Multigenerational holidays: How to plan a trip everyone can enjoy

Watching your grandchildren discover somewhere new. Catching up over a long breakfast. Having a few days together without anyone rushing home. A family holiday gives you time for all of this. But bringing several generations together also means making room for different routines, interests and expectations.

You might be keen to explore while someone else looks forward to the pool. A holiday house might look ideal online, but will the stairs, sleeping arrangements and location work for everyone?

A few conversations before you book can make a difference. Here’s what to consider when planning a holiday with children, grandchildren or extended family.

What is a multigenerational holiday?

A multigenerational holiday is a trip shared by different generations of the same family. It often includes grandparents, their adult children, and grandchildren, but can also include other relatives.

It could be a resort stay, a shared holiday house or an overseas trip to visit family. Whatever you choose, the aim is to find something everyone can enjoy.

8 Ways to plan a multigenerational holiday everyone can enjoy

A little planning can make it easier to balance everyone’s needs and enjoy your time together. Start with these eight things to consider before you book.

1. Talk about what everyone wants

Before sharing hotel links or comparing flights, ask everyone what they’re hoping for.

Some may want to explore every day. Others might prefer a comfortable base with a few outings. Children will have ideas, too, so give them a chance to suggest something they’d enjoy.

You don’t need to agree on every detail straight away. Start with a few questions:

• What are you most looking forward to? Sightseeing, swimming, eating out, or simply spending time together?
• How much travelling feels manageable? Include flights, connections and transfers
• What would make your stay comfortable? Think about privacy, accessibility and sleeping arrangements
• Are there routines you’d like to keep? These might include regular meals, children’s bedtimes or a morning walk

Let people speak for themselves. Age alone won’t tell you who wants an early night and who will be first out exploring.

2. Be clear about the budget

Different households may be comfortable spending different amounts. Discussing money early makes it easier to choose a holiday everyone can afford.

Look beyond flights and accommodation to include meals, transfers, activities and local transport. Then agree on how you’ll split shared costs.

For example:

• Will accommodation be divided by household, room or person?
• Will you share grocery costs?
• Will paid excursions be optional?
• Who will pay deposits and collect everyone’s contributions?
• What happens to shared costs if someone can’t travel?

If you’re treating the family, explain what’s included so everyone knows what to budget for themselves.

Before paying, make sure everyone understands the cancellation terms and their share of any non-refundable costs.

3. Look beyond the accommodation photos

A pool and a lovely view can catch your eye, but the layout and location may matter more once you’re there.

Picture an ordinary day: getting ready in the morning, heading out, coming back to rest, and settling down at night. Will the property make those things easy?

Check bedrooms and bathrooms

Confirm the sleeping arrangements, including whether anyone will use a sofa bed in the living room. Consider whether early risers and children with earlier bedtimes will have enough quiet.

Check where the bathrooms are, too. A downstairs bedroom may be less convenient if the only bathroom is upstairs.

A separate sitting area can give people somewhere to read or relax while others watch television or get ready.

Ask specific accessibility questions

If anyone has accessibility needs, contact the property directly. An “accessible” description may not tell you everything you need to know.

Ask about step-free access, lifts, bathroom layouts and space for mobility aids. Check the routes to shared facilities as well as the room itself.

Smartraveller recommends confirming accessibility with the accommodation provider before you book.

Check facilities for children

Ask about cots, highchairs, balconies and access to the pool where relevant. Smartraveller advises checking overseas safety standards for facilities and equipment, including pools, balconies, car seats and cots.

Look at the surrounding area

“Close to the beach” could still mean a steep walk or crossing a busy road.

Check the routes to shops, restaurants and public transport. Being able to pop out or return independently gives everyone more flexibility.

4. Think through the whole journey

For families travelling overseas from Australia, the journey can be a significant part of the trip.

Compare more than the fare. A cheaper flight might involve a long connection, while a late arrival could mean a tiring transfer when everyone is ready for bed.

Before booking, consider:

• Flight times: How do they fit around sleep, meals and transport?
• Connections: Is there enough time for everyone to move between flights comfortably?
• Transfers: Is there room for the whole group, luggage, prams and mobility aids?
• Check-in: Will you be able to access your accommodation when you arrive?
• Assistance: Does anyone need to discuss airport or onboard support with the airline?

Keep arrival day flexible. After a long flight, a meal and time to settle in may be more welcome than a booked excursion.

5. Leave some space in the itinerary

It’s easy to fill a holiday with things you’d like everyone to experience. Leave room to enjoy them without rushing.

Plan one main activity together, then keep the rest of the day open. A morning at a market might be followed by an afternoon at the pool for some and more exploring for others.

Before booking a tour, check:

• How much walking and standing it involves
• Whether there are steps, steep paths or uneven ground
• Access to toilets, seating and shade
• Transfer times and the expected return time
• Any age, height or participation restrictions

Share these details so everyone can decide whether the outing suits them. Describing what’s involved is more helpful than calling something an “easy walk”.

6. Make time apart feel normal

You can enjoy a holiday together without joining every meal or outing.

Agree on a few things you’d particularly like to share, such as a day trip or dinner, and let other plans stay optional. Someone choosing a quiet afternoon doesn’t need to change the whole group’s day.

If you split up, agree on where you’ll meet and how you’ll contact each other. Make sure this works for anyone without mobile data.

Discuss childcare, too. Grandparents may love spending time with their grandchildren, but ask about babysitting rather than assuming. Clear arrangements help everyone enjoy their break.

7. Sort health needs and documents early

Once you’ve chosen a destination, give everyone time to organise their own preparations.

Anyone managing a health condition may want to discuss the trip with their doctor and plan their medication supplies.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recommends checking whether medicines are permitted at your destination. It also recommends carrying a prescription or doctor’s letter and keeping medicines in their original packaging.

Check passport and visa requirements for each person, including transit destinations. Relatives travelling on different passports may need different documents.

Travelling overseas with grandchildren

If you’re taking grandchildren overseas without one or both parents, check the requirements well before departure.

Children travelling with a grandparent may need a child travel consent letter. Contact the airline and the destination’s embassy or consulate to confirm which documents you need in your circumstances.

8. Check Travel Insurance for each person’s needs

Sharing an itinerary doesn’t mean everyone will have the same insurance needs.

Smartraveller recommends considering your destination, trip length, activities, age and health when choosing Travel Insurance. Check how pre-existing medical conditions are treated and whether any planned activities need additional cover.

When reviewing a policy, look at:

• Who is covered: Confirm who is insured and check the eligibility requirements
• Destinations and dates: Make sure these match each person’s trip, including stopovers
• Medical conditions: Understand what needs to be declared and any assessment required
• Cancellation: Check the insured reasons, benefit limits and how shared bookings are treated
• Activities: Check the activities each person plans to take part in

If one person cancelling would affect other relatives’ plans, explain your booking arrangements to the insurer and ask how the policy would respond.

This is general advice only. Please read our Combined Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) to make sure this cover is right for you.

Your family holiday planning checklist

Before you finalise the bookings, check that you’ve:

• Given everyone a say in the plans
• Agreed on a budget and shared costs
• Confirmed sleeping arrangements and accessibility needs
• Checked flights, connections and transfers
• Left room for rest and separate activities
• Discussed childcare and supervision
• Reviewed health preparations and travel documents
• Checked Travel Insurance against individual needs
• Shared booking details and important contact numbers

Make room for time together

Some of your favourite memories may come from the outings you’ve planned. Others might be a conversation over breakfast or watching the grandchildren play. Choose somewhere that works for everyday needs, give everyone a say and leave a little breathing room in the itinerary.

Add suitable Travel Insurance to your preparations, checking the cover against your trip and individual circumstances. With those details considered, you can look forward to the holiday you’ve planned together.