Best Vacation Ideas for a Multigenerational Vacation.

Multigenerational travel is becoming more and more popular, and it’s a trend I don’t see slowing down any time soon. Families are placing more importance on spending meaningful time together and making memories on vacations with activities that appeal to all ages.

Not every family vacation destination is ideal for guests on a multigenerational vacation.

 Parents, grandparents, and children traveling together introduces a whole new dynamic to vacations. Choosing the perfect destination or type of trip is essential to its success.

We’ve put together a list of our favorite vacation destinations that are ideally suited to the needs of larger family groups.

Tanque Verde Guest Ranch – Tucson, AZ

photo ©Tanque Verde

A Dude Ranch vacation is sure to be one your family will be talking about for years to come. Tanque Verde is a unique destination that goes well beyond that of your typical hotel. With plenty of outdoor adventures like horseback riding (don’t’ worry, there are rides for all skill levels including true novices, and the staff is trained to work with grandma and grandpa to make them feel comfortable as well), hiking, mountain biking, yoga, swimming, basketball, tennis, and even a spa, there is something for everyone.  Families love the sense of camaraderie and shared, new experiences that make these vacations a bonding experience like no other.

The relaxed vibe at Tanque Verde will put everyone at ease right away. The ranch feels like a high-end summer camp for all ages. Kids age 4-12 can participate in supervised programming that includes riding lessons, hiking, arts and crafts, and nature activities. The whole family will enjoy dining options that include outdoor cookouts from blueberry pancakes griddled over an open fire to traditional barbecue in the evening. Prefer more traditional dining? The options at Tanque Verde are varied enough to appeal to all ages and definitely don’t disappoint. Also would Paws Up in Montana is wonderful option.

Fairmont Kea Lani – Maui, Hawaii

photo ©Fairmont

Who wouldn’t love escaping to the Hawaiian islands for some family fun? The Fairmont Kea Lani is the ideal option for larger family groups. It is one of Hawaii’s only oceanfront all-suite and villa resorts. Some condos offer direct access to the big lagoon pool, others are a short walk to the beach, and many boast private plunge pools on the patio (a definite hit with the kids!).

The resort offers plenty of activities to keep everyone happy including multiple swimming pools (there is an adult-only pool, a water play area for babies, and even two family pools connected by a 140-foot water slide). The Hawaiian Cultural Program is a favorite for extended families. Other activities include various water sports, snorkeling, scuba diving, kids clubs, wellness classes, an award-winning spa, and a fitness center. Golf and tennis are available nearby as well. 

Cruising

Cruises offer great flexibility for multigenerational families. With (almost) everything included in one price, stateroom options for a variety of budgets, and an abundance of activities from sunrise till way beyond sunset, setting sail on the high seas is often the perfect vacation for everyone. Dining options are plentiful and cater to both the simple palate of the youngest member of your family and the desire for more elegant dining among the adults in the group.

Cruises offer the perfect balance of high energy fun and relaxation. Supervised kids clubs that you will often have to beg the kids to leave give parents some time to relax or enjoy the adult-only spaces and activities on board. Since everything is taken care of once you are onboard, cruising eliminates many of the frustrations of traveling with children.

Choosing the right ship will be important. Many of the newer, larger ships will have a massive list of available activities that Grandma and the little ones can all enjoy together.  This is where it gets tricky, as Grandma may have her favorite upper end cruise line. Depending on time of year and location they may not have a kid friendly activites or shows in the evening or have chicken nuggets.

Helping my clients match their vacation wishes and needs to the perfect ship and itinerary is one of my favorite parts of planning a cruise vacation, because I love putting my extensive cruise knowledge to the advantage of my clients.

Also remember cruising is more than just the Caribbean. Alaska is my #1 multigenerational cruise destination. Grandparents and the families with older kids may do the land portion pre or post cruise and the others who have younger children or who can only squeeze a week's vacation can join the others on the cruise portion.

 Bermuda is a great choice for a non Caribbean beach choice, as it's easy for Midwestern families to drive to the East Coast ports. Want history, scenery and older cities without the long European flight? Summer Canada/New England sailings fit the bill as the demographics are younger in summer, due to the easy of getting to ports in Boston, New York and Quebec City.

 Thinking Europe? There is no better way for a multigenerational group to cover a lot of ground than by ship, And don't forget the family itineraries on the European Rivers.

photo Tauck

Jewel Runaway Bay – Jamaica (All-Inclusive Resort)

©Jewel Resorts

Much like cruising, all-inclusive resorts make planning large family vacation simple and easy. Everything is included for one price, and there are a wide variety of activities for guests of all ages.

Jewel Runaway Bay resort makes our list for its extensive list of activities and amenities tailor-made for families. You’ll find a kids club (for all ages), dedicated areas for teens including a recording studio, family laser tag and not only kids programming, but family programming as well. Check the schedule for events such as Mommy and Me spa days, Father-Daughter dances, and family golf lessons. The kids are sure to enjoy the Jewel Lagoon Water Park complete with lazy river, family raft ride, zero-entry lagoon style pool, splash zone, and a giant sun deck.

The warm Jamaican hospitality and gracious service begins as soon as you arrive at the resort where you are greeted with an ice-cold rum punch (or fruit punch for those under 21!) and a smile. The staff are incredibly friendly and will soon be calling you and your children by name.  This is just one example of a great multigenerational resort in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Hyatt Ziva, Royalton, Azul, Moon Palace and Beaches are some other options.

Hyatt Ziva, Rose Hall Jamaica

Planning a multigenerational vacation and organizing all of the details can be a time consuming and stressful task. Let us take care of the logistics (and save you from dealing with all of your relatives' many questions and critiques) so that all you have to do is show up and enjoy your trip.

 The perfect vacation begins with scheduling a complimentary travel consultation. Click here to request a time for us to chat . We’ll discuss the details and what your vacation priorities. I’ll give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the vacation of your dreams.

Best Autumn Cruise Destinations

With crisp air, cool temperatures and brilliant foliage on display, autumn is an ideal time for a cruise.  The stretch between summer and winter affords relatively crowd-free ports and fewer passengers on board (kids are back in school), translating to plenty of opportunities to commune with nature.  Best of all, many repositioning cruises - ships crossing from one region of the world to another - offer reduced rates and longer itineraries.  So, if you're one of the millions of passengers planning to cruise in the next year, fall is an ideal time to take in striking backdrops and score significant savings.  To help you decide which sailing is right for you, here are my recommendations for top autumn cruise destinations.

New England and Canada

Every fall, vibrant seasonal hues color coastal cities across new England and Canada.  And a number of cruise companies offer trips to foliage-rich locales like Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine, Quebec City and Montreal.  Apart from scenic drives in seaport towns, many large and small ships, including those within Holland America, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruise fleets, also provide the chance to sample local New England cuisine (think fresh Maine lobster).  To help pinpoint the best coastal cruise for you, peruse itineraries that deliver a high off-season value and ample opportunities for fall leaf peeping.

Alaska

Alaska is known for its jaw=dropping scenery: Calving glaciers, snow-capped peaks and majestic fjords snake along quaint towns and villages.  And in September, the waters teem with humpback whales and sea lions.  Many large ships, such as those within Princess Cruises and Holland America fleets, offer travelers the chance to explore the inside Passage with stops in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Victoria, British Columbia.  Smaller cruise ships, such as those operated by Un-Cruise Adventures, also navigate the inside Passage of Southeast Alaska, with home ports in Katchikan, Juneau and Sitka.  Many cruise lines also offer voyages to the narrower Gulf of Alaska passage, taking passengers from Vancouver to Anchorage (or vice versa), making stops in hard-to-reach ports like Hubbard Glacier and Collage Fjord.  Though both routes offer ample nature-viewing opportunities, the latter tends to lure those in pursuit of more immersive offshore experiences and face-to-face wildlife encounters.

The Caribbean

Caribbean-bound cruises offer significant deals during the fall sailing season.  But there's one caveat: Your trip runs the risk of being impacted by weather-related interruptions until hurricane season ends in late November.  To protect yourself against unforeseen weather delays, purchase travel insurance and confirm that your insurance and confirm  that your insurance provider covers trip interruptions.  Should you decide to take your chances, last-minute sales; especially for journeys departing in October and November are aplenty.  Behemoth lines like Royal Caribbean International and Disney Cruise Line operate in the Caribbean year-round, often affording excellent savings in the off-season.  Shorter four or five day sailings aboard these lines can also yield steep discounts.

Transatlantic Repositioning Cruises

In the off-season. many ships depart from one part of the world and finish in another in what's known as "repositioning" sailings.  These trips, which typically take place in the spring or the fall, often provide deep discounts and more days at sea than regional cruises.  Popular journeys include transatlantic crossings from Europe, sailings across the pacific from Hawaii to California, Caribbean-bound voyages from California and departures from the Caribbean to the Panama Canal.  Many megaship and smaller cruise ship lines - including Norwegian, Celebrity and Oceania Cruises - offer fall repositioning cruises with varying departure and disembarkation ports that fit a wide range of budgets.