How to travel with parents and remain a friendly family

Most people have great relationships with their parents if they live separately. But you also need to vacation with family; taking your parents to a resort is a sacred duty for every grown-up child. In this article, we'll tell you how to plan a vacation with your parents and avoid becoming enemies within a couple of weeks, harboring resentment until the next trip. After all, these trips are nothing like traveling with friends. On such a vacation, everyone makes maximum compromises — not only do you sacrifice something, but your parents do too. Remember this.

Travel Style

First, decide what kind of vacation this will be: all-inclusive by the pool or sea, lots of walking tours through the cobbled streets of an old city, an endless trip to museums or shops. It's good if your views on vacation align; otherwise, choose destinations where everyone can find something to enjoy. Also, consider how many places you plan to visit: settling in one place for the entire duration or moving to a new one every three days.  

Destination

When traveling with parents, you must be prepared that the destination choice won't be based on the cheapest ticket. Don't fly to Cologne just because it's the cheapest; not everyone will find it interesting there. Whining and persuading your parents to go somewhere cheaper is not the solution; be prepared to spend a decent amount of money. On the other hand, if the older generation wants to go to the Bahamas, but you can only afford Turkey, reason with them and suggest worthy alternatives that are within budget. When choosing a destination, also consider the climate. For elderly people, 40-degree heat can cause blood pressure to spike and ruin the vacation. If you really want to go to hot countries, choose the off-season.

The accessibility of your vacation spot also plays a role. If you have to take several modes of transport from the airport to the hotel, and then ride donkeys up a dirt road into the mountains — that's not the place to go with parents.  

Saving (no)

Traveling with parents is not the time to save on flights and accommodation. A bed in a 10-person dorm with a shared shower, where you might fit in perfectly, won't suit your moms and dads. Keep in mind that the older generation needs comfort, a bathrobe with slippers, an en-suite shower, and breakfast. This also applies to the hotel's proximity to major attractions. You and your friends might walk for half an hour to and from the city, but with your parents, it's better to book a hotel as close to the center as possible. The same goes for flights. Don't make your parents cram everything they need into a carry-on bag. Advise them on what's essential to take and what they can do without, and then decide whether to book tickets on Kupi.com with or without checked luggage.  

First Aid Kit

For you, a painkiller and a plaster might be enough, but your parents' list is much longer. Be sure to inform them that they must carry the prescription itself along with any prescription medications, otherwise, they might be confiscated during inspection. Just in case, look for foreign equivalents of these medicines so that if something happens, you don't have to scramble and can quickly get what you need at a local pharmacy.  

Plan Your Route

We've written many times that planning a route down to the minute is a bad idea. If something doesn't go according to plan, it will cause unnecessary stress. And while you might be able to handle it, it's contraindicated for parents. Why should they have extra worries because you missed a train and the next ticket is only in 2 hours? So, it's the same story for family trips: don't plan everything minute by minute, but don't let the trip go completely unplanned either.

If interests differ, and you've chosen a destination where everyone can find something they enjoy, distribute activities evenly: today a couple of museums, tomorrow the beach, then a day of shopping or spa, then another couple of museums or a city walk. Remember, a vacation shouldn't turn into a "treasure hunt." Create a plan that considers, for example, free museum entry days. It might also make sense to hire a guide who can lead an engaging city tour.  

Help with Translation

If your parents are not frequent travelers abroad and don't really know English, keep them informed about what's happening. This is especially true for visits to restaurants, cafes, and the airport. Don't leave them to fend for themselves; not everyone can decipher an hotel administrator's pantomimes. All of this is unnecessary stress.   We recommend that everyone in your family group print out the hotel address and contact numbers, and also install useful apps on their phones, a translator at the very least. It would also be helpful to mark hotels and cafes where you're sure to dine on offline maps. If someone decides to separate and walk alone, they'll know where to meet up later.  

Personal Time

No matter how much you love your parents, you need to make time for yourself during the trip. If your parents are inexperienced travelers, you'll be their guide, organizer, and translator. It's tough and doesn't quite feel like a vacation. Book them an interesting excursion or take them to a shopping mall for shopping or a spa, and then go about your own business. There's nothing wrong with spending a day apart; you don't have to be together 24 hours a day, and perhaps they also want some alone time. 

Leave All Quarrels at Home

Sometimes you sit in a cafe, and a family at the next table is yelling at each other. Don't do that; it's sad. Leave all disagreements at home; let vacation time be a different world where no one argues or grumbles. Do everything together, consulting each other, making compromises, and discussing any difficulties that arise. And take lots and lots of photos! This always adds positivity to any situation, and you'll have bright memories with loved ones. It seems a selfie stick might be essential here!) Our Telegram channel also has useful and relevant information. We talk about places you'll immediately want to fly to, publish cheap tickets, share news and life hacks. Welcome!