Consider Taking a Multigenerational Trip This Year!
We all love those photos of our children with us and our parents, or with our sisters and brothers, which are aunts and uncles to our kiddos. It’s fun to see how much we all look alike and who has Grandma’s chin or Grandpa’s nose.
When you take a multigenerational trip together, you will not only have plenty of photos, but memories embedded in everyone’s soul, young and old. Ultimately, these trips bring family members together. This, if you think about it, is better than the traditional scenario of one family member hosting everybody at her home. Family travel allows everyone to escape that stress of being the host and helps keep the focus on quality time together. Everyone gets to experience the travel in their own way and share unique perspectives with each other.
A true win-win is the built-in babysitter feature of multigenerational travel. When grandparents live far away, or even if they are close and busy schedules keep them away from their grandchildren, they are thrilled to babysit while you have a date night, go scuba diving or just take a walk. Your children will get special time with their beloved grandparents, and you parents will get treasured alone time. Plus, they are truly great caregivers. Because they are free from the daily task of parenting, they are inherently soft and kind, with all the time in the world to share with those little humans. And sharing of family history contributes to a sense of grounding and belonging for grandchildren. In our fast-paced and often disconnected world, this belonging will be increasingly important to staying grounded and realistic.
Having different ages participate in the same vacation activity provides new perspectives for everyone. The way your children see an adventure will be enhanced by the way their grandparents or aunt or uncle see it. Different generations can share alternative viewpoints. And with grandparents and relatives being fitter and healthier these days, everyone can visit dream destinations.
Sharing a trip can also stretch your vacation dollars when you combine accommodation costs or use bulk bookings. More people together can mean combined savings. Do make sure you discuss costs and who will pay for what in the beginning of your planning stages. Your university student sister might not have the same budget as you, nor may a parent on a pension. Clear and open communication can help everyone avoid uncomfortable moments or friction. On that note, with all of you getting together for meals, sleeping arrangements and riding in cars and planes, set boundaries when it comes to communication. Make sure to establish these early on and be flexible with one another.
Consider what the energy level is for everyone each day. For example, who needs a nap and who does not? Younger children will need rest, as do older folks. Keep this in mind so people can plan. Maybe Grandma needs to sleep at the same time as your 3-year-old and everyone else goes out during that time.
Provide a little privacy for everyone if it is needed. If this is your first foray into traveling together, consider an Airbnb, Vrbo or HomeAway vacation rental home with separate rooms to rest in, or book separate hotel rooms. When you decide to go on a multigenerational trip, a travel agent can be a good source of tips. Many destinations, from ranches to seaside paradises, cater to every age—even the family dog!
Multigenerational travel is one of the industry’s fastest growing, and hottest trends, and it’s showing no sign of slowing down anytime soon! A retired, healthier—sometimes wealthier—baby boomer generation of grandparents has led to the rapid popularity of multigenerational travel.
According to the Virtuoso Luxe Report, which forecasts travel trends, multigenerational travel was the 2018 top travel trend. Forbes relates that connecting with family through travel was one of 2018’s must-have experiences, which will undoubtedly continue to increase.
Previous research by AARP on multigenerational travel, found that 98 percent of travelers who took trips together were highly satisfied, and 85 percent were planning on taking another one in the next 12 months. The benefits to this type of travel are multifaceted. Your perception of traveling with grandparents and family will change for the better!
An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.
Sources: WorldOfTravelsWithKids.com, BabyQuip.com