By Véronique Dargy
Mom and Dad need a quiet moment without managing snack requests. The kids are hunting for the biggest water slide. Meanwhile, Grandma is looking forward to sipping a drink poolside while watching her grandkids build sandcastles. Sound ideal? That balance of shared fun and personal downtime is exactly why multi-generational vacations have become the go-to request in our inbox.
When clients ask us how to reconnect with extended family, multi-generational trips are always our top recommendation. Today's families are actively choosing these getaways to create meaningful, intentional connections across every age group. It’s a massive movement in the industry—data from the Family Travel Association reveals that nearly 57% of families intend to plan a multi-generational getaway.
With busy school calendars and demanding careers, time with extended family is rare and valued. Grandparents are a major force behind this trend. Often retired and financially established, they prefer using their travel budgets to build lasting memories with their grandchildren. Experiencing a new destination together creates a bond that separate family vacations simply can't match.
Grandmother with granddaughter on vacation
When we design these itineraries, one of the biggest wins we highlight for parents is built-in support. Having trusted family members along means parents can finally step away and recharge, confident that their children are in great hands.
This dynamic has also fueled the popularity of "skip-generation" travel, where grandparents take the grandkids on an adventure while the parents remain home. When we help grandparents plan these trips, we lean into core perks for everyone involved:
Confidence through discovery: Immersed in nature, kids get to embark on ocean boat excursions, try paddleboarding, spot local marine life, explore coastal tidepools, and join resort eco-walks—building independence away from home and returning with incredible stories to tell their friends at school.
Water sports and beach activities
As Travel Advisors, our primary goal is removing friction. Finding a trip that satisfies everyone can be tricky—long-haul 21-hour flights and packed, multi-destination itineraries quickly wear out both young children and older adults. All-inclusive, single-destination resorts take the stress out of group travel by offering direct, manageable travel times and a single base for the entire stay.
With accommodations, dining, and entertainment bundled together, everyone gets what they want—from multi-bedroom family suites to ocean-view swim-up rooms.
Our favorite insider tip for parents: while the kids are out exploring with their grandparents or engaged in supervised kids' club activities, sneak off to the resort spa for a hydrotherapy circuit or a soothing massage, entirely guilt-free.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
By taking the hassle out of scheduling and group dining, all-inclusive getaways allow every generation to enjoy their ideal vacation by day and gather at dinner to reconnect.
Majestic Mirage Costa Mujeres All Suites, Cancún
What is multi-generational travel? It refers to family vacations that bring together three or more generations—typically grandparents, parents, and children—on a shared trip.
What is skip-generation travel? Skip-generation travel is when grandparents go on vacation exclusively with their grandchildren, giving parents a break at home.
Why do we recommend all-inclusive resorts for multi-generational groups? They streamline budgeting and logistics by combining meals, multi-room suites, and activities for all ages into one price, avoiding the stress of complicated itineraries and long travel days.
Photo credit: Getty and WestJet Vacations.
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