Interest in multigenerational family trips is booming. According to International Medical Group, over 1 in 3 families plan such trips in 2024.
While multiday U.S. trips remain common, families are increasingly seeking adventurous, international experiences. Katie Kubitskey, certified travel planner and owner of My World Travel, notes a growing trend where families turn these trips into bucket-list adventures, creating lasting memories across generations.
Caring.com analyzed Family Travel Association survey data and consulted experts to share tips for making the most of your next big family adventure.
Read more: Best U.S. Destinations For A Multigenerational Vacation
Americans anticipate fun for the whole family on their next vacation
More than half of parents surveyed by the Family Travel Association plan to take a multigenerational trip in the next year. Extended family outings, involving aunts, uncles and cousins, are also popular (41%), followed by trips with unrelated family friends. The least common are skip-generation trips, where grandparents travel with grandchildren without parents.
While multigenerational trips are most popular, grandparents often take the lead—both in planning and paying. More than half organize the trip, and many foot the bill or share costs with their children. However, senior travel adviser Katie Stewart of Ciao Bambino! notes a rise in middle-aged parents planning and financing trips for both their kids and their parents.
“We’re creating new traditions where families can travel together outside of holidays,” Stewart told Stacker. “It’s much more impactful and better for the kids.”
Whether planning a grand adventure or a simple beach getaway, family organizers need to consider the varying needs and interests of all generations to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
Consider senior members’ physical limitations
Before anyone starts to plan the trip, Kubitskey recommends talking with each family member about what’s comfortable for them, both physically and mentally.
Make sure the family’s planner considers accessibility issues senior travelers may have—for example, making sure accommodations have step-in showers rather than bathtubs. Families may also need to request airport wheelchair access and plan for accessible airport transfers.
Health needs for family members are important, too
Food allergies and dietary restrictions of family members are also something for the family travel planner to consider.
Stewart’s clients ask her questions like, “Grandpa can’t eat any salt; can we travel with him?” She says the answer is a resounding yes, but families may need to take extra time ahead of the trip to plan meals or ensure local restaurants will meet the needs of everyone’s diet.
Find activities everyone can do or watch
A dude ranch or farm vacation may be the least typical destination for multigenerational trips, according to the FTA’s study, but some families are finding ways to make active trips and activities work for all generations, Stewart said. She recently booked a dude ranch for a multigenerational family with grandparents in their 80s but made sure the ranch accepted visitors who wouldn’t participate in horse riding.
Regardless of what kind of trip a family is taking, make sure some activities are a suitable pace and style for everyone. Many families find success in planning suggested activities that family members can do on their own while opting for specific meals or activities that bring the whole family together.
Decide if privacy or value is the priority
The FTA’s survey revealed that about half of grandparents book hotels for multigenerational trips, with 43% opting for vacation rentals. Kubitskey says if value is the most important thing your family is looking for, renting a large vacation house with enough rooms for everyone will likely be the best deal.
Other families may prioritize privacy or alone time without having to share public spaces, in which case opting for separate rooms in a hotel or resort may be worth the extra money.
Family vacations are certainly no mean feat to plan, especially when more than two generations are involved. Science has yet to fully prove its true benefits, but where studies fall short, personal experience shows clear gains when it comes to building relationships and a sense of belonging for those in every generation.
As Michael Waters wrote for The Atlantic, “Multigenerational trips let you rethink not just what travel is supposed to be but who your family members really are.”
Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Janina Lawrence.
This story originally appeared on Caring.com and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
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