From coast to countryside: finding a holiday location that suits every generation
Organizing a vacation for three generations all at once is not so much like reserving a trip and more like brokering a minor peace agreement. The primary booker – generally the parent in the center – has to please toddlers who need activity, teenagers who need technology, and grandparents who need tranquility. Get the destination right and that’s the only thing that binds all of that together.
The real problem with multigenerational travel
It might be quite tempting to try and find a compromise location that works for one group, hoping that the other sets of people coming will adapt and be happy with what’s been chosen. In reality, it’s a big ask to expect everyone to just be happy with the choice that’s made when it’s obviously to the benefit of one or two people only. For example, a remote campsite can be nice and quiet but also rules out anyone with physical impairment or who are simply too old to be marching everywhere. A remote cottage might be the perfect sedentary relaxation spot but it won’t have the entertainment options required to keep any children engaged.
Instead of trying to find a location that meets everyone’s individual criteria, shift your focus to planning the structure to fit everyone instead.
Hub-and-spoke: the only geography that actually works
It’s quite straightforward when you put your mind to it. Find a location that is perfectly amicable from an accommodation perspective and look for what’s within a reasonable driving distance of it for things to do for each group of people. This way, you all have somewhere to retreat to and can head out each day for different activities that suit everyone, without leaving anyone feeling left out.
This is great because everyone runs on their own time and with a different level of energy too. If the weather is good, those who want to get out and at it will head to the beach and make the most of the warm weather. If it’s a slow quiet morning, then those who wish to can go for a relaxed morning walk. Being nestled between a variety of options for outdoor spots and indoor entertainment allows these options to be on the table simultaneously without derailing someone else’s trip.
Planning ahead makes this so much easier naturally. It’s easier to schedule, plan and map out things to do when you’re sat at home rather than in your accommodation trying to figure out what to do with your day. It also lets you figure out what’s a realistic itinerary, a cliffside walk on the beach sounds great until you consider that you have 3 children trying to run ahead the whole time. Instead, being able to find more gentle beach walks gives you the option to take the kids out without stress and keep everyone else happy.
Accommodation that reduces friction
Going with accommodation that have flexibility for self catering can be a make or break difference for larger families. Having three generations of family under one roof sounds delightful until you realise that the grandparents are eating at 5 on the dot every night, whilst the children take an hour to eat a small meal and the adults just want to sit back and enjoy themselves without a headache. The same is true at breakfast time, everyone’s schedules don’t quite line up. By having a self catering option, you can let people get on with their day at a time that suits them.
This also solves any allergies or intolerances that might occur when you try to eat out at a small local cafe. Somebody is dairy free, another is gluten free? Not a problem – you can plan ahead accordingly and pack everything they might need to pick it up on the way there. Removing this decision fatigue from the trip is key for making it a restorative time for everyone involved.
A well-equipped campsite gives families something else that’s harder to find in hotel accommodation: physical space. Children need to run. Grandparents need somewhere away from the running. Open outdoor areas make both possible simultaneously without anyone feeling confined. The best sites of this type also tend to sit at the intersection of countryside and coast, which makes that hub-and-spoke approach far easier to execute.
Finding somewhere with on site amenities makes things easier too. This is especially true when you have young children, having a playground nearby allows them to burn off any excess energy in the afternoon. Having laundry facilities and a couple shops nearby can make a longer stay more comfortable and gives you flexibility when it comes to things like dinners.
Giving every age group something that’s theirs
As mentioned above, access to amenities is a key consideration in the travel planning. Being somewhere with good walking links means you can give slightly older children a little more autonomy, letting them walk to the shops or the playground whilst the adults sit down for a cup of tea in the afternoon. This can be a gamechanger for adults who want to let their hair down a little bit whilst having some peace of mind that their children are able to get to and from with ease.
When it comes to grandparents, having a quiet retreat is the equivalent. Being able to head back to their accommodation away from all the noise and busyness is what matters to them. It’ll make a big difference to their involvement in the trip when they’re given the chance to go away and recharge in the afternoon whilst everyone else soldiers on with other plans.
Going during an off peak period is a sensible decision. This removes the swathes of people that appear during school holiday periods, which helps with the overcrowding that bothers slower moving older relatives. Families with young children can avoid those peak time prices for younger kids and the adults have that little bit less stress when managing the whole trip.
All-weather contingency is not optional
A failed family vacation is usually due to one day of bad weather, and nothing else to do. Coastal and rural locations near heritage centers, indoor farm attractions, or market towns provide alternatives that don’t feel like second best, but an intrinsic part of the holiday.
The families with the best multigenerational holidays are not the ones who discovered the perfect destination, but those who introduced sufficient flexibility into the site for the holiday to be able to cope with a changed plan.
