Travelling With Grandparents: How To Organise Your Family
Travelling With Grandparents: How To Organise Your Family
Travelling with grandparents can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend time together as a family. After all, kids get quality time with their grandparents. Adults get a break from their daily routine. And together you all make memories that will last long after the holiday has finished.
However, while the thought of jetting off to Queenstown or driving along the Great Ocean Road might be incredibly exciting, there is something you should keep in mind. Organising a trip with all the family can take an awful lot of thought and planning.
From managing walking paces, toilet requirements and energy levels to finding suitable accommodation, places to eat, and sites to see, multigenerational family travel can be challenging at times. That is why it pays to be prepared for this non-glamorous side of things.
If you are planning a trip away with your mum, dad and the kids, here’s how to organise your family when travelling with grandparents.
Why Travelling With Grandparents Can Be a Wonderful Experience
Whether it's due to geography, physical incapability, or, sadly, them not being here anymore, travelling with grandparents is a luxury many families don’t have. However, if they are able to come with you on your trip, grandparents can add real depth to and enrich your family holiday.
Children, for instance, often thrive when grandparents are part of the ensemble. Especially when they have time to connect without the everyday distractions of their lives. Indeed, simple moments like shared meals, walks together, and simply just talking can become highlights of the trip.
At the same time, for parents, travelling with older family members can create breathing room. That is because grandparents often enjoy helping out with kids, reading them bedtime stories, or just hanging out with them and doing not much at all. These types of shared experiences go a long way towards building stronger family bonds and an overall sense of togetherness.
Multigenerational holidays also encourage kids to see travel through different perspectives. This can be particularly noticeable when grandparents reminisce about how much a place has changed since they were last there.
What to Consider Before Planning a Multigenerational Family Trip
If you intend to travel together with children and grandparents in tow, there are several things you will need to consider. Everyone has different needs when it comes to holiday time, so it is important to take everyone into account when planning your trip.
Here are some things you should focus on.
1. Transportation
Transport should be a major part of your planning, especially if you plan to travel long distances or explore new places.
If you are flying to your destination, you will need to organise flights. This should take into account whether a layover is needed or if you can all manage a long-haul transit.
When you get to your destination, or if you are planning a family road trip, you might want to consider senior car hires, especially if your current vehicle is not suitable.
Having a comfortable vehicle with easy access for grandparents and supportive seating for everyone can make a world of difference when driving.
2. Accommodation That Works for Everyone
Finding a place to stay that comfortably accommodates all of you is vital if you want a stress-free family holiday. For this reason, it is worth looking for accommodation that offers everyone both space to spread out and privacy when they need it.
Ideally, it should have separate bedrooms for the grandparents and parents (if their kids aren’t too young). It would also help if it had multiple bathrooms and shared living areas that allow you all to settle in comfortably. In this respect, Airbnb-type accommodation options might be better for you than hotels or motels. Although this, of course, will depend on price.
When choosing accommodation, you’ll need to consider factors such as ground-floor access, stairs (older people might not be able to manage them), and whether there are safe outdoor spaces for children to play. It would also probably help to have a kitchen so you can prepare meals.
3. Activities for Kids and Grandparents
If you want your multigenerational holiday to be a success, you’ll need to plan activities that everyone can enjoy.
Children, for example, might get bored at art galleries, while grandparents might not be able to go hiking in the bush. It is a good idea to choose some activities that you know everyone will enjoy. This might include trips to the shops, a day at the beach, or mini-golfing.
When deciding which activities to do, take into account energy levels and nap times for both kids and grandparents. This will help to keep everyone engaged without feeling exhausted or irritable.
4. Independent Activities
Just because you are travelling as a family with grandparents doesn’t mean you have to do everything together. So, it is worth setting some ground rules.
Make it clear that you don’t expect the grandparents to do everything you want to do. At the same time, let your kids, especially the older ones, know that on some occasions, it's fine if they don’t want to visit a place or participate in an activity.
Doing this will go a long way towards ensuring there is no moodiness or an unpleasant atmosphere on your trip.
Is Travelling With Grandparents Right for Your Family?
At the end of the day, this is a decision you will have to make. And you’ll need to be honest with yourself when doing so.
Travelling with grandparents is perhaps best suited to families who value connection, flexibility, and shared experiences. It works especially well when they have a relaxed, laid-back nature, good family dynamics, and when all the adults are on board with parenting roles.
To ascertain whether travelling with grandparents is right for your family, a good idea is to start with a couple of day trips or a short weekend away, such as to Agnes Water. You’ll soon know if it is when you test the waters in this way.
