Make Happy Memories While Traveling With Grandparents

Turquoise waters. Swaying palm trees. Grandpa in a Speedo. OK, that might not exactly reflect your vision of a dream vacation, but a multigenerational voyage packs a two-for-one perk not offered by other travel types: It allows you to enjoy quality time with your family as you see new sights.

But before you set your watch to vacation time, pack these tips for traveling with grandparents next to your swimsuit. They’ll help ensure your trip goes off without a hitch, whether you’re traveling near or far, to the beach or the big city.

Compromise is essential to your trip’s success. Whether the decision is big (when and where to travel) or small (what to eat for dinner), you’ll need to be flexible. Above all, relax. You’re on vacation, after all!

Before you step foot on that plane, hop in your car or shuffle onto a beach house deck, discuss your expectations for the vacation. Are you hoping for a laid-back getaway with your spouse, but grandma is dreaming of an intense marathon of family bonding? A quick conversation will allow you to prevent disappointment and avoid hurt feelings.

After spending an extended amount of time together, your family is sure to see the luxury in privacy—even if it’s just a few minutes alone in a hotel room. Reserve separate rooms so that everyone has their personal space to retreat to. The extra square footage will go a long way in helping you respect each other’s boundaries.

You usually eat a late dinner, but the grandparents never pass up an early-bird special. This is just one example of how conflicting schedules can throw a wrench into your vacation itinerary. Instead of force-feeding yourself a steak at 4:30 p.m. or trying to get the grandparents to adapt to your night-owl ways, settle on one standing meetup per day at a time that works for all parties. Whether it’s a brisk walk in the morning or a casual lunch at noon, the standing appointment will give your family a chance to log some quality time every day.

Multiple generations will have multiple interests, so it’s unrealistic to expect that your entire vacation will be spent as a family. You might luck out and find a few activities that everyone will enjoy, but how will you spend your downtime? That’s where individual outings come in. Maybe grandpa is itching to hit the museums and see the sights but ziplining and snorkeling are more your speed. Give each other space and freedom to check off the items on your respective vacation bucket lists.

You know what they say about the best-laid plans. What will you do if your chosen restaurant or sightseeing tour can’t accommodate those with limited mobility? Or what will you do in case of a medical emergency? Some advance preparation can prevent last-minute surprises and ensure that everyone returns home safely.

The matriarchs and patriarchs of the group shouldn’t have to spend their vacation cleaning, cooking and picking up after younger family members. So while it’s easy to revert back to old roles, divvy up tasks and expenses so that everyone is responsible for his or her fair share. You might even go the extra mile and pick up the bill for dinner or treat your childhood caregivers to a hotel spa treatment. Consider it payback for your teenage years.

The appeal of the latest and greatest social media app will not likely be at the top of the list for elder members of your crew, even if you did just post the most glorious sunset pic ever to grace Instagram. So snap your selfies on the sly and save your status updates for when you get a moment alone. The same goes for emails, phone calls and other screen-related disruptions that interfere with family quality time.

Vacation is not the time to rehash old family disputes. Not only will you spoil the trip for all involved, the sting of the argument will be amplified by the fact that, because you’re on vacation, you’re now paying to be miserable. Save the drama for Thanksgiving like a civilized person.

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