Family Reunion Travel Planning: A Practical Guide

Start With Your Family, Not the Destination

Before deciding where to go, think about who is actually traveling.

Do you have grandparents who would appreciate shorter walking distances or a slower pace?

Families with young children who need naps or early bedtimes?

Teenagers who definitely aren't interested in spending seven straight days sitting beside the adults?

Someone who loves excursions while another family member considers a lounge chair and a book a perfectly planned afternoon?

These things matter.

The best destination isn't necessarily the one everyone has heard the most about. It's the one that works for the people actually going.

Give Everyone Something to Look Forward To

This is one reason cruises and all-inclusive resorts can work so well for multigenerational families.

Everyone is in the same general place, but they don't have to spend every minute together.

The grandparents can relax.

The kids can find activities.

The teenagers can have some independence.

The adults can actually have a conversation.

And everyone can come back together for dinner, an excursion, a show, or whatever you've planned as a family.

Depending on your family, a vacation rental, guided trip, theme-park vacation, or custom itinerary may work better.

There isn't one type of trip that's right for every family.

Talk About Budget Early

Nobody loves talking about money, but it's much easier to discuss it while you're planning than after everyone gets excited about a trip they can't comfortably afford.

Before we get too far, I want to have a realistic idea of the budget families are comfortable with.

And remember that the trip cost may include more than the room or cruise fare.

Depending on the vacation, families may also need to plan for:

• Transportation or airfare
• Gratuities
• Travel protection
• Excursions and activities
• Meals that aren't included
• Parking or transfers
• Spending money

Don't Schedule Every Minute Together

You're having a family reunion, so of course you want family time.

But there is such a thing as too much togetherness.

I usually prefer planning a few experiences that bring everyone together rather than creating an itinerary that has the entire family moving as one unit from breakfast until bedtime.

Maybe it's:

• A welcome dinner
• One special family excursion
• A group photo
• A celebration dinner
• A farewell breakfast

Think About Mobility and Accessibility Before You Book

Multigenerational travel means thinking about everyone's comfort.

Long walks, stairs, cobblestone streets, large resorts, tender ports, transportation, mobility equipment, dietary needs, sensory considerations, and room location can all make a difference.

These aren't details I want to discover after everyone arrives.

If someone in your family has a particular need, tell me during the planning process so we can consider it when evaluating destinations, accommodations, transportation, and activities.

Give Everyone Enough Time to Plan

The larger the family, the earlier I recommend starting the conversation.

People may need time to:

• Save money
• Request vacation days
• Coordinate school schedules
• Arrange passports
• Make payment plans
• Find airfare
• Coordinate multiple households

Let One Person Be the Family Contact—Not the Family Travel Agent

Having one or two family members help communicate the group's overall wishes can make planning much easier.

But that doesn't mean that person should have to answer every travel question, collect everybody's money, keep track of payment deadlines, or figure out who needs what paperwork.

That's where I come in.

Depending on how the trip is structured, I can help organize reservations, communicate important information, answer traveler questions, track deadlines, coordinate with suppliers, and help everyone understand what they need to do.

Your family organizer should still get to be part of the family.

Remember Why You're Going

It's easy to get caught up in room categories, flight schedules, excursions, restaurant reservations, and who hasn't answered the group text.

But that's not why you're doing this.

Maybe the grandchildren are finally old enough to remember the trip.

Maybe you're celebrating a milestone.

Maybe your family lives in different states and doesn't get together very often.

Or maybe somebody simply said:

"We need to stop saying we're going to do this someday and actually do it."

Those are the reasons worth planning around.

The goal isn't a perfectly scheduled vacation.

It's getting your people together and giving everyone a chance to make memories they'll still be talking about years from now.

Ready to Get the Family Together?

You don't need to know where you're going yet.

Tell me approximately how many people are traveling, the ages you're working with, when you'd like to go, your general budget, and what your family enjoys.

We'll start there and figure out what kind of family trip makes sense for your people.