Multi-generational family holidays

Spending time with the extended family on holiday can be one of life’s great joys. There’s nothing like having a family adventure – whatever shape that takes – that can bring you all together in a way that doesn’t always happen at home.

That said, travelling with three generations of course requires a little thought. Grandparents may not be up for zip-lining across a canyon (although they may be!), while teenagers will probably want a bit of action and younger children may be perfectly happy with an afternoon by the pool. Each age group will have different requirements; the trick is creating the right balance of shared experiences and downtime, and providing options for different family members.

This is where we come into our own! Our mission is to design and deliver a unique itinerary for every family. We’ll listen to what kind of family you are and what you think you will all enjoy, and then we will create a personalised holiday itinerary to suit you.

Holidays with grandparents, child with grandad on the beach

Kenyan Coast

Our favourite safari destinations for multi-generational families

Safaris are our most popular option for multi-generational families because they combine adventure, wildlife and downtime. Here are our top five safari destinations for an extended family holiday.

Kenya – This is a fantastic option for a traditional safari, with incredible wildilfe and beautiful iconic landscapes. Even better, this can be combined with a stay on an idyllic Indian Ocean beach, where accommodation options range from gorgeous resorts with lots of facilities to barefoot luxury retreats. This is hard to beat for all ages.
Tanzania – Again, Tanzania offers world-class wildlife, with a fantastic range of camps and superb beaches on the fabled spice island of Zanzibar. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in particular are home to a truly extraordinary wildlife spectacle. There are also lots of non-vehicle based activities, which keeps children (and adults!) of all ages engaged.
Botswana – Botswana is a classic safari destination with almost unrivalled wildlife viewing. The great attraction here is the ability to get deep into the wild, away from any possible semblance of crowds. It’s an expensive option, but this is rewarded by truly exceptional and away-from-it-all safari possibilities.
Zimbabwe – This is often popular with grandparents as Zimbabwe is the Grand Dame of the safari world, a reputation it has earned over many years for its exceptional standard of guiding. The wildlife is extraordinary and the country has a fraction of the number of tourists that you find in many safari destinations. You can combine your safari with time in Victoria Falls, one of Africa’s great natural wonders.
South Africa – South Africa is the perfect destination for combining safari with other activities. This works brilliantly if travelling with younger children, where you want to give the kids a taste of safari, but perhaps not devote the whole trip to this. Cape Town, the Garden Route, the Drakensburg and KwaZulu Natal all offer wonderful highlights to complement the safari. Also note that there are excellent non-malarial safari options here.

On safari in South Africa with grand parents

Kruger, South Africa

Top 10 holidays our extended families have loved

While safaris are a natural fit for multi-generational families, they’re far from the only option. We also love destinations that offer a good mix of culture, adventure, wildlife and relaxation, with plenty of opportunities for everyone to spend time together without having to do exactly the same thing. Here are some of the holidays our multi-generational families have particularly enjoyed.

India – This is probably our most popular multi-generational destination outside safari. India offers the perfect mix of history, colour and spectacle, with a wonderful range of gorgeous heritage hotels to suit everyone.
Sri Lanka – Another winning option, Sri Lanka features a superb combination of history, wildlife, landscapes and beach. Sipping a freshly brewed cup of tea or a G&T on a tea plantation terrace with the extended family is an experience that’s hard to beat!
Cambodia – This is possibly a surprise inclusion, but Cambodia works brilliantly for a multi-generational family destination. It’s compact, so there’s not too much travelling for kids, but the adults will be mesmerised by the Angkor Temples and there’s plenty to keep the children entertained too (including world-class beaches).
New Zealand – New Zealand is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of destination, so where better for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday? There is absolutely masses to do and truly incredible scenery. It’s easy to get around and, once you get over the admittedly long flight (a stopover works a treat), it is universally loved by all generations.
Guatemala & Belize – This wonderful combination of countries is hard to beat for its combination of colonial splendour, Mayan ruins, iconic volcanoes, blissful beaches and grandparent-friendly activities.
Argentina – Buzzing Buenos Aires and the breathtaking splendour of Iguazu Falls combine brilliantly with the wild landscapes of Patagonia. This is the ideal trip for active multi-generational families, particularly those with kids aged 6+ who can enjoy the wide variety of activities.
Ecuador & Galapagos – In the same way that an African safari works so well for families, a Galapagos Cruise also works a treat. There are masses of activities to suit all abilities (even less-mobile grandparents) and the wildlife is genuinely breathtaking.
Egypt – There’s nowhere quite like Egypt; every primary school child will be familiar with Egyptian history and will be agog when first viewing the Pyramids in Cairo and temples in Luxor. This is a country that genuinely appeals to all ages, with relatively short flights and guaranteed sunshine.
Oman – Oman offers a wonderful mix of adventure (for all ages), stunning scenery and fabulous sights. There are turtles hatching eggs, wild canyons to explore, vast sand-dunes to run down (or for grandparents to sit on, whilst the kids run down!). There are also great beaches so you can round the trip off with some relaxation.
Iceland – This is a wonderful year-round destination. The scenery is absolutely extraordinary and there are masses of activities that work for all ages, whether that’s hiking, snow-mobiling, leisurely waterfall walks or swimming in hot springs.

Taj Mahal, India

What makes a great holiday for a mix of generations

There’s no rule that says everyone has to do everything together. Some multi-generational groups want to spend every moment as a team, so we’ll design an itinerary that allows just that. Others prefer to split up during the day so everyone can enjoy activities pitched at their own pace, then reconvene in the evening for dinner. There is no right or wrong; every family is different, and we will arrange whatever works best for you.

Organisation is essential. We pride ourselves on taking care of every single element of your holiday, from the very first phone call until you are all back home. This is never more important than when travelling with a larger group. One person will usually have been responsible for making the arrangements, and family harmony is dependent on everything going without a hitch!
Hotels are key. What makes the perfect hotel varies completely from one family to another. Those with younger children might need flexible family-friendly room configurations, adjoining rooms or suites, while families travelling with older grandparents may require good accessibility, avoiding dozens of steps to get to the rooms. We know that getting the room configuration spot-on can make a huge difference to everyone’s enjoyment, so we’ll make sure we get the details right and ensure that the hotel choice works for you.
Activities are also critical and we’ll find out what works for your family. In our experience, many grandparents are up for plenty of activities, but nothing too hair-raising or arduous. Gentle bike rides (particularly on e-bikes) might be fine; a precipitous mountain bike descent, probably less so. Hiking is usually enjoyed by all, but perhaps with a long leisurely picnic in the middle, and not a 10-hour trek without stops. (Although frankly this would not be suitable for most children either!). Getting the right balance is essential.
We will also prioritise activities that naturally suit different abilities. Safaris are a great example. They offer just the right blend of activity, relaxation and adventure that hits a sweet spot when travelling with the grandparents.

Sometimes there’s a story behind the trip

Frequently, one of the grandparents was born or grew up overseas and wants to take the family back to visit. This is a wonderful basis for a holiday, and it’s so rewarding for us to be able to facilitate this kind of trip down memory lane. We’ll take care of all the details so that you just need to turn up and enjoy/experience the memories and share them with the rest of the family.

Our favourite multi-generational family adventures

Still looking for inspiration? Explore our guide to our favourite multi-generational family holidays, packed with ideas for trips that work brilliantly across three generations.

Arenal, Costa Rica

Ready to bring everyone together?

Planning a holiday for three generations can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Tell us about your family, what everyone enjoys, and what you’d like to get from the trip, and we’ll take care of the detail to create a tailor-made holiday that brings everyone together – with plenty of opportunities to do your own thing too.

Start planning your family adventure

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