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.

You Only Have 18 Summers and 936 Weekends till your Kids Head Off to College

I admit it. The ending to Toy Story 3 tears me up. Every. Single. Time. 


It starts with the scene where Woody watches through a hole in the box as Andy says goodbye to his Mom, who has just walked into his room and is struck by how different it looks with all of his favorite things packed away for college, and it doesn't stop until the credits roll. 


I know I'm not alone. The ending to this family favorite movie tugs at the heartstrings of every Mom out there.


We know it's going to happen. In fact, we WANT it to happen. We want to see the children we've so longingly raised to the brink of adulthood go off to college and start the next exciting chapter of their lives. 


The problem is we still see them as the toddler who so defiantly declares "I do it myseff" as they learn to dress themselves. 


It's hard to realize that once they move all of their prized possessions into a dorm room somewhere, our family dynamics change forever.  


Yes, they will always be "our baby," and they'll still be back home for breaks, summers and maybe even for a while after graduation, but we can't deny that from that point on, it will be different.


At the start of each school year, we see all the Moms posting on Facebook about dropping their babies off at college and those who have kids starting their junior and senior years in high school are realizing that all too soon, they will be in that place. 


It’s a bittersweet mix of sadness and excitement. 


If college feels like it will be here before you know it and you wish you could slow down time, then there is no better time to create those memories that they will remember forever. Make these last few months (or years!) before they fly the nest truly count.


Families who travel together develop life long bonds that don’t easily happen any other way.

We only get 18 summers with our kids before they are wrapped up in college, jobs, friends and boyfriends/girlfriends. 


Wouldn’t you love to make that last summer unforgettable?


Planning a fantastic vacation for your family during that last summer is a great way to do just that.

Look back at your childhood...aren't those vacation memories some of the most vivid and special? Getting out of our daily grind, focusing on spending time together and getting to unplug and relax with those we love the most is more than just a vacation.


It's an investment in your family. 


It's memories they will carry with them long after you are gone. It's the things they laugh about and tell their children stories about for years to come. My eldest Alex had his graduation trip a year late, as he hit the ground running by taking summer school and with his brother's activities there was no way to squeeze it in. Three years later, both of them say it's the best trip we've taken(12 night Mediterranean cruise, with private guides in Rome and Venice).  Here's the itinerary we did, I still think this is one of the best itineraries in that area of the world. 

Vision of the Seas 12 day itinerary with Venice


My graduation trip was a week in Copenhagen Denmark for spring break and for those who know me seeing Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark's birthday celebration was something I remember to this day. 

Beyond that, giving your children the gift of travel, exposing them to different cultures and experiences is priceless! They'll learn far more from those experiences than they will in any classroom!

Whether it is something as simple as meeting favorite childhood characters onboard a Disney cruise or as dramatic as climbing those final steps and having the sun gate at Machu Pichu come into view… well, those memories will be priceless for them, and for you. 

photo ©Disney

A graduation vacation can serve as the exclamation point at the end of their childhood. What better gift is there for starting the next phase of their adult life?



If you are ready to start planning a graduation vacation for your family, we would be happy to help you get started planning one. 


It is always our goal to help you say goodbye to everything that is frustrating about travel from time spent researching to language barriers so that they can see the world as they never dreamed possible and experience more than they ever could on their own. 


You've got enough to worry about...from college applications to figuring out how to fit all that stuff in a tiny dorm room! Let us take care of making sure your family's graduation vacation is everything you've dreamed of, and more!

Planning a Great Multi-Generational Family Vacation

So why is the multi-generational family travel  a growing movement?  Because families are realizing that family vacations provide opportunities to enjoy leisurely activities together, to get to know one another better, and to develop more appreciation for each other.

The trend includes family members of all ages, from grandparents down to small children.  According to a recent survey, 66 percent of grandparents travel with their grand kids.  They either travel alone with the little ones or with the entire family.  Among U.S. parents with kids living in their household, 44 percent of kids take at least one trip a year with their parents/grandparents.

Tips to Ensure the Best Family Vacations

For most, traveling goes smoothly.  There can be challenges, however, especially with larger groups.  To ensure your multi-generational family vacation is fun, safe and rewarding, keep these tips in mind.

1. Get the Whole Family Involved.  You probably have a family member or two who will say "I don't care what we do, you can decide," but rarely do they mean it, or if they do, they may regret saying it once the trip begins.

For the best family vacations, include everyone involved in the decision making process, from where to visit all the way to what activities they want to be part of.  When everyone feels like they have a say, they are more likely to feel like they played a part in making the trip a success.

2. Choose Your Destination Wisely.  There is no right or wrong place to vacation; the key is to visit a place that everyone will enjoy.  Talk about your preferences as a group and then come to a compromise where everyone will have fun and be happy.

3. Plan Something for Everyone.  No matter where you are traveling or what time of year, you will find plenty of tourist types of activities.  However, the key is making sure that a few of your activities are appropriate for all the age groups you are traveling with.  The wider the age range in your extended family, the more opinions you will want to consider.

4. Be Clear on Financial Responsibilities.  When putting together all the details, make sure to consider everyone's travel budget and discuss who will pay for what.  you may have one person who foots the bill for the majority of the trip or everyone may be responsible for paying their own way.  It's important to talk about all of this up front so everyone knows about their financial obligation, not just for the major costs like airfare and overnight accommodations, but the smaller expenditures as well.

5. Take a Break From the Family.  Even though it is so much fun to travel with family members, everyone needs a little time away from each other.  Take time to enjoy an afternoon without the rest of the group or divide the kids amongst the grownups.  Then regroup at the end of the day to share special stories about your experiences.

6. Turn to a Vacation Planner if You Need Help.  Planning the best family vacation, for most, is part of the fun; but if you're feeling overwhelmed or your group is having trouble agreeing on family travel ideas, you might prefer to have a planner help.  They offer many options to remove stress from your travel preparation and help coordinate the trip.

7. Capture Every Moment of Your Trip.  Since multi-generational trips don't happen as often as we would  like, make sure to grab hold of the memories.  Knowing this is a special trip, take lots of pictures and videos including a number of silly photos to recall the funny moments.

More and more, families want to travel together.  Instead of grandparents heading on vacation alone, or just mom, dad and the kids taking a trip, everyone wants in on the fun.  Traveling together creates solid bonds and special adventures that often can;t be found anywhere else.

Great Multi-Generational Vacation Ideas

According to findings from the 2015 MMGY Global Portrait of American Travelers survey, more than 40 percent of Americans reported taking a multigenerational trip in the previous year.  And demand continues to rise, with MMGY Global forecasting mutigenerational trips to increase by 7 percent in 2016.

The appeal is obvious; Grandparents love to spoil grandchildren, working parents like to use limited vacation time to get everyone together and kids of any age enjoy reconnecting with family they may not see often.  What's less obvious is how to organize a successful trip for the whole gang.

A few factors, including your budget, desired activities and convenience play a big role in determining the best multigenerational vacation option for your needs.  If grandparents pay ( and research surveys found they pay for 33 percent of trips), they typically look a for structured, more comfortable vacation where everyone can spend time together.  Cruises, all-inclusive resorts and guided tours with supervision for children are ideal choices.  When parents pay, they may bring along in-laws to babysit so they can get out on their own.  City getaways are also popular with this group.  And when participants share the costs, options expand.

With that in mind, here are some great multigenerational vacation ideas that are suited for a wide range of budgets, interests and traveler types.


Consider Taking a Cruise

Cruises are a great multigenerational vacation option because they include meals, entertainment and accommodations in one all-inclusive price.  Plus, many cruises offer non-stop activities and provide lounges, restaurants and other public spaces to enjoy time together and apart.  Best of all, cruises effortlessly transport the family to new ports without requiring packing and unpacking, offering more convenience and a greater value than other trip choices.


Retreat to an All-Inclusive Resort

Like cruises, all-inclusive resorts offer affordable prices and diverse entertainment and dining options, especially well-suited for active family members and big eaters and drinkers. With most all-inclusive resorts located in the Caribbean and Mexico; convenience and quick direct flights are another reason all-inclusives are popular for multi-generational gatherings.  Plus their are many resorts to match any beget and luxury level.


Seek Out Enrichment With Guided Tours

Using a travel agent who has access to discounted airfares, group hotel rates, ground transportation and guided tour operators help making vacation planning hassle-free.  A guided tour of Europe with the grandkids with a reputable operator will include lodging, meals, transportation, expert guides and some of the best sights and experiences in the world.


Plan a City Getaway

For plenty of culture, fashion, food and sites, a great choice is a city getaway for your group.  Big cities have multigenerational appeal in almost any season. New York, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, San Francisco are top close to home picks. A little more time? Dublin, London and Paris are great choices.