Traveling With Grand Parents

Hi friends! I hope your week is going well!  So many people with kiddos starting school already!  August sure came quickly this year.  While you are getting yourself organized with meal planning, homework packets and sports schedules, take a moment to cherish these moments.  They don't last forever.  This week I want to talk about Multi-generational travel.  Bringing the Grandparents along on your trip can be rewarding for everyone - especially the Grandparents!  Towards the bottom of this email I talk about some tips for traveling with extended family.  No matter who is going, it can be tricky when you are trying to plan one big trip for a lot of people - you have different personalities, travel styles, sleep schedules, food preferences and more....that can be one big headache, but if you take the time to make it happen, you will walk away with some magical memories that will last a lifetime.  A client of mine told me a story about their last trip, and she is letting me share it with you.  We brought my dad along on this trip.  He had never been to Disneyland before, and he had always wanted to go.  He encouraged us to go and take Jacob when he was little, and we knew that after Lottie was born we wanted to go as a family again.  My dad's eyes lit up when he saw the photos of us meeting Mickey Mouse the last time we went, so we knew he had to come with us.  When he finally got to meet Mickey Mouse, he had tears in his eyes.  We all had the best time having him there.  We rented him a scooter so he could get around better, and he took turns giving the kids rides on it.  I think they enjoyed those rides better than the actual rides at the park!  Having him there was even better than we could have imagined.  If you've had the opportunity to travel with your extended family, I'd love to hear from you!  The good, bad and the ugly!  I know we can't all have the magical story like my client had, but there is value to including others in on our vacations.    Have a magical week, sweet friends!

Tips for making a multi-generational trip FUN!  1.  Take everyone's interests into account, but don't try to please everyone.  When you have a large group of people - remember it will be impossible to please everyone.  Have each person/family write down a list of MUST-do's for the trip.  This way you can make sure everyone gets something to check off their list.  But when it comes to things like making reservations at restaurants, remember that sometimes you have to make an executive decision.  Chances are there will be something for that picky eater on the menu.   2.  You don't have to do everything together.  Your list of MUST-do's for a trip may exceed the time you have a available.  Make sure family members have the ability to do their own thing if they need to.  You may not ever have another chance to visit that museum, or see that sight - not everyone has to go and do everything together.  It's okay to have some time away - and it may be better for your sanity anyway!  3. Make a plan, but be flexible.  Things are going to happen.  Not everyone walks at the same pace - having some flexibility to the schedule will allow for spontaneity as well, which is when the magic happens!   4.  Decide on a budget and who is paying for what - ahead of time.  Don't wait until the check comes at the restaurant to decide you are going to just split it in half.  Have these conversations in advance - and it will alleviate headaches later.  If the Grandparents want to pay for the rooms, but don't plan on paying for the meals - the families should know that in advance so they can budget accordingly.  With large families, you will have different budgets traveling - families that live on a very strict budget, and families that don't have a budget at all.  Talk about the money stuff early - preferably before you've traveled.   5. Take LOTS of photos!  This trip will be filled with memories - for everyone.  You'll have the opportunity to photograph cousins, grandparents, grandchildren and more - these can be rare opportunities.  Candid photos are going to capture those memories the best.  With today's phone technology being able to take lots of photos is easier than ever before.   6. Patience is a virtue.  When you are traveling with lots of different personalities, it's not going to be all smooth sailing.  Take a moment to take a breath and just enjoy your trip, wherever it may take you.  You may need patience with the people you are traveling with, or you may need patience with those providing hospitality to you.  If there are 20 of you sitting down to dinner, it will take some time for them to bring you all your beverages, or service your meals.   7.  Book your trip together.  This tip comes from personal experience, and not just because I'm a travel planner.  When a large group of people are traveling together, it is much easier for you if everyone books with the same travel planner - you can have one point of contact for your reservations, you can receive personalized help.  This also helps take a lot of the stress off your shoulders when coordinating the trip.  The travel planner can be sure you have your rooms near each other (or far apart, if that's what you prefer) and can coordinate your dining reservations. If your family is considering a vacation, I would love to assist!  I specialize in family travel and I love helping people realize their dreams.   I look forward to hearing from you!