Getaways, vacations, long weekends, and the list goes on, are such a source of joy, and the perfect way to make care memories for the whole family. Whether you’re traveling as a household, multiple households together, or you want to spend some quality time with the kids and their grandparents; it’s bound to be time well spent.
However, sometimes with so many on a trip, things can get a little challenging at times. It might be hard to please everyone all of the time (maybe grandma has a very particular taste when it comes to her bed linen?).
Don’t worry (well, try not to); with some careful thought and planning, you can choose from plenty of options for each part of your family vacation to ensure each traveler has a smile on their face. In order to make sure that everyone feels like they’re getting the most from their getaway; it’s worth doing as much as possible before you leave.
Well, you’re in the right place! It’s time to grab a notebook and pen and start making a list of the things you may need to consider pre-travel. The following are some tips and ideas for those about to embark on their first multi-generational holiday, with various members of their extended family.
Make The Planning Fun
A huge part of ensuring the planning isn’t too stressful, is to make it fun for all. Make sure that everyone feels involved so that they feel included in the decision-making. Once you’ve sorted out your dates, and how you’ll be getting there (whether by plane, train, or automobile!); book the tickets.
Getting this sorted early on will give you the best rate on your travel costs. Next comes accommodation; you may want to avoid doing the whole trip itinerary in one sitting. Therefore, get some nice nibbles and invite your fellow travelers over, to look at your accommodation options.
It might be worth getting some at the ready so that you’re not totally starting from scratch. Start with everyone’s budget, and get a clear idea of whether a hotel, rental villa, or, something else, will suit you all for the best. Travel and accommodation really are the most challenging parts, so ensure you’ve booked them early, then the real fun can begin.
It’s worth downloading and utilizing a group trip planner, as this will allow you all to contribute ideas as and when you find things or think of them. Keep adding as much as possible for a set amount of time, before getting together again to filter and includes what everyone would prefer.
It’ll allow you to create a tailored trip that everyone can enjoy. Perhaps everyone gets a choice of something in particular so they have something to really look forward to. If decisions are a challenge; literally pull things out of a hat; this is another simple and fun method to involve everyone.
Organize Activities
As previously mentioned; everyone will have their own ideas on what they would call an enjoyable vacation. Therefore, with the location or destination in mind; give everyone the chance to suggest and book an activity (if it needs booking). Plan a day and the sort of time that the activity can happen so that you’ll have plenty to keep everyone occupied and smiling. Whether it’s seeing the sights in a particular city or swimming in the sea; everyone should get the chance to enjoy something special.
The beauty of taking multiple adults away with the kids is that you don’t all have to spend time together for the whole vacation. Maybe the parents want a couple of hours to explore a museum, or the grandparents want to take the kids for ice cream; these can be “booked-in” to the vacation so that there’s a balance of time together and apart.
Time Out To Relax
Rest and relaxation are just as important as activities and sightseeing, on vacation. Therefore, make sure that you’ve all scheduled some time to unwind. Whether it’s by the hotel’s pool or time out drinking a latte by the lake; plan to take regular breaks.
Everyone will need to recharge regularly so that they can continue enjoying the rest of the getaway. Encourage the kids to have some quiet time or even a siesta in the afternoons; the adults can take turns watching them, giving the rest of the family time to do something they enjoy or to relax.
Once you’ve mastered the vacation logistics, with multiple generations in tow; the next time will be a breeze and something you can look forward to again and again.
