Multigenerational holidays are a fantastic way to spend quality time together as a family. Giving everyone a chance to relax, unwind and enjoy each other’s company, this type of escape has proved enduringly popular over the years. However, planning a multigenerational escape isn’t always straightforward. Due to the different generations holidaying together, there will undoubtedly be a variety of different tastes, budgets and activity levels to meet everyone’s needs.
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Finding a holiday that suits everyone can be a challenge, so to help you keep all the members of your extended brood happy, we have put together a few tips for planning your next group getaway.
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Choosing a destination for a Multi-Gen Holiday
Choosing a destination that suits everyone is probably one of the most challenging parts of planning a holiday for the extended family. According to a recent survey from GroupAccommodation.com, the most important considerations when planning a multigenerational break are: ease of travel, weather and affordability.
It comes as no surprise that sunny Spain is the top destination for those jetting off on a large family escape. Other short-haul destinations like France, Greece, Turkey and Portugal have also proved popular with those seeking sun, great food and a relaxing stay.
In the UK, the South West of England proves to be the most popular destination amongst families choosing to holiday closer to home. This is more than likely due to the the South West being one of the sunniest regions in the UK, as well as having an abundance of beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes and things to do.
If you’ve been put in charge of organising a holiday for your extended family, try and bare these factors in mind when choosing your destination. Remember that the main goal of the trip is spending quality time with your loved ones – as well as topping up your tan – so as long as it’s warm, welcoming and not too far away, your destination choice should please everyone.
How long to go on a Multi-Gen Holiday for?
Getting the timing right on a multigenerational break is crucial. If you plan a trip that’s too short, your nearest and dearest won’t have time to relax and unwind before it’s time to head home. However, going away for too long leaves more room for tempers to fray before the holiday is over.
By far the most popular number of days for a multigenerational break is seven. This is especially true for families staying in the UK and those heading off on short-haul European getaways. For those travelling further afield, a trip of 10 to 15 days seems to be just right.
Budgeting
Before you start booking accommodation and planning activities, you need to work out how much each member of your group can afford to spend. On average, a multigenerational break costs around £500 per person.
You can reduce this cost by staying in the UK, limiting the number of activities you take part in and booking self-catering accommodation. On the other hand, if your group has money to burn, you can push the boat out with luxury accommodation, a high end destination and adrenaline pumping activities such as watersports.
Once the holiday has begun, families seem to take a remarkably even handed approach to budgeting. When surveyed, around 50% of Millennials, Gen X-ers and Baby Boomers believed they were the ones handling the day-to-day spending during the break. This shows that no single member of a particular generation is in charge of the purse strings.
Booking accommodation
Accommodation preferences vary between from generation to generation. The majority of people favour holiday rentals and hotels, but baby boomers clearly lean towards holiday rentals.
In general, the younger the family member the more they favour hotels. However, it always comes down to personal preference, so make sure you talk to the members of your group before you book to ensure everyone is happy with your choice.
Who’s in charge on a Multi-Gen Holiday?
When planning a group holiday, it always helps to have one main organiser. What’s interesting about multigenerational breaks is that everyone in the family tends to believe that they’re the one in charge!
Of those responding to the survey, 42% claimed they were the main organiser of the trip. This was true across all generations apart from Baby Boomers, who believe that organising the holiday is a group effort.
The more input each group member has in selecting a holiday destination, setting a budget and choosing accommodation, the happier they’re likely to be with the results. Try to keep communication flowing throughout the planning process to ensure everyone gets their say.
A multigenerational break is the perfect way to bring the generations together and create unforgettable family memories.
