Traveling with grandkids is a unique and wonderful experience, but sometimes it can also turn out a disaster whether you’re planning a domestic trip to the fun local attractions or an overseas one. If you’re residing in an independent living retirement community and planning a trip with family from three different generations, keep these tips from experienced travelers in mind. These will help you get the most out of your vacation money and may save the family from relationship strains down the road!
Include Your Grandkids in the Planning Process
Request that the grandchildren read some travel books and come up with their own suggestions on where to visit. Asking the kids what they want to see makes the vacation both informative and enjoyable for them. You could use storybooks to get them excited about traveling, such as the renowned Madeline book series depicting scenes in London, Rome, and Paris! The Miss Rumphius picture book series is also great, where a young girl recalls her aunt’s stories across exotic, distant lands.
Prioritize Your Grandkids’ Needs
When your grandkids travel with you, the focus should be on them so that the whole family can enjoy the trip. Places like big museums include many fantastic activities for kids or fun, kid-friendly literature. Bear in mind, however, that museums can be difficult or lengthy to navigate, and your grandkids could become bored or tired along the way. In that scenario, you could also engage them personally and ask them intriguing questions while walking around!
It’s essential that activities are age-appropriate no matter where you go. It’s a thin line to tread between assisting children in broadening their minds through new experiences and stretching their attention span to the extremes. If you overestimate their capabilities, make any required adjustments as soon as possible. For instance, you might have been extremely eager to take your grandkids to a musical, but if they throw a huge tantrum mid-performance, it may be best to leave.
Be Realistic and Not Too Ambitious
An optimal trip length is about nine to fourteen days when traveling with grandkids. Also, try not to schedule too many activities all in one day. Pay attention to your grandkids’ body clocks as well. Try to take off at nighttime for international flights so that everyone can acclimate to the time difference easily. Set aside enough time for family sleep time if your grandchildren still have naptimes. Have dinner at the usual local time that your grandkids are accustomed to even when overseas.
Bring as Little as Possible
No one likes being burdened by a large amount of luggage, especially with grandkids in tow. Talk to them about what essentials they should pack and what items are not necessary. If they complain about not being able to bring their toys, you can make it a tradition to give them an allowance to buy their keepsakes at gift shops along the trip.
Think About Purchasing Family Travel Insurance
The most common cause for postponing or canceling a vacation is illness or injury. When you have grandkids along, there’s a whole new list of criteria to prepare for. Search for insurance coverage that addresses the risks that you are most concerned about. Many policies will include a grandchild at no extra charge!
