When Jessica Martinac planned a family trip for 22 people last July, the biggest challenge wasn’t coordinating rides to the airport or figuring out where to go. It was all the opinions.
The group chat would sometimes explode over budgets, departure times or what month would be best for the vacation. Many times those opinions were a result of age gaps in the group. The seniors, for instance, didn’t mind leaving at 7 a.m., a time that would make the teens blanch in horror. Indeed, a wide age range, different lifestyles and varying energy and ability levels can be the hardest parts of organizing a multigenerational vacation.
Martinac, her husband and her parents own Designing Beauty Academy, a beauty school in Windsor, so they were used to occasional disagreements. It was still a stressful time.
“The planning process was so hard,” Martinac says. “There are just so many moving pieces. We had to rent a personal shuttle, and they had to have a trailer in the back to carry all our luggage.”
Still, Martinac found a way to make everyone happy. She gave them their independence.
Her family went on a cruise together. There was enough variety throughout the day to keep the antsy adventurers (including her) and the ones who preferred to relax happy enough that they all wanted to meet up for dinner every night.
“I set the expectation that it was everyone’s vacation,” Martinac says. “I didn’t want anyone to think it was my vacation because I was planning everything. Even though we are a family, we all have different personalities.”
Jessica Martinac and family.
Tip 1: Remember why you’re going
Family vacations are more common these days because people are prioritizing experiences over stuff, says Linda Abramson, a travel specialist of 39 years who works with Travel Leaders in Loveland.
“It starts with a grandpa or grandma wanting to take their family,” she says. “They’ve saved all their life, and they want to enjoy their family before it’s their time. Kids today are happy to go along with that. When I was their age, we accumulated everything, but now our kids don’t want that.”
Travel agents agree that Martinac’s strategy of allowing everyone to split up during the day is the key to keeping all generations content on a family vacation. Abramson learned not to be insulted when she would take her family on a trip: She likes to read by the pool while the younger ones act like Labradors and run from excursion to excursion.
“The kids don’t want to hang around with everyone,” Abramson says with a laugh, “especially if they are teenagers.”
Not only did this make nighttime meals more meaningful because everyone wasn’t sick of each other, but they were also more entertaining because people could talk about their day.
“It makes it so fun because everyone is so excited,” Abramson says.
Melissa Rarick, her son and his best friend in Cabo.
Tip 2: Come together for shared interests
Family trips can still get everyone together beyond breakfast and dinner. Melissa Rarick, a travel advisor and owner of a Dream Vacations franchise in Milliken, says it’s important to plan group experiences, even if it’s just a game night at the hotel or a photo shoot.
“You do want to be making memories together,” she says.
There are lots of other activities all generations typically enjoy, Rarick says. Here are some she suggests.
A beach day. Everyone can do their own thing at the beach, from napping and reading to building sandcastles, hunting for seashells and surfing.
Swimming with dolphins or sea turtles. These activities generally don’t require much swimming. You just have to float and wait for the creatures to come by. Some experiences are more wild than others, so do your research before you book.
Snorkeling. This isn’t as complicated as scuba diving. All you have to do is float on your stomach, look at the fish through your mask and breathe through your mouth.
“A lot of people don’t think they can do this,” Rarick says, “but you can snorkel with a life vest on, so it’s possible even if you aren’t a swimmer.”
Boat tours. Sunset cruises and tours of state parks and historic areas are both relaxing and interesting for different age groups, Rarick says.
Linda Abramson with her grandkids on a Royal Caribbean Cruise featuring DreamWorks characters.
Recommended trips for multiple generations
Cruises and all-inclusive resorts. Rarick and Abramson strongly recommend these vacations because it’s easy for families to spilt up and do their own thing, then meet up for meals. Cruises offer entertainment while you travel, and some offer daycare, like a kids’ camp, so parents can enjoy some time to themselves. Cruises tend to be more expensive than all-inclusive resorts, both say, especially resorts in Mexico. Resorts are typically located near beaches, whereas cruises serve tropical areas and other destinations, like Alaska.
Hawaii. Though it’s on the pricier side, Hawaii offers beautiful, relaxing areas and easy access to plenty of beaches, Abramson says, giving families of all ages a chance at a great vacation.
Europe. Europe trips are trickier to plan because there generally isn’t a central location and meals aren’t included, making budgets a potential issue. Rarick says arguments about affordability are the number-one reason why family vacations fall apart. But families do successfully go to Europe, especially if they pick one spot, such as Ireland, instead of traveling every day, Abramson says.
Disney. Disney offers resorts at all of its locations, so they have an all-inclusive feel. However, Disney vacations tend to be more expensive than a trip to a tropical island, Abramson says. There’s also a lot of walking at the theme parks, so seniors might need to rent a scooter to get around. Abramson says many people think Disney vacations are just for kids, but that’s a misconception.
“There’s something for everybody,” she says. “You walk in, and you’re in a different world. It doesn’t matter how old you are. You all have a ball.”
Las Vegas. If Disney isn’t just for kids, Vegas isn’t just for adults. The city offers plenty of kids’ activities, and there are many places for families to enjoy together. Martinac recently had a comparatively easier time planning a trip to Vegas for her family, including her teenage kids.
Some travel experts recommend watching “The Wizard of Oz” at the Sphere or visiting The Neon Museum. Families can also ride the High Roller Wheel at The LINQ, The Big Apple Coaster or the thrill rides at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower. Vegas has escape rooms, an aquarium, arcades, circus performances—the list goes on and on.
