A growing number of families are embracing the idea of bringing grandparents and even cousins on a big multigenerational vacation, but there are definitely some ground rules when organizing the trip that would be good to observe if it is going to be a success.
Here are some tips on how to bring the generations together for a great vacation and what sort of things you need to think about if everyone, both young and old, is going to have a great time.
A clear understanding
You will be leaving too much to chance if you just arrange the venue and go with the flow when everyone gets there for the holiday and it’s often a much better idea to set some rules and routines beforehand.
If everyone knows and agrees with the dining arrangements and trips out there won’t be any arguments or upsets when someone in the party doesn’t show up for breakfast or doesn’t want to go on a long hike.
If you stay in a venue like the Manchester England Marriott Hotel there are some advantages to staying in hotel accommodation as you can choose the sleeping configuration that suits everyone and you all get a bit of space you can call your own when you want a bit of peace and quiet and retire to the room.
Talk about money
It is always important to get the subject of money out in the open when you are arranging a multigenerational vacation so that there are no arguments or misunderstandings once you get there.
Get everyone together over the phone or via email and work out what the budget per head is likely to be for the trip and who is expected to pay for what.
If the grandparents want to treat the kids or someone else offers to cover the cost of a couple of meals, whatever the arrangements, don’t assume anything and get it all agreed how you are going to split the cost of everything to do with the trip.
Finding the right location
When you are planning a multigenerational vacation it stands to reason that because of the age differences there are going to be clashes in terms of where people want to go and what they want to do.
The best solution is often to find a location that offers you access to a variety of different activities and account for different physical capabilities.
If you have a good mix of things to see and do it will allow everyone to choose what they would like to do and what they will miss out on, for whatever reason. That way, everyone will get a vacation where they get a chance to do something they like at some point and if you split into some groups for certain trips that shouldn’t really be an issue.
You can all get back together as a group again in the evening and enjoy a meal where you can talk about your day.
Multigenerational vacations are a great way to spend some quality family time together and if you get the planning and the rules of engagement right, they can turn out to be a huge success.
About Jammie Morey
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