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Multigenerational Vacations – Are They Just A Myth?

January 14th, 2010 | Author: Randy

I found a terrific article today that was reprinted in Parents magazine in 2004. Although headlined as The Newest Trend in Family Travel, I found the article to be timeless. Traveling with multiple generations and/or extended family can be beneficial for everyone, but maybe it’s a bit scary too.

Over the years, we’ve vacationed with our parents, siblings and other relatives, but we’ve yet to embark on a vacation involving both our parents and our kids. After reading the article, I asked myself why we hadn’t accomplished that goal. Well, I guess the answer was simple – for every reason the well articulated author cited in the article. Okay, maybe not every reason – for example I don’t have a brother, let alone a lefty brother. So, okay, what are the top reasons that inhibit multigenerational travel?

Coordinating Schedules – Trying to find a time when everyone is available can be challenging. Kids are in school, parents work, grandparents are leading more active lives and extended families spend less time together in general, living farther apart than ever before.
Agreeing on a Destination – What destination will have something for everyone? Someone doesn’t like cold, someone doesn’t like hot, someone hates the beach, someone hates the mountains, someone gets seasick and of course someone has been there before. I give up!
Money – Not all branches of the family tree may be able to afford a particular trip, or any trip at all, particularly in a difficult economy. Do you pay for everyone, subsidize some and not others or do you tailor the trip so that everyone invited can afford it?
Making it Happen – Assume you’ve made it past the other hurdles. You’ve planned far in advance, but one month before the trip, things start falling apart due to an illness, financial difficulty or other commitments. Do you cancel, modify, reschedule or just go ahead as planned?

It’s easy to see why families might not be able to make it work. Sometimes it’s difficult enough to plan a 3 hour visit, never mind an entire vacation. We live in a busy society where people don’t want to spend their leisure time practicing patience and compromise. Perhaps it’s a broader sign of our society in general.

So, is the multi-generational vacation just a myth? No, it’s only a myth if you want it to be. As kids get older, they enjoy spending more time with their grandparents. Of course, that’s not always easy when you live hundreds of miles apart. So, planning vacations together is really more important than ever. But, how do you make it work?

Well, there are more and more grandparents who are traveling with their grandchildren while the parents stay home. It works because it’s simple. So, first rule – keep it simple. Second rule – see the first rule. And finally, third rule, keep an open mind, be flexible and just enjoy your time together. If you try to make it difficult, it will inevitably be difficult.

Before you start, check out these basic tips on planning a multigenerational vacation. Plan, be positive and most importantly, just have fun!