sight or activity you may only learn about upon arrival at your destination.
Get ready to go!
Contact Krista at Tovell Travel to start planning your customized and personalized multi-generational family vacation today!