Plan a multigenerational family vacation that makes everyone happy

Finding space and fun for a multigenerational family vacation is possible — Photo courtesy of DGLimages / iStock Via Getty Images

Family vacations can create lifetime memories, but how do you ensure they’re all good ones? That was the question my husband and I struggled with when we decided to take our kids, their spouses, and our 7-month-old grandson on a three night family vacation to celebrate a big birthday.

With an infant, two baby boomers, and four millennials who have different interests, all coming from different areas of the country, picking a family-friendly vacation spot that would meet our collective and individual needs was a challenge. But with careful planning, keeping in mind the needs of everyone, it turned out to be a vacation of a lifetime.

Here are some tips, advice, and things we learned along the way that will help anyone planning a multigenerational family vacation.

Where is the best place to go as a family?

Relax and explore as a family at the beach, on a hike, or other activities — Photo courtesy of Terranea Resort

Choosing a vacation destination is the first step. Family vacation ideas should be for everyone, maybe one of the national parks, a ski resort or a theme park.

For us, the answer was Terranea, a 102-acre oceanfront resort in Southern California. Some of the criteria we used to make our decision included location, activities available, and amenities.

Pick a place convenient for everyone

We considered resorts on the East Coast for our kids’ convenience but realized, since they were coming to us in San Diego for Thanksgiving anyway, they could fly out a few days earlier so we could drive somewhere together. (Road trip! Snack boxes!) We picked a location that was less than two hours away so it could easily coincide with the baby’s naps.

Consider the weather for family activities

If you want to spend time at the beach, you need sunshine. Planning a holiday extravaganza? Let it snow! For us, it was all about spending time outside – and in the resort spa – together.

We are lucky to live in Southern California because its year-round, near-perfect weather and plethora of outdoor activities make it an ideal place for a family vacation. Once we decided to stay within driving distance, it was time to look at our lodging options.

Picking accommodations for a family vacation

Spend time together as a family in the common spaces of a villa or house — Photo courtesy of Terranea Resort

Unless your vacation is centered around one activity that will keep everyone busy together pretty much all the time, booking a house, whether at a resort or independently owned, rather than separate hotel rooms is ideal.

Common spaces make all the difference

Living rooms, kitchens, and patios make it easy for everyone to hang out together in their (matching) pajamas, talking, watching TV, and playing games. These relaxed times often create the most unexpected intimate moments and memories.

I’m convinced that a big reason our family vacation was so special was our three-bedroom villa. In a hotel, we couldn’t have all hung out in one room while the baby was sleeping, and we couldn’t have left him alone in a separate room. Also, in a house, all the little kids can sleep in one room — something you would never do in a hotel. This is a great way for cousins to connect.

Finding family activities everyone will love

Playing archery tag at the beach is a unique family activity — Photo courtesy of Lois Alter Mark

Because the whole point of a multigenerational family trip is to spend time together doing things you can’t do at home, it’s important to find activities you can do as a group. This is easy if you’re spending days at Disneyland or hiking Yosemite but, if like us, you just want to get some R&R with loved ones you don’t get to see all the time, you need to ensure it will really be a vacation for each individual as well.

Resorts usually offer lots of on-site activities

Thanks to Terranea’s extensive offerings, we were able to enjoy a wide variety of activities in every combination of family members. My husband and son played golf. The other kids and I spent an afternoon in the spa, and all four kids played archery tag. And everyone’s still talking about it! We all took turns taking the baby for a swim and relaxing in our cabana at the resort pool, we walked along the stunning hiking trails and explored the Sea Cave at the secluded beach, and we played pickleball in various foursomes.

All-inclusive resorts are another great option. There are a wide-range of entertainment, food, and relaxing options, and no tallying up the cost at the end of the trip.

Plan ahead and make reservations

If there are specific activities that you’re really looking forward to, remember to make reservations and buy tickets for anything that requires them as soon as possible, preferably while you’re still home. Although it’s great to be spontaneous, popular activities do book up quickly and you don’t want your family to miss out.

Who was voted the best?: Best Family Resort (10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2023)

How to save money while on a family vacation

Take advanatge of on-site or nearby activities, like pickleball with a view — Photo courtesy of Lois Alter Mark

Yes, it is possible to save money on a family vacation, and opting for shared accommodations is one way to do that. By opting for a villa, we avoided having to eat all our meals out, which would have been costly for the six of us. The resort even stocked our fridge and pantry with groceries we had pre-selected.

Transportation is another area where you can reap savings

Driving to your destination will almost always cost less than flying, and if a location is central or offers alternative means of transportation, you won’t drive as much.

At the resort, we didn’t have to take our cars out again until we were leaving. Golf carts were readily available to pick us up and take us anywhere we wanted to go on the expansive property and, when we did leave the property to play pickleball, Terranea provided a complimentary Lexus shuttle to get us back and forth. All overnight guests are also given complimentary use of a Lexus for three hours to explore the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula. Those sorts of amenities can really save you money.

Take advantage of promotions

When booking your family vacation, be sure to also ask about special deals and discounted rates. Sometimes, even if they can’t offer you a lower rate, a hotel will throw in an extra or two just because you asked.

Make memories that last forever on a fun-filled family vacation — Photo courtesy of Lois Alter Mark

Our family vacation was everything we had hoped for, and yours can be, too. We left with hundreds of photos and special memories to last a lifetime. We all agreed that we should turn our Terranea trip into an annual tradition. And, when your whole family agrees on something, you know you’ve done something right.