Ratgeber
A multi-generational trip with grandchildren and grandparents
A multi-generational trip works with short stages, accommodation with space to retreat and a programme that leaves freedom of choice. Choose destinations with good infrastructure and book early. Once in a Lifetime is a Swiss travel agency with video consultations and plans family trips across generations.
Von Once in a Lifetime, Stand
Schritt für Schritt
- Collect the wishes of all generations
- Check the time window for school holidays
- Choose a destination with good infrastructure
- Plan pace and breaks
- Choose accommodation with several rooms
- Clarify health and insurance
Checkliste
- Participants confirmed
- Holiday dates checked
- Pace agreed
- Room allocation clarified
- Walking distances checked
- Medication in hand luggage
- Insurance for everyone
- FDFA (EDA) and FOPH (BAG) advice checked
A trip with grandparents, parents and grandchildren is a special gift. It becomes a memory when everyone feels comfortable. That takes a pace that suits each generation and room for breaks.
Discussing wishes and limits openly
Talk beforehand about what each generation expects. Grandparents may want calm and conversation, grandchildren movement and adventure. Allow more time for meals and breaks in your planning. Travelling with several generations calls for patience, and small delays are part of it and should not bother anyone.
Also discuss physical limits and habits. Anyone who is less steady on their feet needs short distances and places to sit. Write wishes down beforehand so that nobody is overlooked. Children need movement and breaks, older travellers calm and comfort, and both can be planned for.
An open round of discussion before booking prevents disappointment. Flexibility is the most important travelling companion. Clarify in advance who makes decisions, so that not every question ends in a long discussion.
The right destination
Destinations with wildlife watching, scenery and good infrastructure are well suited. Galápagos, Serengeti or New Zealand offer experiences that impress young and old. Plan meals at fixed times, because regular rhythms help all generations.
Check age limits, activities and trip length. Some expeditions have minimum ages or physical requirements. Long flights affect each generation differently, so plan rest after arrival.
Choose a destination that makes an impression without long hikes. Ask about child-friendly programmes and suitable excursions for older travellers. Ask about child prices and family rooms only in the proposal, because blanket figures do not help.
Pace and structure
Plan shorter stages and fixed breaks. A programme with one or two highlights per day is enough. Talk to operators early about requirements. Decide who takes care of which tasks, such as documents, medication or reservations.
Leave choices open. Anyone who does not want to join in rests while others enjoy an activity. Bring games, books or drawing materials, which provide variety on long drives.
Free afternoons give everyone space. A shared evening at the end of the day keeps everyone together.
Accommodation and health
Choose accommodation with several rooms or connecting options. Retreat is important for every generation. Allow enough buffer for tiredness and jet lag, especially for children and older travellers.
Check the current position with the FDFA and the FOPH on travel advice and health. If medication or pre-existing conditions are involved, ask your doctor. Several rooms allow early sleepers to have their peace. Choose activities with a choice of options so that nobody is overwhelmed or underwhelmed.
Travel insurance for everyone involved creates security. A quiet place to retreat in the hotel is often more important to grandparents than luxury. Check whether excursions require a minimum age or height, as some activities stipulate this.
Experiences for every generation
On a multi-generational trip, programme items that connect everyone help. Wildlife watching, boat trips or walks on easy terrain appeal to children and grandparents alike and prompt conversation. Take photos in which all generations can be seen, because they will be especially valuable later.
Give the grandchildren small tasks, such as counting animals or keeping a travel diary. That involves them and creates memories that are later told together.
Deliberately plan moments for two, such as grandparents with one grandchild on a walk. Such moments often stay in the memory longest. Before the trip, discuss shared rules, for example on phone time or consideration for quiet hours.
Planning with advice
In the [planning call](/m/once-in-a-lifetime/planen) by video call, several family members can take part, even from different places. Ask your doctor about questions on travelling with children or older people.
We collect wishes, check time windows and put a trip together. On request there are variants to compare. Choose a destination that also offers alternatives if the weather changes.
That way the trip becomes an experience for everyone. If you plan early, you find rooms next to each other and suitable dates in the school holidays. Flights for several people are also much more readily available early than shortly before departure. That keeps the anticipation untroubled and the trip easy to plan for all generations.
