How to Manage Multigenerational Travel
Family trips can be so fun – when you plan them right
Family travel is an amazing way to create lasting memories, all while enjoying time in nature or exploring a new city or country. Large group trips can be challenging on their own, and multigenerational travel presents its own unique set of challenges. Here are three simple tips to making the whole process a little easier.
Three rules to make multigenerational travel work:
1. Plan with everyone in mind
It may sound pretty self explanatory, but you should plan activities with everyone in mind. Compromise is the key to any group trip. Make sure to have at least one activity that each person can get excited for. Having a wide variety of activities will not only keep everyone engaged but will also make the trip more interesting. With that said, some activities won’t always align with everyone’s physical abilities. Make backup plans so that everyone is safe and comfortable. It’s also important to keep everyone’s needs in mind when thinking about meals, sleeping arrangements, and even sleep schedules. Vary each day’s start times so that late risers can sleep in some days, and have alternate activities for the morning birds on days that you start later.
2. Communicate, communicate, communicate!
I am a firm believer that communication solves (and prevents) so many problems. Make sure that everyone’s on the same page on things like finances, planned activities, and any expectations that you have for the trip. If you want to have everyone home for dinner, make sure that you communicate clearly when you want people home. If you’re renting a house and don’t want to do all the cooking and cleaning, establish clear expectations for chores. It’s also important that before the trip, you let people know what sort of activities they should pack for, so that everyone is comfortable and prepared at all times.
3. Don’t force it
It’s easy to dream that the entire trip will always be happy, fun, family together time, but it just isn’t realistic. Sure, you’ll make some AMAZING memories with your family together, but vacations are meant to be relaxing. Naturally, smaller groups will break out, or someone will go off on their own for a quiet walk or a nap. This is totally fine, and it will make your time together all the more special.
Still not sure where to start?
Multigenerational trips can take a lot of planning – and that’s where I come in! I love crafting trips to fit every need. If you’re ready to start planning a trip with your family, send me a message!