Plan a Fun and Accessible Trip with the Grandparents

On the River Seine, I watched my daughter lay her head on my mom’s shoulder as my mom leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head. That’s when I knew I made the right choice inviting my mom along on our trip to Europe. We loved having my mom and her husband join us for two weeks. But leading up to the trip, I worked hard to make sure that we were ready for a trip of six spanning three generations. Check out how to get ready to have a successful trip for everyone in your group, from the grandparents down to the toddlers and babies.

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A grandmother and grandfather with their granddaughter in Versailles

The Planning Stage

Taking a trip with multiple generations and multiple needs requires a bit of planning. This planning helps make sure that everyone is happy and makes for a smooth trip for all involved.

Prepare for the Health and Accessibility Needs

Before going on the trip, do a quick gut check with the grandparents. Are they ok for travelling on a plane? Going to high-altitude destinations? If you have any questions, ask them to do a quick check-in with their primary care physician to ensure they are cleared for travel.

Once they are clear, asked them to create a master list of all the medications (both prescription and over the counter) that they need to bring. They should pack these in their carry-on bag and should always bring a few extra days’ worth with them. I always pack for 1-3 days of extra medication in case of emergency. With the prescription medications they should pack copies of their insurance cards, emergency contact information and any needed physician notes that clear them for travel or other activities. Make sure the person managing the trip (let’s be honest, probably the reader of this blog post) has digital or paper copies of all of these things.

A woman walking with a cane and her husband

Finally, figure out if there is any mobility equipment you need. My mom never goes anywhere without her cane, and we always order wheelchair service for her in the airport to make it easier for everyone. If you need temporary assistance (wheelchairs, scooters, etc.) you might be able to rent them at your location. I know Disney has rentable scooters to make it easier for those who have issues walking. When I had knee surgery and a bachelorette in Vegas, we were able to rent a wheelchair for the weekend so I could still join in at the fun and not hold anyone up!

A woman in a rented wheelchair in Versailles

Considerations When Picking a Destination

Picking a destination is not only about where you want to go, but also does the location have the amenities and needs you need for such a large group? If your parents still have all their health that is great, but if there are issues that could interfere with the trip, make sure to include them in your considerations. For example, a city with good infrastructure such as widespread public transit, easy to navigate sidewalks and museums, and a culture of helping those with disabilities would make the trip more pleasant.

In addition, consider where your home base will be. When I took my mom to Europe with us, I had to prioritize Airbnb’s with ground floor apartments or an elevator. After a full day of exploring, my mom could not do the stairs. Make sure where you stay will meet all the needs of the family. Look for things like accessible bathroom, elevators available, flat exit, etc. This is important for the older and much younger ones in your party.

A young girl sleeping on her grandmother's shoulder on a train

Finally, think about transportation logistics. Public transit is great, IF it is easily accessible. We found a number of metro stops in Paris where the escalator wasn’t working and it did a number on my mother’s knee. The next time she went, she used Uber to get around. We found it can actually be cheaper and/or infinitely easier to book private transfers or shuttle vans.

Communicate the Budget Upfront

This goes for any group trip, but especially with family where sometimes things can be left unsaid and assumed. Make sure to have an open discussion about the budget. Determine up front:

How much can everyone contribute?
How are you splitting costs?
Who is paying for lodging, activities, meals, etc.

Three generations sitting together in a restaurant.

My friend told me about this app called Splitwise, that you can use to enter in all the costs of the trip, who paid, and then send out payment requests from the trip. It helps if everyone agrees to equally share the cost and makes it easy afterwards to square up.

On the Road

You’ve decided where you are going, you’ve planned everything you can. How do you make sure to have a good trip once you are out and about. Here we will talk about how to make this a trip that is full of fun memories instead of the memories of fights everyone had during the trip. (Well, you can’t stop the kids, but maybe the adults)

Consider the Itinerary Pace

At 20 years old, I could go to the Louvre in the morning, the Jardin de Tulips before jumping over the lunch at Angelina’s and then exploring the Musée d’Orsay in the afternoon and go clubbing after dinner. At 70, my mom was done after one museum. We had to come up with a happy medium for all in the party.

Often, we would do this with a rule that we would only see one major activity a day and make sure to schedule lunch around it. This would mean that we didn’t have to rush anyone in the mornings and people could rest in the evenings.

An older couple in front of a overlook to the beach, a family with kids in front of the tower on Belem in Lisbon

We would also encourage to divide and conquer. You don’t need to be together every day, all day. Sometimes, in the evening my kids and my mom would stay in the Airbnb and chill while my husband and I would go out and walk or explore on our own. One day, we took the kids to the beach while my mom (who has never been a beach person) went on a day trip to see a special cathedral in Portugal.

Also, remember, the grandparents are coming along for a reason. It’s to spend lots of time with their grandbabies. Feel free parents to take advantage of that time and make sure to get in some solo time as well. Your relationship will thank you.

Bring your Vigilance and Patience

You have to be mindful of walking surfaces (cobblestones, hills, sand, etc.) for the oldest and youngest in your group. Scope out the routes and make sure you choose the route that keeps everyone in your group safe.

A woman walking on the title sidewalks of Lisbon with a cane

Prior to your trip download on everyone’s phones an offline Google Map with saved locations (including the nearest urgent care or hospital), Currency Exchange Apps and Google Translate with downloaded languages.

And finally, bring that patience. Nothing will go as planned and a large group always moves slower. Respectfully ask to help your parents and kids when needed but also give them the space if they want to do it themselves. Nothing makes grandma angrier than people thinking she is a child again and my Latina mother will let you know in both her languages. Be patient and be flexible. Your plans may not work out so figure out how to pivot and be ok with it. The vacation is to have fun and create memories.

Destinations for Multi-Generational Groups

You can turn any trip into a multi-generational trip, but there are a few types of trips that are specifically set up better for large groups with varying needs.

Cruises

I recently went on a cruise for the first time in 30+ years and I remember why we went so often with my grandmother as I was a kid. Cruises are floating all-inclusive resorts that let you unpack once but take you to multiple places! They are large these days, very accessible with multiple elevators, and offer mobility aid rentals. You can all do your own activities during the day and eat together at night. Everyone has something that entertains them on a cruise. Ocean Cruises (such as the Caribbean, Mexican Rivera or Alaska) offer larger boats, lots of onboard entertainment, excellent medical facilities on board, and high standards for accessibility. River Cruises as smaller, more intimate, and let you immerse yourself in several cultures but only unpack once. In addition, River Cruises tend to cater to an older crowd.

Beach Getaways

A grandfather and grandmother in the pool with their grandkids

Beach Getaways, especially in an all-inclusive resort, is the easy button for family trips. Food, lodging and entertainment is taken care of. Besides the beach and the pool, there are usually activities at the resort, and you have something that appeals to everyone. Here are a few to think of:

Anywhere in the Caribbean such as Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, or the US Virgin Islands.
The Yucatán Peninsula. Cancún has several all-inclusive resorts, but Playa del Carmen is nearby, has easy access to the beach, and easy streets to walk down.
Southern California: Think La Jolla, Coronado Island, or Santa Barbra if you want something easy and in the United States
Wildwood, NJ: If you are on the East Coast, you need to visit this beach area at least once. Lots of easy hotels with kitchenettes, everyone can find entertainment on the boardwalk, and easy access to the beach.

Disney

Not the cheapest but it is so much fun when done in a big group. Parents and grandparents alike love to witness the magic of the little ones seeing Mickey in real life. There is something for everyone at Disney, from big rides to quiet shows. Disney is also known for having scooters and wheelchairs for rent making it easier to get around. The resorts have great pools for non-park days where you just need to relax.

Accessible Cities

A grandfather and mother, with daughter and grandkid overlooking Mexico City

Cities that have great public transit, easy to navigate streets and sidewalks, and lots of museums and shows are great places to travel as a group. A few I love.

Washington DC: Easy Metro with elevators in all the stations, and free museums that are all wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Paris: Every museum has an entrance for people with mobility aids and their group. Even a group of 7 we discovered. They also would always show my mom to the elevator that I never knew was there, allowing her to access the top of the Arc de Triumph without a single stair.
Mexico City: A very economical option and significantly safter than most people realize. Ubers and other private transfers are cheap and easy to arrange. Food is plentiful and economical, and there are a ton of museums full of rich information.

A grandmother with her grand child on the train

You can do as much planning as possible to make this a magical trip. But at the end of the day, what will make this trip magical is the people on the trip. My kids remember their grandpa buying them sweets off the road in Mexico City, their abuela sneaking food out of the breakfast for them to eat in the museum later, jumping over and over again in the hotel pool in Wildwood with their primos. As my parents age, there is more help they need. But we continue to do these trips because we love having our kids make these core memories with their extended family. Since we are all over the country, it helps us stay connected while exploring new. It’s worth the work.