Travel industry trends suggest that multigenerational trips are growing in popularity. Whether you see your family regularly or you live thousands of miles apart, a family vacation is a great way to bring everyone together and explore something new, says Kelsey Knoedler Perri of Road Scholar, an education-focused tour group that offers intergenerational trips.
While travel can be a great way to connect, Knoedler Perri notes there are a few considerations you should take before hitting the road.
Communicate clearly and set expectations
First things first: Be clear about who’s footing the bill. Whether you want to cover the entire trip from top to bottom, split costs evenly among adults, or something in between, communicate clearly up front. The last thing you want is for conflicts over money to eclipse your enjoyment of one another or the destination.
It’s also a good idea to get on the same page about screen time. “[Phones and tablets] can be great on the airplane or for long car rides, but you don’t want anyone on their phones the whole time,” Knoedler Perri says. Agreed-upon boundaries for phone use ahead of your trip can prevent hard feelings.
To keep kids engaged, Knoedler Perri suggests buying a digital or disposable camera for the trip. This lets everyone seize photo opps without the distractions that come with their phones. Bringing a camera can be equally fun for grownups — afterall, we have trouble putting down our phones too.
Knoedler Perri also recommends involving grandkids in trip planning. It gives them a sense of ownership, teaches them useful research skills, and gives them something to look forward to when you arrive at your destination.
Take mobility into account
Before booking accommodations or activities, have a plan for different ability levels. Even if you’re just sightseeing on foot, factors like hills, elevation, and cobblestone streets can present challenges.
Let parties prepare in advance — whether that means buying the right travel stroller or getting into physical shape to keep up with the younger ones.
When she decided to take her kids and grandkids on a 10-day trip to Japan, 72-year-old Regina Federico wanted to make the most of it. “I didn’t want to have to say, ‘No, I’m too tired’ and stay back at the hotel while everyone else went off.”
In the year leading up to the trip, Federico walked every day to build her stamina and muscle strength. Her kids and grandkids got involved in the effort by introducing her to Pokémon Go, an augmented reality mobile game that makes Pokémon characters “appear” in the real world. This helped build excitement ahead of the trip. “My daughter and I used to watch Pokémon cartoons when she was young,” she says. “That [game], and listening to podcasts, kept me going.”
When it came time to go, Federico had no trouble keeping up with her family in Japan and even walked up and down the steps of a seven-story castle. Bonus: Federico and her grandkids played Pokémon Go together while sightseeing. “You’ve never seen as many PokéStops as you have in Japan.”
Be prepared, but stay flexible
Whether you get bad weather or an attraction is unexpectedly closed, every trip seems to throw at least one curveball your way. When you travel with a group — especially one that spans multiple generations — that likelihood multiplies.
Kids can be unpredictable. Even the most easy-going get hungry, tired, and cranky; or they eventually become overwhelmed by unfamiliar sights, sounds, and foods. As an older adult, no matter how much you prepare, you may find you just can’t make it up that hill or to the temple on your itinerary that day.
Plan for the unexpected as much as possible. Bring the snacks, water, and sunscreen you need to keep everyone happy. But, most importantly, stay flexible.
“You can’t let [a change of plans] spoil things,” says Federico. “You have to be willing to find the wonder in whatever you get.
Pack with your health in mind
Bringing your regular medications and mobility devices is a no-brainer. Depending on the country you’re visiting, it might be wise to bring medications in their original bottles rather than in a pill organizer. When Federico was preparing for Japan, she also brought physical copies of her prescriptions and researched whether any of them might be regulated differently overseas.
If you’re planning to travel outside the U.S., Knoedler Perri also recommends buying travel health insurance. “At Road Scholar, we think it’s so important, we include it in the price of all of our trips.” Their package includes things like emergency medical evacuation and international health coverage.
Bring clothes to protect yourself from heat stroke, sunburn, or frostbite: Proper footwear can prevent serious falls, especially if you’re hiking or walking around cobblestone streets.
Build shared appreciation
Ultimately, an intergenerational trip can bring a family closer together through once-in-a-lifetime experiences. A group trip can also be an opportunity to pass along a lifetime love of travel and to share your passions with your family.
“If you really love hiking or you studied abroad in Paris,” says Knoedler Perri, “plan a trip that lets you share those parts of yourself and pass along that legacy to your kids and grandkids.”