10 Top Tips for a Vacation with Grandparents + Trip Ideas

If you’re looking for a fun and exciting vacation with grandparents, then you’ve come to the right place!

As a grandparent, I’ve been traveling with my kids and grandkids for years. So I know all the best places and tips for family travel as a multigenerational unit.

When it comes to enjoying family holidays that means a vacation with grandparents being included.

But when you and your extended family are traveling together, there’s more to it than just picking a destination, and hoping for the best.

What Do You Want From a Vacation with Grandparents?

If only life were that simple! Nothing with family is ever simple or easy…that’s why “family” is the other “F” word! 

An amazing vacation is a balancing act. It has the right destination on one side and a well-thought-out, and thoroughly discussed, plan on the other. Give some thought to why you’re taking both your parents and your children on vacation. 

Is it simply to give you an extra pair of hands? Do you live far away from your parents, and this is your opportunity to spend some quality time? Perhaps it’s your parents that need a bit of extra help with travel.

Whatever the reason, family trips that involve a vacation with grandparents are an opportunity to create legacy memories for everyone. 

So, here’s my advice for a well-balanced vacation with grandparents, parents, children, and whoever else is in your family unit.

Planning a Vacation with Grandparents

There are a few things that will help make planning a vacation with grandparents go a bit more smoothly. Before you even pick a destination, have conversations with the grandparents on the following topics.

1. Rules & Expectations

Involving everyone in the plan is important. And this includes your parents and your kids.

An open and frank discussion on sensitive topics like budget, discipline, screen time, and allowable sugar limits should be discussed early.

2. Budget

If the family is the other “F word” then money is generally “the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. It’s the leading cause of most family vacation arguments.”

Be clear on what all the contributing adults can afford upfront and set the budget. The urge to splurge while away can get out of hand. 

Will your children have any of their own spending money? Will the grandparents contribute in certain ways? Or is everyone’s entertainment on you? 

3. Interaction

While your parents might think cellphones, interwebs, and TikTok are the scourge of society, your children may expect a certain amount of regular social network interaction.

Discuss it in advance and find a mutually agreed-upon amount of time.

4. Discipline

If discipline at home involves being sent to their room, what happens on a long road trip? No! You can’t put them in the trunk. Even if you’re almost to San Diego. Remember, discipline is about setting limits, and maintaining them.

So, the sooner your parents understand your boundaries and your expectations of your children’s behavior, the better. This should include a conversation regarding whether and how your parents can discipline your kids.

This includes your kids knowing that they should expect the same consistent rules will be applied by your parents. That way they can’t play one against the other. What are the punishments?

While a time out may be off the table if they’re continually rude to staff in a restaurant, canceling an anticipated excursion or loss of a device may not be.

Yes, even if your kids paid for that cell phone themselves. Different families have different parameters.

5. Naps

Make sure there’s a discussion around nap time…not just for the kiddos, but everyone’s. Making sure everyone gets enough rest (and good nutrition) helps to avoid crabbiness…not just yours, everyone’s! 

Why have I put rules first? Because I wasn’t actually kidding when I said that family is the other “F word”. It’s simply human nature to get on each other’s nerves, especially in close quarters. Establishing the ground rules early sets the foundation for the trip.

6. Destination and Excursions

You may or may not include small children in the choice of destination, but your parents need to be involved because things like, budget, their ability to travel, and their fitness level will all have an impact on where you go and what all of you can do. 

Or maybe this trip is about legacy for them, and your parents have been jonesing to travel with you and the kids.

Whether it’s summer vacation with grandparents, National Greographic grandparent trips, or a low key vacation with grandma they’ll want input.

Maybe it’s them that suggested the dude ranch where they took you on summer vacations or it’s a family road trip to visit family members, like cousins, that they’ve never met.

7. Choices

If you can, give everyone as much choice in the side trips or the excursions as possible. If it’s a week at Walt Disney World, make cooperative decisions like when to go to the park, and when to sit by the pool. This is a family vacation after all.

Sharing the excursion choices lets everyone get something they want from the trip. Yes, they get time with the kids to build some lasting memories. But a frustrated or tired granny is a cranky granny!

So, if five days of waterslides are your thing, make sure your parents get a few choices of their own in there.

Also, make sure they know that no one will think they’re party-poopers if they skip the excursion.

8. Divide the Time

Alternatively, perhaps you can divide some of the activities between you and your parents…in my mind, this is the best reason for a vacation with grandparents.

Your parents take the kids on an e-bike tour in New York and its museums and you and your spouse get to sleep in. Or your dad and husband take the teens ice fishing, while you, your mom, and your daughter go to an art gallery or shopping. 

Dividing and conquering can also be as simple as using the vacation resources at hand. If you’ve chosen an all-inclusive resort or something like the Disney Cruise Line, amenities like childcare and children’s clubs are part of the package.

This gives all the adults a break and lets your children enjoy activities with kids their own age.

9. Age-Specific Requirements

And finally, when it comes to planning, remember some age-specific requirements. Don’t underestimate the squirm factor.

Small children, and little old ladies like me, will not (or cannot) sit still for prolonged periods just because you tell us to. Duh, right!?

But this may mean more frequent stops on a road trip. Just because your husband has the bladder of a camel and can make the trek to Florida in a 24-hour straight drive, doesn’t mean the kids and your parents can.

If you’re taking longer flights, you may have to pack a few distractions, or you may need a different set of rules around screen time on the plane vs. at the destination.

Grandparents can help keep the kids distracted and often have more patience with small children.

10. Documentation

OMG, you mean there’s paperwork?! Yup, especially if it’s just you and the grandkids.

In a recent post with Amazing Tips For Traveling With Grandchildren, I outlined some of the things you’ll need. Aside from travel insurance and passports if you’re leaving the country, you would have a “letter of permission”.

This can all be avoided if it’s a family vacation. The one thing that shouldn’t be avoided if you’re traveling out of the country is travel insurance. But read the fine print. If one of you needs emergency medical transportation home, does everyone?

👉 I recommend the insurance broker, Insubuy. They help you shop for travel insurance to, within, and outside of the USA.

If you and you’re spouse need to head home suddenly, will your parents and the kids be able to stay and finish the trip? Discuss this and have a plan.

My dad’s favorite expression was, “proper planning prevents piss poor performance.” He was also known, on occasion, to mutter the words, “damn, I’m lost, where’s that stupid map!”

Just remember, no plan is perfect, and there will be glitches. Just roll with them, and take your time, this is a vacation, and you’re all still together as a family. 

Now let’s talk about some of the fabulous destinations and some amazing activities that are fun for all ages! 

Destinations for a Vacation with Grandparents

Different families enjoy different types of vacations. From luxury resorts with private pools to budget-friendly road trips or even a trip to Simon’s Island, there’s something for everyone when you’re taking a vacation with grandparents!

🚗 Road Trips

Road trips are a time-tested way for families to vacation together.

Whether you’re looking for beaches or museums, heading to a vacation rental home on an island in the Muskoka’s or the Adirondacks, or are headed to any of the national or state parks, getting there can be made to be part of the fun.

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) or American Automobile Association (AAA) can help you plan a road trip. And if you’re going to travel with grandparents internationally, both can help with driving options and safety tips.

🌎 USA Locations

Try adding a few fun elements. Instead of exclusively checking out local landmarks on your drive to Cape Cod or Chicago, why not look and see if there are any notable diners or restaurants along your route?

You gotta eat, right?! And a meal really won’t delay your travel time that much. Who wouldn’t want to eat at a diner at the start of Route 66?

Looking for a few stops on your drive down I-75 for your Florida beach vacation? Try the Neil Armstrong Space Museum in Wapakoneta Ohio.

How about a stop in the Tri-Cities when you’re headed through Tennessee and the Blue Ridge Mountains? There are a ton of cool outdoor activities, and most people don’t even know it’s there.

🌎 Canada Locations

Traveling east to west on the TransCanada Highway for a ski vacation to Banff, Alberta, or Whistler BC? You can start in the east with a visit to the Bay of Fundy National Park. Make a stop at historic Fort William in Thunder Bay.

Drumheller Alberta has the Royal Tyrell Dinosaur Museum & Hoodoos, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Are your grandkids in love with trains? 

Then try a stop at the Spiral Tunnels, just west of the Continental Divide in BC. It’s a “steep path that is now used by the highway, which drops 2,000 feet in just a few miles.”

The Canadian Pacific Railroad built two Spiral Tunnels just west of the Continental Divide to reduce the slope of the railway after several fatal crashes.

There’s an observation point with good parking on the north side of the highway and trains pass by every half hour, you won’t wait long to observe one part of the train leaving a tunnel at one end while it’s entering the next one right below.

Road trips can be the entire purpose of the trip, seeing the country up close and personal can make great memories, or it can simply be a component of the trip.

🎢 Theme Parks

Canada, the USA, and Mexico have some amazing theme parks to visit for the day as an excursion, or as a destination and the place you’ll stay for your entire vacation.

One of my most favorite theme parks to recommend is the Xcaret Eco-Parks in Mexico. Everything about this place is designed for your extended family to have the best possible time.

Beaches, swimming, snorkeling, exotic scenery, unique and rare animals, and adventures that include hanging bridges and zip lines. Even oversized water slides!

Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Orlando are perennial favorites for all ages, and like Xcaret, you can go for the day or the week. Your budget, your choice.

And if your gang are world travelers, remember, there are also Disney Parks in Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

🌳 National Parks

There’s excellent value in taking everyone to national parks and heritage sites. It helps instill a love of nature and an appreciation for sacred spaces, especially those belonging to Aboriginal cultures.

This is the value of legacy and something important to be shared.

🌎 US National Parks

Places like Grand Canyon National Park have tremendous opportunities for history and adventure. It’s easy to stay in Arizona and be near the Canyon, after all, it is 4,926 square kilometers.

Try staying in Sedona, there’s plenty of outdoor activities there, and it’s an easy trip to the Grand Canyon from there or from Scottsdale.

US News Today ranks the Grand Canyon in the top ten National Parks in the USA to visit.

They also recommend, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Zion, Grand Teton, Bryce Canyon in Utah, as well as Rocky Mountain National Park, Arches, and the Great Smokey Mountains National Parks.

Obviously, you can’t cover all those in one road trip, but you could consider making a visit to one a year an annual family event. It would make for amazing, and lasting memories.

🌎 Canadian National Parks

What does US News Today say about Canada’s National Parks? Well, it lists fifteen, and the top three are Jasper, Gros Morne, and Banff…all are worth the trip.

🌎 Mexican National Parks

And not to be outdone, with over 65 National Parks in Mexico, the Lonely Planet recommends these as its top three.

There’s Parque Nacional Izta-Popo Zoquiapan if you want to climb a volcano; Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel, in Quintana Roo if you want to go snorkeling; and, Parque Nacional Palenque, in Chiapas if you want to see the extraordinary culture in the Mayan Ruins.

🌴 All-Inclusive Resorts

When it comes to booking an all-inclusive resort for a vacation with grandparents and your children, there are certain amenities you should be looking for.

The really good places, that put time and energy into making sure their resorts appeal to children have more than a big pool and hotdogs on their menu.

Amenities

Look for resorts that offer things like X-box in your hotel room, a separate sleeping space for the kids, and kids clubs with age-appropriate activities that are run by registered childcare workers.

They won’t simply have a pool. Some all-inclusive resorts have great water slides, flume rides, or maybe even a wave pool.

Many resorts say they have snorkeling or stand-up paddle boards but check to see if they actually have child-sized masks, snorkels, fins, and PFDs.

Teens are going to want things like BMX bikes or maybe skateboarding or probably something motorized.

And teens are too old to go to bed at 8pm, and too young for the bar. Many resorts have a teen-friendly place where they can party, in an alcohol-free zone.

So consider choosing a kid-friendly resort. Not only do they have a “kids club,” but they have age-specific kids clubs – infants, toddlers, ‘tweens, and teens. And there’s often a poolside bar for you and your parents.)

🌎 Mexico

Club Med Cancún Yucatán for example has extra family-friendly amenities like snorkeling, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, archery, flying trapeze, and tennis; plus, a recently added Aquamarina family area and a new oceanfront pool.

The Hard Rock Hotel in the Riviera Maya is another great choice, especially for teens and ‘tweens.

They have a skate park, a BMX bike (park is free, bikes are available for rent) park with ramps, trampolines,  and a foam pit or tackling a ninja-themed obstacle course.

Unique to the Hard Rock Café, kids who are more digitally inclined can film all the action on high-resolution cameras or get some DJ experience through Hard Rock’s Music Lab program.

🌎 Dominican Republic

Royalton Hotels also have family-friendly resorts, the Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana has slides, fountains, tubes, and 1,200 feet of winding river. Their Kids Club area is for children ages 4 to 12.

That club has supervised staff that boasts daily visits from beloved TV characters Max and Ruby, X-box stations, an air hockey table, and a craft room.

Choosing an all-inclusive resort for your multigenerational vacation can solve a lot of headaches, flights, airport/hotel transfers, accommodation, and meals are all taken care of.

No itineraries to build, no extra travel, activities for the whole family, and opportunities for someone else to give you a break if needed. Everyone can just sit back and relax.

🗽 Culture and Activities

If your vacation destination is to visit any of these great places, but you’re still looking for a few day trip or family vacation ideas with grandparents, I suggest the following locations.

🌎 Toronto, Ontario

Toronto is a culturally diverse city, and much like New York, it’s full of great day trip attractions.

You can walk around the outside of the CN Tower…at the top, visit Ripley’s Aquarium at the base of the tower, and then head right next door to the Rogers Centre and take in a Toronto Blue Jays game.

👉 This half-day tour is great for all ages, and takes you to all the best spots in Toronto!

If you want something outside the box, but not too far from Toronto, spend the day ice fishing. You can even rent a heated ice hut and the entire family can go for a weekend.

🌎 New York City, New York 

👉 The American Museum of Natural History is a fascinating way to spend the day.

Yes, the one from the movie “Night at the Museum”. Tickets must be purchased in advance online.

👉 Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are also iconic New York sites that shouldn’t be missed.

Purchasing your tickets in advance will guarantee that you and your family don’t miss out.

And remember, if you don’t take a guided tour, there is only one cruise line service available to get you back and forth from the island and that’s through Statue City Cruises.

🌎 Washington DC

The Smithsonian Museum isn’t just one museum. Technically, it’s a complex that has  17 museums and galleries…and a zoo.

All of which are free. And that works right into my family motto, “if it’s free, it’s for me”!

👉 If you want to avoid the hassle and logistics of getting to everything on your own, consider a private group tour of all the best sights!

🌎 Whistler, British Columbia

Looking for another day trip that will put your family holiday “on the map”? Try hopping on a passenger bobsleigh, after a bit of training of course.

If you’re already heading to Whistler for your ski vacation then the Whistler Sliding Centre is right next door and open to the public.

👉 It offers a “Passenger Bobsleigh Experience“. 

This truly unique and safe experience starts with a thorough safety briefing/training about your slide down the track and the proper track etiquette.

The family gets a ride up to your starting position. This is where you will be fitted with a helmet.

Note: The bobsleigh activity is best with older kids, 16+.

🌎 Mexico City, Mexico

The Teotihuacan Pyramids should not be missed if you’re spending vacation time in Mexico City. It’s 15 minutes outside of the city and these pyramids are an important cultural/religious site. 

They have stood for centuries and are one of the most impressive, lasting legacies of the Aztec empire.

Imagine the photo op you have as you take a stroll down the Avenue of the Dead, which leads to the towering pyramids where human sacrifices were made. 

You can no longer climb the tallest pyramids but the museum will give you a great insight into Aztec history. 

👉 If you really want a unique vacation with grandparents at Teotihuacan, book a sunrise hot air balloon tour!

Why a Vacation with Grandparents Are An Important Part of Family Holidays

After you’ve planned, discussed, and prepared, the most important part of your time away with your extended family, is simply the time you get to spend together.

But if fun, adventure, and big hugs aren’t enough reasons to justify vacationing together, perhaps science can help.

A University of Oxford Study has proven that children who have tight-knit relationships with their grandparents tend to have fewer problems, both emotionally and when it comes to their behavior.

In addition to this, children also have less difficulty when interacting and maintaining relationships with peers.

The study also showed that while grandmothers take on a more nurturing role, grandfathers become mentors to their grandkids.

Final Thoughts: Family Vacation With Grandparents

Preparation and planning for the family trip are as important to its success as the trip ideas for the actual destination. This is especially true if anyone in the group has mobility issues.

Although neither is as vital as the purpose of the trip – quality bonding time and the creation of lasting memories!

So follow a few of these simple travel tips, pick an easy destination from the list I’ve provided, make your plans, and away you go!

Cheers,

Cynthia Ross Tustin