Go Away Alex Travel Design

I’m in this strange phase of life where I’m an adult, but I don’t have any children, and my parents and partner’s parents love a family vacation. It is difficult to plan a family vacation (in any capacity) but there is something not talked about enough regarding planning a fam vacay with adult children. So I’ll be addressing some issues from my millennial point of view that can maybe speak to multiple generations. (For the record, this isn’t meant to target mine or my boyfriend’s family…don’t come at me)

Concern: Everyone Travels Differently (even if they’re related to you)

Remedies:

Make sure there’s time for rest or opting out. Not everyone needs to participate in every activity. Some people need to recharge their social battery more frequently than others. There’s nothing worse than a parent or child who is encouraging EVERYONE to do EVERY activity and then disappointed or upset when someone opts out.

Pick a place with space for everyone (read: walls and doors).

Have patience. Allow people the space to say no (and don’t make them feel guilty about it).

Concern: How to make it enjoyable for everyone…

This can be difficult, even for partners. Usually one wants to relax and one wants to adventure. One is introverted and the other is a social butterfly.

Concern: One person plans and no one feels comfortable to contribute. OR. One person plans and then feels overwhelmed and burdened to make sure the vacation is perfect.

Remedies:

Offer open space for planning and communication.

Create a doc or an email chain where everyone feels comfortable to contribute ideas or at least check in with the plans as they unfold. If they don’t want to or don’t have time to participate, it’s still available to them. And if they want to offer ideas, they feel welcome to do so.

Concern: Getting everyone on board

Your adult kids don’t live with you? Your teens have 0 interest in hanging out with their parents? How can you get everyone to WANT to take a family trip.

Remedies:

Pick a destination with variety. If you’re going to a secluded place that’s hard to reach and has very few resources, it’s not going to make everyone happy. If you choose a destination with access to different types of “fun” it will be easier to get different generations on board.

Consider your actual travelers and what they like. Got foodies in the fam? Make sure you’re picking a place with cool restaurant options. Have a teen that is incredibly into thrifting? Make sure there’s some time and thrift shops in the area. Your daughter works an overwhelming job and just wants to relax and read a book? Maybe pick a quiet destination with a beach or mountains for some nature reset.

Make it fun. This doesn’t have to feel pressured, but it may be exactly that. When I feel pressured to come and guilt for considering opting out of every activity… I’m less likely to join the vacation. That’s not fun for me. Fun looks different to everyone. No pressure and GUILT FREE should be highlighted here.

Give everyone agency. Kids, adults, everyone wants some agency. We want it to be a choice. And I promise… the less guilt and pressure you show your kids, the more they will want to join in.

Give space. I also promise that if you give people space, they will have a better time. Don’t plan every second. Don’t expect everyone to do every thing.