cktimes.ca Archives for Travel Talk
Travel Talk
Family Travel or Multi Generational Travel – have you heard of it?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
How many of you have ever traveled with your parentsDo you travel with your children?
How about grand children?
Have you taken a cruise?
How about a land vacation?
A lot of today's travel is geared for what the travel industry calls multi-generational or family travel. Some of you have maybe already done this. Three generations of family traveling together is not unusual.
There are a lot of choices out there as to destinations, theme parks, all- inclusive vacation or cruises, and I could tell you about each one. But that would make this article very long. So I thought I would focus on what I consider to be the most multi-generational friendly way to travel that also gives you good value, and that is a cruise.
With today's busy lifestyles, traveling together as a family is a great way to reconnect and spend quality time together. But the key to traveling as a family and having a good experience is the planning. How do you choose the itinerary, the ship, the accommodations, are there special needs, what about getting to the port and back. These are a few of the things to consider when choosing the right cruise for your family. With the excellent help and advice of a good travel agent, this can be achieved. And you will be left with a memorable vacation experience.
If you need a good reason to go on a family vacation, a special anniversary or birthday is the perfect excuse to get the whole family together.
Turn the occasion into a reunion, invite aunts and uncles, or friends, as many people as you like. You don't have to provide all the beds or do all the cooking. Your room is cleaned everyday, your bed is made for you, you will be pampered and catered to. What a treat for everyone. A week or more on a ship gives you the opportunity to have fabulous meals together, and spend hours visiting under clear blue skies.
You know what our winter has been like, imagine the warm temperatures of the Caribbean seeping warmth into your bones while you get out of the cold weather, or why not see another part of the world during summer vacation?
If you have been on a cruise, you know that there is definitely something to do for every age group and every lifestyle, plus you have the ability of seeing several islands or countries and travel hundreds of miles during the course of 7 or more days and you only unpack once.
The beauty of a cruise is that nobody gets bored. Iíve watched parents and kids learn to skate together on an ice rink on a ship. I've watched families bowl together on a ship. How about a friendly game of mini golf or rock climbing? Everyone has a good time and you can be together as much or as little as you like. Each of you chooses the activities you would like to do together or apart, making it a customized trip for each generation while traveling together.
I've seen Grandmas and Grandpas having the pleasure of watching the grandkids play, seeing them interact and just spend time with each other. They sit by the pool, or play games in the Library or card room – yes they have these on ships. It's a really neat thing to watch. Sometimes Mom & Dad can go have a dinner with just the two of them while this is happening.
I never had the luxury of knowing my grandparents because they lived over seas and my parents couldn't afford to take us for a visit. I cannot tell you how fortunate you are if you live close enough to know your grandchildren. Or if you are able to visit with them or go on trips with them. That in itself is a rich blessing and one to take advantage of if you are able to.
Never underestimate the positive influences grandparents can have on the grandkids – especially teens, when they spend this kind of time together. My children have grown up living near their grandparents and when you see a relationship build between your kids and their grandparents, it's wonderful. Iíve watched my kids accept and follow advice their grandpa gave them, the same advice I had tried to give, a week before, but according to the kids, I was way off base, or old fashioned, or just didnít understand. Iím sure youíve all been there.
Generations learn from each other, but you need to spend time together for this to happen, and what better way than on a trip together.
Family bonds are more important than ever and the bond that begins to build whether you live far apart or close together strengthens incredibly with a week or more spent together.
What do you think of when I say Mykonos, Santorini or the Greek Islands, what do you see?......... How about Rome or Paris?
Now imagine you just saw those places with your grandchildren, standing there together and looking up at the Colloseum , or maybe the Eiffel Tower or the incredible blue water of the Mediterranean with the white washed buildings with the blue domes.
For the rest of their lives, every time these kids see a picture of that place, they are going to think of the trip they had with Grandma & Grandpa.
When in port, the activities you choose to do allows you as grandparents and parents to see the world through children's eyes – it could make you feel young again. There's snorkeling, cave tubing, swimming with Dolphins, climbing Mayan ruins, exploring Cathedrals in Europe, the possibilities are endless.
And how about educational. Recently I was able to go to Europe. In school, I was never interested in History or old buildings, but that trip brought history to life and has given me an appreciation for the architecture of the buildings there. I can't wait to go back again.! I said to my husband many times on the trip "Every student should have to come to Europe to hear about the history and see this. It would make such a difference in school."
Any destination you choose allows you to spend the days exploring and being as active as you like (and don't kid yourselves – many grandparents today have no problem keeping up with the pace of the activities) But, for those grandparents who like the quiet time during the day, they can stay on the ship while in port, and enjoy the amenities on board, or maybe do their own slower paced excursion while the parents and the grandkids can go off and do their own activities.
Some of you grandparents may say "I wouldn't be able to go because I use a walker or wheelchair or scooter". Not to worry, the ships can accommodate this as well, and it's all part of that planning process that your travel agent can help you with.
So you've been out and about all day in port and you're all back on board the ship, have some down time, go for a swim, or maybe even a spa treatment.
Dinner altogether can be a real highlight as you go over all the great things you did that day. I can hear it now "Grandma, I swam with dolphins today. Or Hey Grandpa, I climbed a Mayan ruin, I was 15 stories high! Or Dad that was so cool flying with you through the jungle on the zip line."
Who doesn't want their kids to be able to share positive experiences with them. It's a connection, a bond that you have forever.
Christmas has just passed a little while ago and how many of you dreaded the shopping at Christmas time, the crowds, the lines, the weather. How many of you would rather enjoy Christmas for what it was really meant to be?
Yes, I know, you still want to give the kids something. I've got a great idea that would take would care of the whole family in one stop. A family vacation! And better yet, on a cruise ship!
You can give it at Christmas time but you don't have to take the trip at Christmas time. Pick a time of year that works for everyone and enjoy! The anticipation and preparation can go on for months and what excitement it builds.
Electronics break and toys get lost, but being together, exploring and discovering together with Grandma & Grandpa, mom and dad, kids and grandkids, these are the things that build those wonderful memories that last a lifetime. That's what traveling and doing things together as a family does.
Keep a journal, take lots of pictures and when you get home, create a memory book that the family will enjoy for years to come.
Vellinga\'s Travel / Cruise Holidays is a full service travel agency taking great pride in our relationships with our customers. We love travel and cruising, and it is our aim not just to satisfy our customers, but to exceed all their travel planning needs. We have been providing excellent service for over fifty years to the Chatham Kent area.
