As we brave the end of winter and look forward to warmer, sunnier days, our thoughts turn towards summer vacation. Since the kids are out of school, the summer is the ideal time for a family vacation, but where? Coming up with a consensus between friends is hard enough, but add the age gap between parent and child, or even grandparent and grandchild, and the task of deciding where to go and what activities to plan might appear impossible; however, if you are willing to be flexible and keep an open mind, with planning, you and your family can enjoy an amazing vacation.
One of the first things you’ll want to take into consideration is the health of the individual travelers. Are there allergies or dietary concern that need to be addressed, or physical limitations accommodated for? Will you need to arrange for a wheelchair at the airport or opt for a longer layover between connecting flights to ensure that everyone is able to make it to the terminal on time? Will any of your guests require a crib or a handicap accessible room at the hotel? Understanding the needs of the members within your group will allow you to prepare ahead.
The next things to consider are the personal interests of the individuals. While the primary reason for family trips is to enjoy the time together, the age gap presented by multigenerational travel can complicate things; your mom may be looking forward to visiting the aquarium, while the kids have their hearts set on a theme park, and all you can think about is a trip to the beach. The trick is allowing everyone time to enjoy the activities that they want most to do without sacrificing family time. This can be best accomplished by planning group activities that are not age restrictive such as having dinner at a theme restaurant (be sure to make reservations in advance to avoid long wait and frayed nerves), or visiting an important landmark. The important thing to remember is that it is just as important to plan enough free time for people to explore on their own as the time you spend together..
A Nomad's Journey 