Planning a Multi-Generational Family Reunion Trip
Planning a trip that works for grandparents, parents, and kids at once takes a different approach than a regular group trip. Here's how.
A family reunion trip has to work for an 8-year-old, a 35-year-old, and a 70-year-old at the same time, which is a very different design problem than a typical friend group trip.
Pick a home base, not a moving itinerary
Multi-generational trips generally work better anchored around one place — a house, a resort, a lake — with optional day trips from there, rather than a moving itinerary that assumes everyone wants (or can handle) the same pace.
Plan for at least two speeds of activity
Build in both an active option (a hike, a water activity) and a low-key option (staying at the house, a short walk) happening at the same time, so nobody has to sit out entirely or push past what they're comfortable with.
Loop in the person who actually knows everyone's needs
Someone in the family usually already knows who has mobility limits, dietary needs, or nap schedules to plan around — loop that person in early rather than surprising them with a house with three flights of stairs.
Separate the 'everyone together' moments from free time
Multi-generational trips go smoother when there are a few clearly-planned all-together moments (a group dinner, a photo, an outing) and the rest of the time is unstructured — trying to schedule every hour for every generation just creates friction.
TripTogether makes it easy to see the whole family's plan in one place — including which activities different generations are actually signed up for — without anyone needing to keep a printed itinerary.