Vacation planning can be stressful for families. Want to diffuse your stress? Follow our five tips for planning a multi-generational vacation.
Vacation planning is tedious. You have to account for food, lodging, travel, and other expenses. This doesn’t even include vacations with extended family. For those looking to travel with more than just your immediate family, you must carefully consider the vacation spot you choose. To help you do so, and to aid you in having the best trip possible, we’re sharing five tips for planning a multi-generational vacation.
Location
Not everyone is going to want to go to a National Park or Disney World for vacation. You and your family must pick a location (or locations) everyone will be happy visiting. To make an everlasting impression, choose an area with opportunities tailored to all interests. A balance of food, culture, and adventure is sure to make everyone remember this trip for the rest of their lives.
Partner Up
Traveling with older or younger family members can be a challenge as these two vast age groups might not know what to do together. As such, it’s a good idea to use the buddy system to form stronger bonds between family members. For example, buddy up grandparents and grandchildren or in-laws for some extra bonding time. Either way, by the end of the trip, everyone will get to know each other better.
Plan Different Activities
Fun opportunities are endless on a multi-generational trip. You can take the kids to a children’s museum or zoo for some exciting adventures. At the same time, older individuals may want to experience a new culture shock and see a local band. Of course, it would not be a complete vacation without tasting some local food or drink. If traveling internationally, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to see a local movie or play as well. If you plan different activities for every family member, no one will feel disappointed.
Food and Stay
Research ahead of time on where you’re going to eat, sleep, and how you’re going to get there. If you and your family plan on eating out the whole trip, consider local and fancy restaurants. Perhaps you want to save eating out for special occasions. Look into a farmer’s markets or local agritourist spots for a hands-on eating experience. Similarly, whether it’s a five-star resort or a local bed-and-breakfast, make reservations to ensure you have the proper accommodations for your family.
Divide Some of the Responsibility
Planning a vacation—especially with extended family—can be too much for one person. It’s perfectly okay to divide up some of the responsibility onto other older family members. If you’re taking a road trip, share driving responsibility. Spend some time relaxing by the pool while the grandparents take care of the kids. Pick up the check if someone else paid for dinner last night. Regardless, no one should take on the burden of vacation planning alone.
