Many baby boomers want to spend their hard-earned cash on quality time with their kids and grandkids. According to a study by Booking.com, 49% of baby boomers surveyed said they prefer to spend money on a family vacation than leave an inheritance to their children. In even more striking numbers, 80% of all survey participants will gladly pay for their children’s share of travel expenses. That generosity also extends to grandchildren, with 78% of respondents reporting a willingness to cover their costs.
This growing trend of Spending Kids’ Inheritance, or SKI vacations, as Booking.com describes, reflects a rising interest in multigenerational travel. Vacations where grandparents, grandchildren, and everyone in between travel together create lifelong memories, but they also involve extra planning. Experts warn those looking into a multigenerational vacation that ignoring these unique planning needs will cause avoidable drama and frustration. The building blocks of a successful multigenerational vacation include early communication about topics like finance and a travel itinerary that allows for splitting up periodically.
Communicate Early And Openly
According to experts, a successful multigenerational vacation starts with open communication. Experts note the importance of speaking freely with family before the trip begins with topics like finances and itinerary.
Jessica Gardner, The Theme Parkette on Instagram, says that while a multigenerational vacation offers lifelong memories, planning them sparks the potential for drama. “I recommend a group call or even Zoom months before the trip to ensure everyone is on the same page, especially about money and plans,” she says.
These early conversations should include answering any questions that could spur conflict on the actual trip if ignored in the planning stages. Gardner continues, “If a parent or grandparent pays for the trip, does that include meals and transportation? Will one person make the decisions for the group, or will it be a democracy? Something as simple as where to go for dinner can turn into conflict if expectations aren’t set in advance.”
With finances covered, it’s also helpful to plan out the vacation’s activities to ensure everyone gets at least one thing they wish to do. Theme park journalist Megan duBois urges travelers to think about everyone in the group when planning a multigenerational trip. She adds, “Pick a destination with plenty to do, hotels with spacious suites or connecting rooms, and make sure you ask everyone what they want to do. Make a priority list of what everyone says and make sure to get those things done first.”
Allow For Splitting Up The Group
Many families feel the urge to keep everyone together once the vacation begins. Travel experts urge travelers to build in time to split up, allowing everyone to enjoy their activities better. Splitting up into smaller groups especially comes in handy at a destination like a theme park, where rides cater to different thrill levels and interests.
Gardner notes, “Staying together as a multigenerational group throughout the day may be difficult. If people are okay splitting up, I recommend having dining reservations or setting meetup times to check in with each other throughout the day.” To avoid frustration, she adds that deciding to stay together all day without splitting up must be addressed in those early conversations, well before the vacation.
If families are working with a bigger vacation budget, splurging on a VIP tour like the ones offered at Walt Disney World “is undoubtedly a way for a group to stay together and have a memorable time,” says Gardner. She continues, “On a budget, having one person in the group decide where everyone is going and managing the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass can be helpful as long as everyone agrees to follow them.”
If splitting up, experts echo Gardner’s recommendation of finding times to bring the entire group back together. Kimberly Fidler, Vice President of Marketing at Get Away Today, recommends “Shoot for one to three together times during the day when you can connect, like a show or a meal.” Families must also consider scheduled breaks, Fidler says. “Be sure to plan downtime where grandparents or little kids can rest, but older kids and teenagers can do their own thing, like ride larger roller coasters.”
Multigenerational vacations involve extra considerations not typically considered in normal family travel. When planned successfully, however, Gardner notes that they “can be unforgettable with photos and memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve had a few large family trips that I consider some of the best I’ve ever had.” Early and open communication and daily considerations for everyone’s unique needs ultimately lead to such a vacation.