All aboard, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and little children! Travelers continue to plan family-friendly vacations, and the post-pandemic surge in multigenerational travel shows no signs of abating. In 2025, 58 percent of millennial and Gen Z parents intend to take their extended families on vacation, and it’s not just for the free babysitting, according to American Express Travel’s 2025 Global Travel Trends Report. 89% of respondents worldwide agreed that they prefer to travel to family-friendly locations with activities that can appeal to all ages, and 89% of those surveyed stated that “quality time” was the primary justification for inviting the entire clan. (Happy life, am I correct, MIL?)
As an experienced extended-family traveler, I can tell you that it’s not always simple. I just traveled to France with my mom and four aunts, as well as to many other places with my parents, brother, his wife, and their two little children. If you’re thinking of taking the whole family on a trip overseas, here are five travel suggestions I really believe in.
1. Print Important Docs
These days, every airline has an app, a feature that allows you to “add to iPhone wallet,” and they will definitely send at least 16 emails before your journey. However, printing everyone’s boarding documents, passport and ID copies, itineraries, check-in confirmations, etc. in advance might be a smart idea if you’re going with anyone over 50. One is the spottiness of Wi-Fi, which is a problem with both local and foreign travel. Additionally, there are other generations that are simply not tech-savvy (sorry, Aunt Irene).. Even my millennial self finds it challenging to stay up to date with the latest methods for retrieving my seat number, and it isn’t an ageist comment. In summary, be ready to be referred to as outdated if you have a file folder full of documents—that is, until the WiFi in the Paris train station goes out and you are the only one with the tickets.
2. Ignore the Pull to All Travel Together
Migration as a pack can be alluring—safety in numbers, isn’t it? However, I’m here to inform you that while traveling with multiple generations, you don’t have to drive, fly, or even stay together. Gran and Pa can fly first class and enjoy wine in the airline lounge without feeling guilty about leaving the others behind when they travel separately, for starters. In addition, everyone has a different timetable. Do the children require a midday nap? To get there early, get on the road at 6 a.m. Additionally, while having assistance with child-related tasks like pack-n-play, car seats, and travel strollers is helpful,—changing venues in lesser numbers is also pleasant. The same is true for lodging. Is there room for a crib and is it wheelchair accessible? It will be challenging to find hotels or Airbnbs that satisfy everyone’s needs. Instead, schedule your activities to take advantage of the daylight hours.
3. Budget Ahead of Time
Steer clear of unpleasant family financial disputes at all costs. Prior to leaving, decide how the group will share the cost of the vacation, including lodging, meals, transportation, and activities. Dinners and one group activity will be covered by Gran and Grampy. The cousins prepare the group’s breakfasts and shop for groceries. Will the adult kids divide the large BBQ luau night equally as a “happy anniversary”? Do they all get their own drink tabs? There were five of them and five nights in France, so it worked out well that my mom and her sisters each agreed to pay for one dinner. Making these decisions in advance will improve budgeting and reduce stress.
4. Travel Light
Don’t make this mistake (or let other family members make it), based on my own jet-lagged experience of pushing heavy, filled bags through Paris’s cobblestone streets at six in the morning. Parents of young children must undoubtedly bring equipment with them everywhere they go, but they make it a point to be a carry-on-positive crew. Organize who will bring things that can be shared, such as power converters and hair tools. Additionally, when no one is available (or you don’t know enough French to ask a stranger nicely), make sure someone in your group has a foldable tripod for the coveted family shot.
5. Leave Room for Rest…& Serendipity
You might be tempted to plan a ton of activities to keep the group entertained, but resist the urge. When traveling with multiple generations, it’s important to take into account each person’s varying capacity to, say, walk 18,000 steps in Paris. Include plenty of downtime for family bonding, naps for all ages, different activity choices, or simply the joy of a trip. It felt like a blessing after seeing so many attractions in the blazing sun when my aunts and I found the most beautiful French café to order Aperol Spritzes and cool off from the summer heat. As a general rule, concentrate on one large group activity each day. Time for—what do you say?—qué será, será is so freed up.
