Best Multigenerational Vacation Ideas

We all know that travel broadens the mind and a well-chosen holiday will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to face the year.  Sometimes it gets difficult to jungle between spending time with the family and extended family. That’s why multi-generational vacations are a growing trend. Kill two (or three) birds with one stone by holidaying with three or even four generations of family members. It’s a great way to bond and spend time with the kids, parents and grandparents.

Whether it’s Europe with the kids or a Canadian Rockies itinerary, we’ve got you covered.

#1 Australia

Exploring Australia is a dream  if you’re traveling with the family, especially  with toddlers and seniors.  Hotels, restaurants and caravan parks cater for children and have senior-friendly facilities. As it’s a huge continent, you’ll want to plan to either explore the west coast or the east coast, but don’t try to tackle both in one trip! Here are some useful Australia road trip tips to help with your planning.

One of our favorite holiday destinations for families is Queensland, which has lots of fun attractions for young travelers. Here are some great places to visit in Queensland for families.

A road trip is a great way to bond and see the wonderful landscape, stop at stunning beaches and discover quirky towns.  If you’re planning to spend some time in the bigger cities, like Sydney or Melbourne, there are lots of shorter scenic drives everyone will love, such as the  Great Ocean Road from Melbourne and the  Grand Pacific Drive near Sydney. Here’s an Australia East Coast road trip to help you plan.

#2 New Zealand

The best thing about New Zealand is it’s small and easy to travel around, which is an important factor to consider when going on vacation with the family. Driving around New Zealand is easy and even though it may be on the wrong side of the road (depending on which country you live in!), there’s so little traffic you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. There’s lots to see in both North and South Islands so if you don’t have a lot of time don’t try to tackle both.

Our pick would be the South Island, for its sweeping scenery that in places looks like it’s straight out of Lore of the Rings and the multitude of outdoor activities perfect for the kids to burn off energy. The ultimate South Island itinerary would have to include Kaukura for whale watching, Queenstown, and the west coast glacier country where Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier are fun to go walking on.

Queenstown is a kid-friendly city with an amazing mountainous backdrop (the kids will love the Skyline Gondola).  Queenstown is beautiful all year round but a super fun time to visit is in winter, when the whole family can enjoy skiing, snowboarding and other winter activities at the four skifields near Queenstown. There’s also the Queenstown Winter Festival, which is loads of fun.  Here are more things to do in Queenstown in winter.

#3 UK

If you have kids,  it’s easy to choose a destination where the kids can have lots of fun, but it’s worth putting some thought into planning a holiday that will also educate young minds. Your kids’ minds are like a sponge and feeding those growing brains will set them up for life.  London is a fabulous destination for visitors of all ages.

There’s plenty for younger kids, including fun, interactive museums, while teenagers will learn a lot about history, and adult family members will most definitely find plenty of distractions too.  Here’s a great guide on how to spend 3 days in London. If you have more time, here are some fun things to do in southeast London.

#4  India

While India might not be the first place to pop into mind as a family travel destination, for an adventurous vacation for all the family,  India  will delight young and old.  Many people dream of visiting India, but never actually get organized to go.  Imagine going to see the Taj Mahal and other places in India with your kids? That would be a  shared family experience with wonderful memories of a lifetime! So, if you take the initiative and plan a trip you would be surprised at how many family members might be keen!

Rajasthan is a delightful place to visit as it is colorful and vibrant and full off amazing palaces. The kids will be delighted to explore the forts and fairytale palaces of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Besides being an intriguing region (just picture India as you see it in the movies!), it’s also an educational trip for kids to learn about the history of this great nation.

Another place in India that is safe for families is Kerala, where you can cruise around the backwaters in a houseboat. Kerala also has some amazing culture and plenty of scenic spots to take photos to add to the family album. Here’s a Kerala itinerary to help plan your trip. And if you’re planning on visiting other places in Southern India, the beautiful hill station of Munnar is a lovely place to explore and visit tea plantations. Here are some places to visit in Munnar.

#5 Thailand

Do you have family members all over the world? A vacation in Thailand is the perfect solution for families spread across several continents, especially if part of your extended family is in Europe, Asia and Australia or New Zealand.

Thailand is a central place with lots of choices when it comes to accommodation, with something to suit all budgets. Bangkok is such a fun city, with so many things to do. Here’s a great Bangkok travel guide to help you plan your trip.

Elsewhere in Thailand, there are lots of beach resorts and many Thai resorts have fabulous pools as well as babysitting facilities. The country has a mix of history and culture and it’s great for shopping!

A visit to the Lopburi Monkey Temple is a fun day trip from Bangkok, where you’ll be able to see and interact with lots of monkeys.  The kids (and big kids) will share an experience you’ll be talking about around the dinner table for years!

#6 Florida, USA

Of all the places in the USA, Florida is a great choice for the young and young at heart.  There’s an endless list of attractions in Florida for kids of all ages,  from museums to manatees.

Orlando is also the amusement park capital of the USA and a great choice for vacation your kids will love. Your kids will have a ball at any of the theme parks, including Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios but there are plenty of attractions both in and out of the amusement parks for adults too. Check out this post for money saving tips when visiting Orlando.

Spend time in Miami too, as not only are there lots to do for kids, including fun museums and safari adventures and zoos, there’s also a lot of things to do in Miami for adults such as beaches, markets and cool spots after dark.

#7 Grand Canyon, USA

Visiting the majestic Grand Canyon with your kids is a fantastic adventure for the whole family.  You’ll get the chance to see an amazing natural wonder as well as experience the desert’s ethereal beauty and mystery.  Things to do with older kids include multi-day hiking adventures and rafting.

Make sure you leave yourselves plenty of time. It takes about four hours to hike down and about six to eight to hike back up.  Other attractions are watching a Native American dance at the Hopi House, hiking Havasu Falls, seeing the landscape from a helicopter tour and the famous Sky Walk.

#8 Croatia

In recent times, Croatia has emerged as a vacation hot spot that is kind on the budget. It’s a beautiful country with many places that are suitable for a family holiday, such as Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb. From island vacations to national parks to off the beaten path destinations.

One such destination is  Slavonia, Croatia which has amazing nature and is a relatively undiscovered country hideaway.. Wander through cobblestone towns, explore fortresses and gather around the dining table at night and talk about all the things you’ve enjoyed as a family. Croatia is truly a delightful destination for families. Here’s what to do in Croatia in 10 days.

#9 Italy

With wonderful food and rich history Italy is a fun country to visit with the extended family.  Start in Rome, where exploring the Colosseum and Roman Forum will appeal to the history buffs in the family. Here’s how to plan a two-week Italy itinerary.

For a hands-on bonding family experience, try a pizza making class in Pisa or a cooking class in Florence or a gelato tasting tour in  .just about any city in Italy! Another fun activity is to join a Gladiator class in Rome, where you learn to fight like an ancient Roman warrior. How many of your family would sign up for that class?

#10 Namibia

If you’re a family that loves camping, put Namibia on  your list! Namibia is rich in wildlife and nature. It’s a beautiful country to explore, with surprises around every corner.  From 4WD adventures on the sand dunes to flying kites on the beach or a hot air balloon flight over the landscape, Namibia is a surprise package when it comes to holidaying with the family. 

The Namibia Desert Express train tour is a  leisurely sightseeing journey with some fun experiences along the way, such as game drives in the middle of the desert.

Camping in Namibia’s National Parks offers plenty of fun moments for the whole family. Imagine singing and telling stories around a campfire after a wonderful day out spotting wildlife.  Namibia has plenty of National Parks to choose from and if you get tired of camping, there are lodges that are perfect for families travelling with kids. Here’s a great guide with everything you need to know about camping in Namibia with kids.

#11 Jordan

You might be surprised to learn that Jordan is a fun destination for adventurous families and of all the Middle Eastern Countries, Jordan is pretty safe for women and children. Here are some Jordan travel tips to help you make your decision whether or not to go. Jordan has good roads and the tourist sites such as Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea are easy to access. One way to do it is to hire a car (and a local driver), that way you can relax and enjoy watching the scenery roll by. As you travel the land, you’ll visit places in the Bible. Riding camels in the desert, exploring ancient castles and floating in the Dead Sea are great family bonding experiences. And the kids will love exploring Petra (the Treasury in Petra was featured in Raiders of the Lost Ark).

#12 Sri Lanka

If you like the idea of exploring India but want to go somewhere that is easier to get around, try Sri Lanka. The country is compact and easy to get around. The roads are excellent and English is widely spoken. Teach the kids these interesting facts about Sri Lanka before you go as it will make being there so much more meaningful.

The landscapes of Sri Lanka are simply stunning and you can cover a lot in seven to 10 days including historic cities like Galle and Colombo, visit the charming Sri Lankan Highlands of Nuwara Eliya and the amazing World Heritage gems in of the Cultural Triangle.  If you have young children, touring Sri Lanka is easy.  Here’s a great Sri Lanka itinerary for kids.

#13 Austria

If you’ve seen The Sound of Music,  you’ll realize that Austria is a land of stunning scenery.  Your kids will love exploring the charming cities of Salzburg and Vienna, where history comes to life. The architecture is grand and enchanting.  Salzburg is the home of Mozart and there are so many things to do in and around Salzburg  for kids. 

Visit some of the places in the movie on a Sound of Music tour but make sure your kids watch the movie first. A wonderful time to visit is around Christmas, where wandering around the markets is a delight.