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Multigenerational travel is one of the industry’s fastest-growing, and hottest trends. And it’s showing no sign of slowing down anytime soon! A retired, healthier, and often wealthier baby boomer generation of grandparents, has led to the rapid popularity of multigenerational travel.

According to the Virtuoso Luxe Report which forecasts travel trends, multigenerational travel is the 2018 top travel trend. Forbes highlights this finding, stating that connecting with family through travel is one of 2018’s must-have experiences, which will undoubtedly continue to increase in the foreseeable future.

Previous research on multigenerational travel conducted by the AARP found that 98% of travelers who took a multigenerational trip were highly satisfied, and 85% were planning on taking another one in the next 12 months. The benefits of this type of travel are multifold. It will change your perception of traveling with grandparents for the better!

Some of the undeniable perks of multigenerational travel are outlined below:

1. Slower Pace

With parents’ hectic work schedules, combined with their children’s busy school and extra-curricular activities, coupled with grandparents’ flexibility and helping hand, it’s no surprise that multigenerational travel is experiencing such a positive emergence. It encourages families to slow down, get out of their everyday routines and spend quality time creating lasting family memories.

2. Built-In Babysitting

Travel is meant to be a time to get away from the daily demands of everyday life. However, sometimes traveling with children is more of the same struggle, just in a different location! When do parents actually get a “break” when traveling with little ones? When grandma and grandpa come along, of course!

Everyone knows how much kids love spending time with their grandparents, and of course, the love is reciprocal. Especially in the case where grandparents live out of state or abroad, and rarely see their grandchildren. Parents can take this opportunity to get away for a date night! You can go to dinner, relax poolside or get a couples massage at the spa. It’s a win-win situation. Your kids are in great care with their beloved grandparents, and you get some time alone to relax and unwind.

3. Multigenerational Travel Provides Cost Savings

More travelers usually mean more money spent, however, this isn’t always the case. When traveling with added family members it’s often cheaper to rent a whole house to accommodate everyone. Splitting the cost saves everyone money. Homes with multiple bedrooms rented through platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, or Homeaway are usually a fraction of the cost of renting individual hotel rooms for all the various family members.

Another option is to take a family cruise or stay at an all-inclusive resort, not only will there be activities catering to each generation’s interests, but you will also save money on pricey restaurant meals and beverages since they are included in the cost of the stay. In some instances, grandparents are even footing the bill for family vacations, or a substantial portion of the costs. They are prioritizing spending money on providing experiences together as a family, as opposed to spending it on material gifts.

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4. Family Bonding

Multigenerational travel ultimately brings family members together and creates strong and lasting memories for all involved. This includes young, old, and everyone in between! As opposed to the traditional scenario where one family plays host to the rest of the relatives at their home, family travel allows everyone to escape the stress of being the host. It focuses on quality time together as a family. Everyone gets to experience travel in their own individual way and share their unique perspectives with one another.

5. Children Get a Worldly Education

By getting out in the world instead of taking every vacation at grandma’s house, parents are fostering a love for travel in their children. With travel comes new experiences and countless opportunities to educate little ones about the traditions, cultures, foods, and lifestyles of the people and places they visit. 

Grandparents are a fountain of information for little ones’ inquisitive questions, and everyone gets to experience the world with the same starry-eyed wonder as the youngest travelers. 

Multigenerational travel teaches children the importance of making memories and enjoying experiences, rather than wanting more possessions. When their days are spent hiking through the mountains and swimming in the sea, you are promoting an active lifestyle and appreciation of the outdoors. This kind of travel experience inspires children and gives them new ideas and fresh perspectives which can be used throughout their life.

6. Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Multigenerational travel offers opportunities to try new activities with the support and guidance of your dearest family members. Trying new things can be uncomfortable for people young and old. But doing new and exciting things alongside grandparents adds an element of fun and significance. 

Perhaps one will discover their hidden talent on one of these trips. Oftentimes children have never had the opportunity to learn how to play lawn games like bocce ball or shuffleboard. Or maybe a younger child will be brave enough to step out of their comfort zone to try swimming in the deep end of the pool with grandpa by his side.  

7. Incorporating Storytime into Mealtime

Meal time is a great opportunity to share stories of the past. And this is a great way to build deeper relationships with family members. Having a focused time, when you’re all in one spot  (no screens allowed!) is a perfect opportunity to connect and learn about the past. 

Sometimes the stories may flow naturally, maybe an event of the day will remind the older generation of something from their own childhood. You can also bring along a little help to create this storytime activity. There are dozens of books with discussion prompts, or sets of flashcards, that are easy to pack and bring to the table. You may even have your children write a list of questions they’d like to ask their grandparents about their childhood, or a couple of questions they want everyone to take turns answering. 

8. Taking Lots and Lots of Photos

Many families use reunion trips or trips with grandchildren as an opportunity to take formal pictures of the whole family since you’re all together. Take advantage of the beach in the background or a famous landmark. If you return to the same location every year or so, it’s even more fun to mark everyone’s growth and changes by taking the same photo in the same location. 

But some of the most favorable photos are the ones that aren’t planned; the spontaneous laughter or show of excitement or surprise can transport you right back to that moment in time. These are the types of photos that end up in frames when you return back home. 

9. Sustainability

Multigenerational travel fits into this trend as a more environmentally sound take on the family holiday. Eco-friendly holidays are the future of tourism as more people are becoming conscious of the impact they have on the environment. With more people on board, you can choose larger, more sustainable accommodations. 

For example, rather than booking three hotel rooms, each with disposable toiletries and central heating; you can book a luxury villa or suite. Cutting down the demand for smaller rooms is better for conserving resources and space. Taking a multigenerational travel holiday, sharing transport, and opting for eco-friendly accommodations are the building blocks of sustainable travel.

10. Beneficial for Everyone’s Health

Active holidays benefit the mental and physical health of those who take them but multigenerational travel holidays are of particular benefit for the older generation. Studies by the Women’s Health Aging Project suggest that regular intervals spent socializing with children help to maintain cognitive function in the elderly. This helps to strengthen the mind against dementia or Alzheimer’s. Fun and active trips offer the two most fundamental means of protecting against cognitive impairment: regular, low-impact exercise and socializing to maintain neural pathways.

The mental benefits of multigenerational travel aren’t just reserved for the more senior members of the family. Regularly spending time with adults who are not their parents is essential for the development of a child’s social and communication skills. Multi-generational active trips are effectively ‘healing’ holidays and of great benefit for the mental health and cognitive development of everyone involved.

Multigenerational travel is definitely here to stay. It truly is the best of both worlds—an opportunity to explore the world surrounded by the support of your loved ones!