Multi-Generational Travel: A Great Win-Win!

Would you like to spend some quality time with the grandkids, kids, parents?  Setting up a family vacation with grandparents, parents and children is a fantastic way to get to know each other better and build memories.  More and more families are trying multi-generational travel for vacation, optimizing the week or two of vacation available each year.  See the world, have a great time, and do it with the people most important to you. 

Seniors are more active and healthier than ever before, so the options are limitless on the kind of vacation to take together.  Travel vendors are bending over backwards to make multi-generational travel simpler for today’s traveler.

While Disney is an obvious choice for something for everyone, did you know that Disney has partnered with AmaWaterways to create family friendly river cruises?  In the past, river cruising was strictly a two-by-two adult experience.  But that is starting to change.  And this isn’t the only example.  More and more river cruise lines are offering family themed itineraries.

Many tour operators have accommodations available for a full range of ages.  While you have to check age restrictions, one tour operator or another will offer family friendly itineraries that focus on keeping everyone interested in the destination and how things are experienced.  Many tours are not appropriate for infants or toddlers, but starting at grade school age, things really open up.

Would you like to go to the Caribbean and relax on the beach with the whole gang?  There are wonderful all-inclusive resorts that cater to families, with special activities or even “clubs” for the kids.  They also offer plenty for the adults, and some even offer babysitting services.

Cruising also makes for an excellent multi-generational choice.  With the right cruise line, you are looking at kids’ clubs, activities from casinos to bowling, comedy clubs to movies on big screens out on deck.  Remember the drive-in movie?  This is way better.

If the family is large enough, they may even qualify for group discounts, and that is applicable for resort stays, cruises and tours.  The best way to be sure you are matching your family’s needs and getting the best value is to work with a travel agent.  They can do all the research and back end negotiating for group space, coordinate everyone’s reservations, package everything so all the details are handled and give suggestions as to things to do for everyone in your destination of choice.  All you need to do is pack, and of course, pay for the trip.

My parents started organizing multi-generational trips for our family back in the 1980’s.  The kids loved it, my sister and I loved it, and dare I say my parents loved it.  Who knew my parents were trend setters?  Although I have no grandchildren, my adult kids and I still enjoy traveling together.  When they start adding kids of their own to the mix, all the better, I can’t wait.