According to Trafalgar Travel’s research, multigenerational travel is on the rise, with top 20 family vacation destinations being all highly cosmopolitan cities. At the top of the list is Barcelona, followed by Paris and Istanbul. The three cities have plenty to offer – green spaces, nightlife, Michelin-starred restaurants, UNESCO-listed sites, making them the destinations of choice for all age groups.
It all sounds good on paper. Gather the whole gang – grandparents, aunts and uncles, parents, young kids – and whisk them away to enjoy some good ol’ family bonding. Except that everyone has different interests, schedules and agendas. The grandparents may want to visit the art galleries, the aunts are eager to go shopping, while the kids can’t wait to run around in the theme parks.
Based on insights from Trafalgar Travel’s Multigenerational Travel Index Report, here are some tips to get the most out of your family vacation.
Plan: Start your holiday planning way in advance. Six months is a good lead time to figure out everyone’s schedules, and decide on the final dates.
Communicate: Discuss with the whole family about where to go and what they’d like to do. All ages agree that discussing costs (51%) and things to do (47%) together is a must. But instead of just asking for destinations, ask about their interests such as learning about a new culture, trying new foods and visiting historical landmarks.
Delegate: When it comes to planning a multigenerational trip and the actual booking of flights, hotels and activities, someone needs to lead the way. However, if you are travelling in a really big group, say, of more than 10 persons, it might be easier for each family branch to make their own bookings. Apparently, those in the 30 to 50-year-old age category feel very strongly about being the holiday planners of the group.
Accommodate: Ensure there are activities for everyone to enjoy, be it a tour around the city, clubbing at the hottest nightspot or visiting the museum. Not everyone has to participate all the time, though – the grandparents can watch the kids in the pool while Mum and Dad can go on that hiking trail – some free time away from the group can help everyone recharge
Be considerate: Everybody will have different opinions so be flexible. The elderly may have health concerns or special needs so be patient if they can’t walk as fast or require extra help.
