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Take the whole family on vacation without losing your mind
March 15, 2024 • 5 min read
The more the merrier, right? If you think traveling with the kids is challenging, try adding an aunt and uncle, the grandparents, and a bunch of cousins. Good thing we know a thing or two about large group travel. Check out some of our favorite destination ideas and planning tips to make your all-ages family vacation a massive success.
Points of interest
- For an active group trip, head to the beach or a national park
- Determine how costs will be split ahead of time
- Divide groceries, meal prep, childcare, and cleaning between family members
Family vacation destinations for all ages
Some destinations work better than others for large groups with diverse ages and interests. You’ll find plenty to keep everyone happy in each of these locales.
Head to the beach
Beach destinations have something for the whole family — sun, sand, scenery, and plenty of water to play in. If you’re wanting something domestic, check out San Diego, California or Vero Beach, Florida. For something a little more exotic, catch a flight to Kauai or Maui in Hawaii, or Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Explore Europe
Exploring a European city is a great way to turn a family reunion into an adventure to remember. Cities such as London, England, Rome, Italy, or Paris, France are rich in history, culture, iconic landmarks, architecture, and family-friendly attractions. They also have a variety of vacation rental opportunities that can cater to your family’s specific needs. We even have ideas for how to tour Europe with the kids for less.
Embrace nature
Rent a cabin in the woods near a national park and discover the best of both worlds for families who want the feel of camping with the comfort and convenience of a vacation stay. Those who want to be more active can explore the hikes and vistas of the park, while those who want to take it easy can relax by the fire or on the front deck.
10 tips for planning an all-ages family vacation
Reduce conflict and increase your family’s joy and connection with these essential tips and ideas.
- Pick a leader It’s important to designate a leader to facilitate family conversations and document decisions made. This will make planning easier and clearer, especially when it comes to booking and paying for travel, rentals, and accommodations. Each family member could assume responsibility for an aspect of the trip — but it’s smoother if one person is steering the overall effort.
- Plan early Family members in different age categories can have different budgets, different ideas of what a vacation should look like, and differing availability when it comes to dates. For this reason, give yourself a bit more lead time to put it all together. The earlier you plan and book, the better chance you have of securing accommodations and flights.
- Consider a stay in a vacation rental Vacation rentals can provide the space multigenerational families require and, in the end, be a bit more affordable than hotel stays when you share the cost. Vacation rentals may also have the kinds of amenities your family needs, such as baby gates, travel cribs, or accessible bathrooms.
- Determine how costs will be shared However you decide to share vacation costs with your family members, have a candid conversation about it in advance of the trip. Some questions to get the conversation started might include:
- What is the budget for the trip?
- Are you planning to split the shared cost of the trip evenly after the fact? Person by person along the way? Or will each party cover certain aspects (transport, accommodations, food, etc.)?
- Who is tracking all travel expenses and how?
- Create an itinerary Get the entire family to provide input on the daily itinerary. Having each family member contribute ideas for activities and points of interest gives everyone something to look forward to, and ensures no one is bored.
- Keep daily activities manageable Doing too much in a day is incredibly taxing on your family’s youngest and oldest members. If you’re vacationing with teens, consider taking them to do more intense activities yourself while grandparents (and/or littles) take a slower-paced outing.
7. Make a meal plan
Discussing who will be cooking and making a meal plan is especially important if you’re planning to cook at a vacation rental. Divide the shopping and cooking duties in advance and ensure everyone is a willing participant in the plan. Everyone enjoys having a meal made for them, so it’s best if no one bears the burden of cooking for the entire vacation.
8. Discuss childcare
Determine who is watching the little ones over naps, bedtimes, and other moments where adults may want to be out together. Being clear about expectations and sharing the responsibility can help everyone enjoy the vacation part of the family vacation.
9. Give yourself extra time
If you’re a parent of toddlers or small children, you know that getting out of the house to do anything can be unpredictable (and often takes twice as long as it should). For this reason, plan buffers into your daily scheduled activities to allow yourself time for dawdling or last-minute bathroom stops.
10. Split up
Even the tightest-knit families need moments to do their own thing. Make sure you bake in time to go your own way. Having moments of downtime will help every family member recharge and ready themselves for another great adventure together. Some families prefer to split up for the day’s activities and reconnect over the evening meal.
Every family is different. There’s no right or wrong way to plan an all ages family vacation. With clear communication and expectations, you can avoid the pitfalls of multigenerational travel and reach your destination ready to connect and relax.
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