The best multi-generational family destinations

Multi-generational family vacations can be magical. And unlike being at home, where routine always gets in the way, a good vacation can bring your family together, leaving cherished memories and stronger bonds. The best multi-generational family trips are a mix of culture, fun activities, comfortable accommodations, and plenty of time to relax. Building sandcastles, sharing stories around a campfire, or having a raucous family game night might leave you with the biggest memories.

We’ve done some of the hard work for you and uncovered some of the best destinations for multi-generational travel, plus some top tips to help you plan an epic family escape.

How to plan and organize your trip

The hardest part will be figuring out what will work for everyone. Are you an active family who likes to discover new things to do or is the trip more about relaxing and spending time together? Will the grandparents want to explore that cute town while you take the kids to the beach or waterpark? What’s going to make the teens want to put down their phones? Start by involving every family member in the discussion about the kind of vacation they want. Make a list of the essential and desirable factors and choose a handful of destinations that match. A good pros and cons list is a great way to refine the options and hone your plans.

Our top recommendation is to nail the accommodation and everything else will fall into place. Remember, you don’t want to spend every waking minute together. In large family groups, people usually want to branch off and do their own thing, and personal space is the key to getting along. A vacation home or villa can be a great choice for group family vacations because you get more space overall and some communal areas where you can relax as a family, like a pool or outdoor space. It’s also perfect if you like to have breakfast at your base camp before starting the day’s activities, especially if you have little ones.

Tips and tricks

• Don’t underestimate navigating new territory with your tribe: traveling with a large family can be like herding cats, only with more luggage. Traveling overseas means negotiating a transport system different from the USA. Research the best way to get around, taking mobility and energy levels into account, and arrange as much as you can before you arrive. Renting a spacious vehicle might work best for your large family group, but you’ll need a confident driver to tackle different driving rules and road regulations. Booking guided tours will take the stress out of finding your way around, especially if you choose those with hotel pick-up.

• Ensure you book activities that the entire family will love: doing something together as a family is one of life’s joys and will make your trip even more memorable, especially if you choose activities that the young and the young at heart can do together. Take a city cycling tour of Paris, a cooking class in Thailand, or a boat tour from a Greek island, with snorkeling and a beach picnic. Choose kayaking over white-water rafting or go for a guided nature tour and search for turtles. If everyone is fit and active, step up a gear and learn to paddleboard in the Caribbean, hike to a waterfall in Costa Rica, or an active volcano in Sicily.

The best places to go as a family

Whether you want to explore exotic destinations, lounge on sun-kissed beaches, or immerse yourselves in vibrant culture of a new destination, there’s something magical about sharing these experiences with your entire family. Every family is different, but here are a few suggestions for your next multi-generational family vacation:

African safari experiences

It doesn’t matter if you’re eight or 78, seeing elephants, lions, and giraffes roaming freely in the wild is an awe-inspiring experience, which makes an African safari a great option for group family vacations. Search for the Big Five on a Botswana game drive, canoe down a river in Zimbabwe, or take a balloon ride over the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The kids will adore staying in one of the tented camps, and before protesting that camping isn’t for you, think en-suite bathrooms, outdoor showers, and sundowners on a private deck. Or choose a luxury lodge with a pool or a river-front chalet and take your morning coffee with the hippos. Add on some star-studded nights around the campfire and you have memories that last a lifetime. 

An African safari is a bucket-list experience for many of us and the ultimate family-friendly destination might just be South Africa, where you can combine the Big Five with penguin-spotting, wine tasting, surfing, whale-watching, and much more. Cape Town has it all: wonderful beaches, the spectacular Table Mountain, a lively waterfront, and some of the best food and wine on the continent. With dozens of safari options within an easy drive or a short flight, it’s easy to see why South Africa is one of the top safari destinations on the continent.

Family-friendly Europe

Europe is where history, culture, and scenery collide in a vacation that’s as enriching as it’s enjoyable. Its well-developed transport network makes it easy to explore multiple countries in a single trip, using high-speed trains and budget airlines, while many of its cities and towns are extremely walkable and have efficient buses and trams for getting around.

Don’t underestimate a city vacation for pleasing the kids and grandparents alike; just combine the trip with time out for some classic R&R. Go capital-city crazy and see the best of London, Rome, and Paris, diving into their unique architecture, culture, and cuisine. For your first time in Europe, Italy takes some beating. Travel back in time to Rome’s ancient Colosseum, wander around the stunning walled city of Lucca or medieval Montepulciano, then make like an Italian and spend a few days relaxing in a villa in the Tuscan countryside. Head for Sicily with its picture-perfect beaches, archaeological ruins, and beautiful historic towns, with Baroque architecture and tiny cobblestone streets that make the island a living masterpiece and open-air museum. 

The United Kingdom is an extremely family-friendly destination, and where else but London can you explore the world of Harry Potter, see the Crown Jewels and marvel at Buckingham Palace? Or pair historic Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands with a trip to Ireland, to enjoy all the highlights of the Emerald Isle. From the UK it’s easy to reach France by Eurostar, a high-speed train that whisks you from London to Paris in just over two hours. Wave goodbye to London as Big Ben strikes noon, and say hello to the Eiffel Tower by 3 o’clock.

The Caribbean: a tropical paradise

Ahh, the Caribbean. Of course, we picture stunning white-sand beaches, tranquil turquoise waters, and year-round sunshine. But there’s so much more to this region to discover. Behind the beaches, you’ll find lush tropical landscapes with mountains and waterfalls, while the vibrant towns and cities are a melting pot of African, European, and Asian traditions. All-inclusive resorts have supervised kids’ clubs and spa services, and many offer beachfront accommodation, making it easy for families to access the sands directly from their hotel or villa.

The Dominican Republic is possibly the most diverse Caribbean destination, a lush tropical island with mountain ranges, rivers, and tropical beaches and activities for everyone. If your kids love nature then say hello to iguanas, crocodiles, and flamingos, and from January to March you can go whale-watching in Samaná Bay. A haven for water sports, here first-timers can try kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkeling, while golfers will be happy with world-class courses. Spend a day in historical Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture, and wonderful restaurants serving Dominican twists on Creole classics. 

Far-flung adventures

Getting off the beaten track is hugely rewarding no matter what your age, and doesn’t have to mean giving up your home comforts. Traveling to a country totally unlike our own is one of the main reasons we travel, and offers the kind of enriching experience we don’t get at home. And it can be hugely educational (just don’t tell the kids). 

Head for Southeast Asia and visit mystical Cambodia, to tour the ancient Angkor temples by bike and cycle through villages, passing locals and orange-robed monks going about their daily life. Thailand has a great tourist infrastructure, warm hospitable people, and a unique culture. Golden temples, floating markets, tropical jungles – complete with treehouses and elephants – and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Need we go on? Go ultimate Southeast Asia with a trip that combines these plus a bonus stop in tranquil Laos.  

Costa Rica is a great place for children thanks to the range of activities on offer, from white-water rafting and snorkeling to zip-lining and forest cable-car rides. And if zip-lining isn’t for everyone, sit that one out and relax on one of the incredible beaches. Volcanoes and rain forests packed with exotic wildlife will keep everyone entertained, and everything can be done at your own pace.

Finally, for the ultimate far-flung destination and the promise of pioneering exploration and freedom, it has to be Australia. Lively Sydney, with the iconic Opera House and Harbor Bridge, sweeping beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, mystical Uluru, kangaroos, koalas, and some of the best wine you can drink. If that doesn’t sound like something for everyone, we don’t know what does. 

Discover our favorite family-friendly trips:

• The ultimate Tanzania safari
• Family-friendly Greek adventure: Athens, Crete & Santorini
• Jungle & beach adventure in the Dominican Republic
• Yoga, surfing & turtles in Costa Rica
• Vietnam in a nutshell: 12-day adventure

Make it happen

Are you ready to escape the ordinary and embark on an unforgettable adventure with all of your loved ones? Whether you’re setting out with your grandparents or grandchildren, our local experts can help tailor your next family vacation so that it caters to everyone’s interests. Why wait? Get in touch and start packing your bags today!