This summer, travel with grandma and grandpa!
If you’re starting to plan your summer vacations, consider something that’s not just a trip, but an experience that creates lifelong memories. Multi-generational travel is growing in popularity, and for good reason. It strengthens family bonds, bridges generational gaps, and lets everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, see the world through each other’s eyes. But planning for a trip that works for grandparents, parents, and kids takes a little strategy.
Kristin Hancock shared expert advice for a smooth, stress-free vacation for everyone.
The Importance of Multi-Generational Travel
Multi-generational travel is a meaningful way to connect with family members across different age groups. Kristin emphasized, “Now more than ever, multi-generational travel is really ramping up. We see everybody wants to travel with grandma.” These trips create lasting memories and allow families to experience new places together.
As daily life gets so chaotic, stepping back and taking a trip with the whole family is a great break from routine. “ I think it’s about getting out of your day to day life… So to step out of that, I think those memories just stick for some reason,” Kristin said.
Choosing the Right Type of Trip
Not every trip is right for multi-generational travel. Kristin suggested a few options that are always a great choice.
Cruises
Cruises are a good option since they offer a lot of activities for all ages. “When you cruise, you don’t have to worry about food. There are activities on the ship that grandma will like and there are activities that the three-year-old little ones will like,” she explained. Additionally, you board the ship and unpack once, each family has their own space, and everyone can meet up for meals and group activities. This makes it so that everybody has something to enjoy without the stress of planning every detail.
All-Inclusive Resorts
All-inclusive resorts are a similar vacation experience. “You show up and there are activities for every type of traveler and every age and nobody has to cook,” Kristin explained. “And, nobody has to decide what restaurant to go to because that can be hard too.”
National Parks
All-inclusive resorts and cruises aren’t for everyone, so national parks can be a great option. “ If your family loves the outdoors and you just want to be outside, you can pick a destination based on National Park,” Kristin said. National parks offer a range of activities that cater to different interests and fitness levels, making them fun for multi-generational trips.
Advice for Successful Multi-Generational Trips
Planning a trip for multiple generations can be challenging, but Kristin shared the strategies to make it a smooth experience.
Build in Downtime
“ Sometimes… we want to plan out every minute,” Kristin said. But, once you get to the resort, you may find that they have activities and pools that you would like to spend time at. “We want to make sure that we have time to enjoy those things. Plus if you’re traveling with little ones, we need days off,” she emphasized. This allows everyone to relax and enjoy the trip without feeling rushed.
Book the Right Accommodations
Additionally, booking the right accommodations is an important thing to think about. “ We want to pick resorts or places that we can have enough room for everybody,” Kristin advised.
It’s important to check into the hotel you’re staying at to see what kinds of rooms they offer. “ There are certain resorts that will either have a villa option with a couple bedrooms, or adjoining rooms,” Kristin explained. “It’s really important to know which resorts offer that because some don’t.”
Go in With the Same Big Picture
Everyone travels differently. Some family members might be there for the adventure, some may want to relax by the pool. “When we come together and build these big trips, we want to have the same big picture in mind,” Kristin emphasized.
She told a story about a family whose main goal was to take their grandma to see the Mayan ruins. They found an all-inclusive resort in the Cancun area that would fit their needs and was close to those ruins. “That trip, the big picture was to take grandma to see those Mayan ruins. So if you have a common goal in mind, the different trip styles can all come together and everybody can be happy,” Kristin said.
Capturing the Memories
One of the most important aspects of multi-generational travel is capturing the memories. “If you’re going to plan a big trip with grandma, take those pictures,” Kristin emphasized. “ It’s not going to be easy… but make sure you do because those are going to be priceless down the road.” These photos will become cherished keepsakes that remind everyone of that fun family vacation.
Using a Travel Planner
Since planning a multi-generational trip can be overwhelming, using a travel planner can be super helpful. “In big family travel, there are a lot of logistics,” Kristin explained. “I get all the time clients that will come and say, ‘We tried to do this on our own. It got too overwhelming.'” A travel planner can handle the details, making sure that your trip goes smoothly and everyone has a great time.
Travel planners are also knowledgeable in destinations and accommodations that will fit your family’s needs. “ For example, at a cruise, we’re looking at the ship and the maps and making sure that all those rooms are close to each other. Or, we know the resorts where grandma can be happy, but also the kids can be happy,” Kristin said. Since they work with these resorts often, they have good relationships with them and can alert the staff of your group to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Find more travel advice from Kristin at brightlifetravelco.com, or on Instagram, @brightlifetravelco.
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