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So you’re thinking about taking a big family vacation—wonderful! Before jumping on a plane or into the car, consider what planning you can do ahead of time to make traveling with grandparents as stress-free as possible. Here are 15 valuable tips to make traveling with grandparents fun!

1. Choose a realistic vacation spot

Consider the grandparent’s activity levels, abilities, and preferences when choosing a vacation spot. Are they looking for an adventurous vacation, a restful vacation, or a little bit of both? Think about the weather and how much physical activity will be involved too. 

2. Vacation costs

Talking about vacation costs ahead of time will make your trip flow better because everyone will be on the same page. Knowing what everyone plans to pay for will help to avoid any awkwardness or pressure to pay on the spot. Traveling with grandparents may mean your kids get lovingly spoiled, but if they have a tendency to overly spoil your children, talk with them about spending boundaries ahead of time.

3. Look for discounts

There are a slew of discounts available to veterans, seniors, and others whether they are for hotels, dining, or flights. Are you or one of the grandparents eligible? Checking for discounts ahead of time may save money so you have more to spend on your actual vacation. 

4. Handling medical needs and medications

If traveling with more elderly grandparents, it’s not a bad idea to encourage them to schedule a quick check-up to make sure all is well. Also, remind them to bring any medications they may need. Consider putting together a medicine box of prescriptions and supplements for the duration of the trip as to not forget anything. Do this for yourself and your kiddos too!

5. Ask for assistance if needed

Depending on the age and mobility of grandparents traveling with you, a helping hand could be appreciated. Many airports, hotels, and businesses offer assistance whether it’s to help with bags, seating, or getting from one place to another. Walt Disney World, for example, offers mobility assistance.

6. Comfort when flying

If you’re choosing air travel, are the grandparents okay to sit for long periods of time? Do flights need to be broken up? If it’s a long flight, like international travel, scheduling a layover may work best (this is also helpful when traveling with little ones!). Sitting your grandparents (if you have the option to choose) in a seat with more leg or arm room may be helpful too.

7. Comfort when driving

If road trips are more your thing, plan on making stops for kids and grandparents every so often so they can use the restroom and stretch their legs, especially if they’re sitting in a vehicle where there’s limited legroom. Packing water, snacks, and even pillows or blankets can help with comfort. Reducing the noise level can lower stress too (headphones for kids and/or grandparents may help).

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8. Coordinate packing

Condensing bags as much as possible and avoiding bringing duplicates of things will help loading and unloading bags much easier. For example, if your vacation home needs a coffee pot, there’s no need to bring two! If you’re planning to pack and bring food, coordinating meals ahead of time will also cut down on luggage.

9. Give grandparents their own space

When choosing where everyone will stay, you may want to give grandparents their own space (and bathroom) so they can rest when needed away from younger adults and children. If they’re planning to spend more time at the rental, allowing them to stay in a room with a balcony or private sitting area is a nice gesture.

10. Discuss each other’s preferences and expectations

Talk about what things you want to do together and separately. You may be traveling with grandparents but that doesn’t mean everyone has to do everything together. Maybe the grandparents would like to take the kids out one day (but only one day). Discussing expectations ahead of time will make it easier to execute plans, and plan for time apart, without anyone feeling obligated or disappointed.

11. Consider the distance to favorable attractions

In some locations, like New York City, walking or biking to attractions is much easier than driving, but those options may not be realistic when traveling with grandparents. If you prefer to drive and park yourself, apps like SpotHero and ParkMe can help you easily find and reserve parking. Another option is to see if shuttles are available.

12. Discuss rest and sleep times

Let’s be honest—not everyone wakes up and goes to bed at the same time. If everyone is planning to stay in the same rental, discuss average wake times and bedtimes for everyone (including nap times for little ones). This way everyone can be considerate of each other’s rest time. More rest = less grumpiness…for everyone!

13. Be flexible

Depending on how much energy grandparents (and little ones) have, time spent out may be limited. You may need to take more breaks (if walking) or move out of the heat more often than you normally would. Be flexible and understand you might have to adjust plans during your vacation.

14. Enjoy making memories!

No matter what, enjoy your vacation with your loved ones! This is a special time where everyone can vacation together and create memories for the years to come. Don’t forget to snap a big family photo!

Having the opportunity to take one big family vacation with your kids and their grandparents is a blessing and a trip that is bound to leave you with lots of memories and photos. Preparing ahead of time and discussing everyone’s expectations and needs will surely help make traveling with grandparents go much more smoothly.