What is a multigenerational trip?
Multigenerational travel is an increasingly popular way for parents, grandparents, children, aunts, uncles, cousins and cousins to take family vacations. This type of trip requires a little more planning, but the benefits far outweigh the extra effort.
“I love family trips,” says Glynis Ratcliffe, freelance writer. Her husband and children joined her in-laws, their children and spouses, and their grandchildren on a 10-day Caribbean cruise. A group of 13 people in total! “Our family members get along very well, and travelling with all the grandchildren was a fantastic experience. In addition, we have all agreed to share custody of the youngest, if necessary.
The benefits of multigenerational travel
If you’ve never gone on vacation with your whole family, here are 5 reasons that might make you want to try the experience:
- Cost savings
You will, of course, have to reserve a sufficient number of rooms and places in transport for all these beautiful people. However, good news: most tourist attractions, airlines, and train companies offer group discounts. For example, Air Canada and VIA Rail offer discounts for groups of 10 or more. Except for a wedding or conference, hotels rarely offer discounts. Use your imagination and book a suite or even an entire house. This will give you more space, you will all be together, and the costs will be lower per person. For more ideas on cutting accommodation costs, check out How to save the most for accommodation while travelling. - Link Building
Multigenerational travel offers a unique opportunity to develop and strengthen family bonds. Take the example of Andrea Fort: this cartoonist took part in 3 trips of this type. The first when she was 7 and the last when she was 25. The first trip was to the Czech Republic with her parents and grandparents. “Thanks to my grandmother, I was able to learn more about my family’s history,” says Ms Fort. “She would talk to us a lot about how she was raised and what her life was like back then.” Ms Fort’s most recent trip was to Las Vegas with her mother and grandparents. “It was a unique experience because I was able to develop emotional bonds with my family during this trip. It was no longer just a child to grandparents or parents, and it had also become an adult relationship. - New experiences
Everyone has their bucket list of things to do and see on vacation, and multigenerational travellers are no exception. Your grandparents might want to discover a neighbourhood you’ve never heard of. A cousin might want to try kitesurfing. Exploring new places with family members can give us different perspectives and broaden our horizons, says Toronto-based publisher Aliza Amlani. “Even if we are not together 24/7, spending time together every day brings many benefits,” adds Ms Amlani. “With all these diverse perspectives, exploring new horizons and learning new things as a group is a wonderful opportunity to bond.” - Creation of shared memories
In our fast-paced world, it’s precious to be able to spend time with loved ones. Going on a family vacation provides a break from day-to-day responsibilities and allows parents, children and grandparents to spend quality time together and create unforgettable memories. - Breaks and time for yourself
There’s another practical reason to take a family vacation: to have a babysitter close at hand. “Often, my mother didn’t feel like going for a walk,” recalls Ms Amlani. “She would then take my daughter to the park or keep her busy with an activity so that my husband and I could have time together to explore the city or go to dinner.”
Mrs Ratcliffe and her husband were also able to enjoy romantic moments during their cruise, thanks to her in-laws: “They booked a cabin directly opposite ours and returned to their room early some evenings to watch our youngest (who was 12 months old at the time) while my husband and I went for a drink.”
When travelling with younger or older family members, ensure everyone has travel insurance to protect against unexpected costs.
