6 Multigenerational Travel Tips
With
long-awaited warm weather right around the corner, thousands of families will
soon begin planning their family vacation, but this year they may well be planning
a new kind of vacation. Multigenerational travel has recently become one of the
fastest growing areas of the travel industry, as many families are now including
grandparents, aunts and uncles in the family getaway.
According
to the Travel Industry Association, each year more than 5 million family vacations
each year include three generations, as a result, many families now face the challenge
of finding a vacation that is suitable for everyone from toddlers to grandparents.
"The most
important part of orchestrating a three-generation vacation is being able to accommodate
everyone's needs and realizing that our differences are what makes traveling together
such a unique experience," said travel expert Christine Loomis, noted family
travel author. "The trick to this type of travel is simple: planning, preparation
and flexibility."
TIP
#1: Let everyone in the family help chose vacation
activities. When kids - or adults - have a voice and a choice, they
feel more invested in the trip and stay more positive even when involved in an
activity they did not choose. When preparing a list of options, don't forget free
and low-cost activities like swimming, sunbathing at the beach, hiking, exploring
state and national parks, biking and renting boats.
TIP
#2: Choose
the right accommodations. For much less than the cost of multiple hotel
rooms needed for a group traveling together, vacation rentals provide exactly
what multigenerational families need - a sense of togetherness and privacy. An
ideal alternative when one room/one bath accommodations are not enough, vacation
rentals include two, three and four-bedroom single-family homes, condominiums
and town homes with full kitchens, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, private pools,
Jacuzzi tubs, washers and dryers. The RCI Holiday Network offers the world's most
diverse selection of vacation rentals available online at www.RCIHN.com
or via telephone, toll-free: 1-866-844-2018.
TIP
#3: Schedule
activities with your family's normal routine in mind. Toddlers are
generally most active in the morning, a time when grandparents are often early
to rise. Teens typically sleep late, so it's best to schedule the thing they most
want to see or do in the afternoons or evening. If grandparents normally rest
or take a reading break in the early afternoon, keep in mind that they may need
that time to rebuild stamina for later activities.
TIP
#4: Don't sell grandparents short.Today's grandparents are often energetic and adventurous, so consider active
multigenerational vacations. Possibilities include bike tours, rafting trips,
theme parks, hiking, whale watching, foreign destinations and covered wagon adventures.
TIP #5:
Take advantage of kitchens. It's all about flexibility.
Grandparents and grandchildren often have different meal schedules, and young
children may find it difficult to sit through three meals a day in restaurants.
Stay in and save money for the easy meals - breakfasts of cereal and yogurt, and
quick sandwiches and snacks for lunch. Then give the whole family a treat by going
out for dinner.
TIP
#6: Just because it's the family vacation, don't feel the
whole group has to spend every minute together. It can be good to take
a break from one another. Parents can be with young kids while grandparents visit
an art gallery or historical monument. Grandparents can also have a special evening
with the grandchildren while parents go out for a romantic dinner.