Intergenerational travel is once again a top travel trend, with many Kiwis claiming that it’s the secret to having a dream holiday. So, how does it work, and, could it work for you?
Kate and Geoff recently got back from the best holiday of their lives and they reckon they’ve worked out the magic secret ingredient for having a relaxing, fantastic holiday…
Bringing their parents along.
The couple have two young children, aged three and four (“yes,” says Kate. “I managed to get pregnant with my second when I had a four-month-old – who thought that was possible?!”) and, after a full-on few years, they decided that during winter this year, they’d take a much-dreamed about holiday to Fiji.
“We have wanted to for ages,” says Kate. “And then when we took a step back, we realised that next year, we’ll have to take our holidays during school holidays, which is always going to be more expensive. This was our last shot at going whenever we wanted to. It’s probably always going to be more expensive, so we pulled the trigger and went for it.”
When Kate was researching, she found a few great deals. Her mum knew they were looking – so sent her a few specials she’d seen. Which was when it suddenly dawned on Kate – what if they invited her parents?
“Mum and Dad don’t live in Auckland, so we don’t see them as much as we’d like,” says Kate. “The kids absolutely adore them though.”
Luckily her husband was dead keen – and when she asked her parents they were thrilled to be asked.
“There was one proviso though – that we got separate rooms,” says Kate. “Which I think was also something my parents would have seen as a dealbreaker in the end too. They ended up getting a beach front view quite far from us – we got a cheaper garden room.”
Kate says that from start to finish, the holiday was brilliant.
“I imagine our experience of two toddlers on an international flight was a lot different to most people’s,” says Kate. “Mum and Dad flew to Auckland and joined us on our flights – there were four adults to look after two kids. Our youngest fell asleep on Dad almost immediately. I even got to watch a movie.”
Kate says the whole trip was full of special moments – from experiences they shared together, or in pairs, or alone. They were things she didn’t expect to get to experience in this life-stage – like a night alone with her husband.
“I got to have a spa visit with my mum,” she says. “My husband played golf one morning with my dad. We spent quality time with the kids. The kids ended up spending two nights having a sleepover in my parents’ room, so my husband and I got to go out for dinner and have the night to ourselves. We had room service breakfast! The next morning I had breakfast and coffee on my own in the restaurant. I don’t think I’ve had a meal on my own in five years. It was incredible – and Fiji was the ideal place to go.”
It really did seem to be a holiday that everyone enjoyed.
“Geoff and I got the post-holiday blues though, where we were feeling bummed that it would be the last holiday we’d take like that for quite a while,” says Kate.
But then something amazing happened, that Kate says is testament to how thoroughly thrilled everyone was by the holiday. “Dad called us and said he’d like to book us in and pay for us all to go again during the winter school holidays next year as our Christmas/Birthday presents,” says Kate. “I already cannot wait.”
For Kate and her family, holidaying together was a win-win – and it’s something that is only rising in popularity. One of the biggest travel trends of 2024 is intergenerational travel – and us Kiwis are leading the trend.
Booking.com recently released a Asia-Pacific Intergenerational Travel study and found that in APAC, multigenerational households are 43% more common than the global average, and, this cultural emphasis on extended family living significantly influences how families approach travel.
Area Manager Melissa Ellison says that there are plenty of extended family holidays being booked, and – like Kate’s family – that dynamic of taking the grandparents along is becoming very popular.
“Having grandparents along for the holiday to watch over the little ones is definitely a huge perk for busy parents who are after some grown-up time alone and is a win-win situation, especially if the grandparents don’t normally live or spend time with their grandchildren,” she says. “I’m sure most Kiwi parents wouldn’t say no to the opportunity to enjoy a romantic dinner alone, without having to leave the kids at home the entire time!”
The survey also found that another reason Kiwis may be taking their grandparents along on holiday is that 24% enjoy learning from different generational perspectives, and 23% cherish watching their children learn from different familial role models.
But, to have a successful holiday, where everyone gets to do a bit of something they most enjoy – they do take some thorough planning. For a start, the survey found that the ideal length for a intergenerational holiday is the sweet spot of four to six days. And then, you’re going to want to think about some of the issues that may arise during that time – whether it’s clashing interests, safety and health concerns, challenges of different dietary requirements, balancing energy levels or just navigating family dynamics!
“It can often be quite tricky for those planning an intergenerational holiday to find something that ticks all the boxes for everyone,” says Melissa. “The proof is in the pudding as the survey findings showed that clashing interests, health and safety concerns, and different dietaries are some of the key things to keep in mind. What’s more, striking the right balance between energy levels of say, teenagers and grandparents for example, when on holiday while complex navigating family dynamics can always lead to complications on holiday.”
Kate says her family holiday to Fiji really worked because everyone wanted to spend some quality time together, but then identified something they’d really like to do alone.
“We made it so everyone had at least a block of three hours to do whatever they wanted to do, alone,” says Kate. “I chose to get breakfast and go to the adults only pool on my own – it was bliss!”
Melissa says that carefully planning your accommodation, and your schedule is key – particularly planning days where there are no plans! “its good to schedule ‘free-and-easy’ days where people can go off and do their own thing to fill their own cup, which can range from a spa day to outdoor and sports activities to museum visits,” she says.
“My biggest tip is to make plans in advance, communicate an itinerary to everyone to avoid last minute surprises. However, holidays don’t always go according to plan so allow room to be flexible. Despite the occasional challenges that come with family holidays, the quality time and memories made makes it all worth it!”
So, where are some great destinations to plan an intergenerational trip to?
“Taking the international lead for top destination choice is Tokyo, Japan,” says Melissa. “Tourism is booming all year round, which makes it an easy location when deciding on where to go, plus there is an abundance of family-friendly activities for all ages to enjoy ranging from art museums, theme park tickets, and scenic tours.”
“Gold Coast, Australia is always a trending destination for Kiwi families, for similar reasons as Tokyo, with there being plenty of family-friendly activities, plus it is a great destination for Kiwi families chasing the year-round sunshine. Those families wanting to stay on island-time and prefer a resort stay, Niue is a popular location.”
“Staying local and forgetting your passport is also a popular choice for Kiwi travellers, city getaways such as Queenstown and Wellington are popular because of the wide selection of activities and accommodation, perfect for all ages.”
