Should Grandma Come on a Family Vacation?

If you’ve been invited to join your family on vacation, congratulations! You must be doing something right!

Multigenerational travel is a popular way for families to bond and make memories. Bringing grandma on a family vacation has many benefits for everyone involved. Whether you are coming along to help with the kids, or just to squeeze in some extra time with them, there are many reasons your family should consider including you on their next family vacation.

I’ve shared some tips for enjoying multigenerational travel from my own personal experience. For the past 16 years, my daughter and son-in-law have invited me along on their family vacations. It’s been a family tradition that dates back to my childhood when my grandparents came on vacation with my parents, brothers and me.

One year we even had 4 generations when my 79-year old grandma and 2-year old daughter both celebrated their birthdays during a family vacation at the beach. I have many fond memories of those family vacations and feel blessed to carry on the tradition with my granddaughters.

Recently, I spent a week at Lake Tahoe, California with my daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters, who are 16 and 12. We enjoyed hiking, going to the beach, doing a ropes and zip lining course and playing board games together. Our time together was easy, fun and left us with so many cherished memories. I feel incredibly blessed to have been invited.

Everyone Benefits

There are many benefits for the whole family when taking a multigenerational vacation.

  • Grandma can watch the grandchildren while the parents have some time alone.
  • Everyone will have lasting memories of time spent together.
  • Bonds are strengthened when you’re away for extended periods of time.
  • The expenses can be shared.
  • You will share experiences from different perspectives.
  • Family relationships can grow and mature when you’re sharing many different new experiences.
  • Relationships flow more easily on vacation.

How to Get Invited Back

  • Go with the flow – remember it’s their vacation and their timetable.
  • Discuss finances before you go so everyone knows who’s paying for what.
  • Pitch in and do your share of the work.
  • Listen and observe without judgment.
  • Keep your opinions to yourself unless asked.
  • Be as generous as your budget allows.
  • Don’t interfere or question the parents’ rules.
  • Remember to express your gratitude and appreciation.

Every family is different when it comes to vacation preferences. If you’re lucky enough to get invited to vacation with your kids and grandkids, accept the invitation. The memories will be priceless and the bonds with your children and grandchildren will be strengthened.

What has been your experience with multigenerational family vacations? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.

7 thoughts on “Should Grandma Come on a Family Vacation?”

  1. Another little addition to the family vacation idea. It’s something I learned years ago from another family.
    With teenagers we don’t tell them WHEN to go to bed. BUT we do INSIST that they be out of their beds by 10:00 a.m…… otherwise they stay up all night and sleep all day and miss half the fun….. so far it’s worked well. They might stay up very late the first night, but then figure out that it is incompatible with rising at 10.

  2. Hi Donne,

    First time reader here, but really enjoyed the post. Thanks for the insight.

    We are currently in the process of planning a vacation with our two teenage boys and grandma has never vacationed with us before.

    The boys only get to see her once every few years, so we are hoping to grow the relationship and create plenty of great memories!

  3. Thanks for sharing this Donne, Diane and Irene. It’s great hearing what others are doing and your tips are so true and a good reminder how to make the best of a vacation with family. I love family vacations with my granddaughters and my kids. We’ve been doing it since they were born. We’ve vacationed in Italy and connected with all our Italian relatives living there and even seen my Grandmother’s home in Nocera Umbra in the Umbrian hills..my granddaughters Great, Great Grandmother’s home! We have also vacationed in Montreal, Canada, Maui, Hawaii, Boston, Greenwich, CT, and Disneyland. This year went to see Hamilton in New York, went camping in Costanoa, and are going to the Aulani Disneyland in Oahu in October! I feel so blessed to share and make so very many special family memories together. Being a “grammie” has been the highlight of my life and I’m loving it in every way possible!

  4. Hi Donne, This is a great post. Yes, we try to do a whole family (15 now) vacation together every 5 years. It’s not easy with the grands and their schedules. This winter break we are doing a Cruise out of Florida to the Caribbean.
    My parents started this tradition with their 50th wedding anniversary. But I do remember vacations to Hobergs and Clear Lake with my grandparents and the extended family.
    Your photo of 4 generations on vacation is wonderful. What a special memory for you and yours.
    Sometimes it’s not easy to please everyone, but we find that all inclusive resorts or cruises work well. People can do what they want during the day and then we all have dinner together to share our day’s activities with each other.

    Here’s to happy family travels!
    Diane Levinson

  5. This is all excellent advice. We recently went to Maui together and I knew that just being with the gang WAS my vacation. I babysat and followed the 2 yr old around, made myself available for whatever, and shopped with the teens, water slides with the middles. In fact, I just bought two time share villas for my family so every year we can have a week together with all the water sports we love: snorkeling, surfing, swimming. Being an active grandma really pays off for me.XO

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