How to take the stress out of planning a multi-generational holiday

After years of travel restrictions and separations, we’ve never been more ready for a family reunion. And what better way to get the gang together again than with a multi-generational holiday. It’s the best way to bring everyone together and make some unforgettable family memories. But if you’ve never travelled with your extended family before, there are a few practical tips you’ll need to know before you get started. From picking the right multi-generational holiday destinations to setting expectations, here’s how to take the stress out of multi-generational travel – and keep everyone in your family happy on holidays.

GET INSPIRED BY: Contact GrownUps Holidays on 0800 842 685 & asked about their travel partner Trafalgar & their Family Tours

Plan the trip well in advance

The planning phase is usually one of the hardest parts of a multi-generational holiday You’ve got multiple people and families needing to decide on dates, destinations, and budgets, so be sure to start planning well in advance. But how early do you actually need to kick things off?

Start planning at least a year in advance for a big reunion with multiple families. Many accommodations and tours book up fast and need lots of notice for large groups, especially in peak travel seasons. You’ll need to get in early to make sure you can secure your ideal accommodation, transport options, tours, and activities.

If it’s a smaller multi-generational holiday, with just your family and the grandparents, you can often plan it a few months in advance, however, the earlier you start planning, the less stressful the experience!

GET INSPIRED BY: Contact GrownUps Holidays on 0800 842 685 & asked about their travel partner Trafalgar & their Family Tours

Set expectations

It’s crucial to get everyone’s input when planning a multi-generational holiday – even the kids! Start by asking each group member what their goals and expectations are for the trip. What sort of trip would they like to go on and what kind of experiences do they want to have? For example, while one family might want to go on lots of adventurous excursions, another family might want to relax by the beach.

There are other important questions like: When do they want to go and how long do they want to travel? How do they want to travel and how far will they go? Some people might be okay with taking long international flights, while others may want to stick closer to home and have short travel days.

Make a budget

Another essential topic is budget. You should start talking about this ASAP to avoid any uncomfortable situations later. You’ll need to discuss how much you’re willing to spend, including how much will be spent per day on things like accommodation, food, transport, and activities. While some family members may be willing to splurge, others may have a tighter budget, so it’s important to consider this.

You should also make it clear about who is paying for what, as some people may want to treat their loved ones to the holiday, while others may want to pay their own way.

Pick a group leader

You know the saying: “Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth”? That’s especially true when it comes to trip planning. While it’s important to get everyone’s input on the trip, it’s also best to designate one person as the lead travel planner. This person will make the bookings, manage payments, communicate with everyone, and generally take charge of the planning.

If no one wants this responsibility, it’s a great idea to work with a travel company that can do all this for you. When you travel in a group of 9 or more with GrownUps travel partner Trafalgar, you can either choose from our fantastic existing tours or design custom multi-generational travel tours for your group, with all the same Trafalgar inclusions and experiences. Plus we’ll take care of all those little details for you.

Plan activities everyone can enjoy

If you want to do lots of excursions together on your multi-generational holiday, you’ll need to pick universally enjoyable activities. When in Italy, everyone can get into a pizza-making class. Or in Thailand, everyone will love a day at the beach, whether you’re snorkelling or kicking back on a sun lounger. And if you’re in South Africa, game drives to spot wildlife are thrilling for all.

Blog courtesy of GrownUps Holidays travel partner Trafalgar. To book your 2023 holiday, contact GrownUps Holidays on  0800 on 0800 842 685 today.

Where do you like to travel with family? Let us know in the comments below!