Over the last few years, there has been a growing trend for families to go on multi-generation vacations as grandparents, parents and children travel together. Cost savings from splitting the accommodation and food bills, as well as the extra help with childcare for young parents, all help a multi-generation trip make sense – the chance for parents to treat themselves to a night off from the kids, or have a well-deserved lie-in, can all make the additional stress a big family holiday might bring worth it!
And, of course, as families increasingly tend to live in different cities, or even countries, a multi-generational holiday is also a great way to get everyone together in a relaxed, stress-free environment such as an Ecoventura yacht.
Recently, another family vacation trend has emerged: the “skip-gen”, or skip generation, vacation.
This is where grandparents take their grandchildren on holiday, leaving the parents at home to catch up on work, enjoy a quiet week or two without ferrying the kids around, or indeed take a trip together without having to worry about childcare!
And there’s no better place for a skip-gen trip than with Ecoventura in the Galapagos.
As the top spot on many people’s bucket lists, it’s a wonderful place to make happy memories on a truly memorable trip that will be talked about for a lifetime.
Many grandparents talk about the chance to discover the wonders of the world through the eyes of their grandchildren, and the Galapagos Islands are sure to capture their imagination. With a host of activities and excursions even the most energetic of grandkids will be kept entertained, whilst the guest to guide ratio – the lowest in the Galapagos – means that there is plenty of help at hand to keep things under control.
Combine all this with the luxury environment our Relais & Chateaux vessels have to offer, providing the perfect setting to bond with the grandchildren, not to mention warm, sunny temperatures and stunning wildlife and scenery, plus a great educational aspect to the trip, and it isn’t hard to justify a skip-gen voyage!
Tips on making a skip-gen trip work
When undertaking a skip-gen vacation, it’s worth bearing a few things in mind. Here we outline some pointers to help things go smoothly:
- Involve older children in the planning: Children often appreciate being part of the decision-making process. As well as helping to build excitement in the trip, this will also ensure the vacation is tailored to both your and their interests to create a fun, meaningful and memorable experience for all. They will appreciate the interest shown and this can only help strengthen the special bond grandparents and grandchildren so often share.
- Be flexible: Voyages with Ecoventura involve a host of exciting and adventurous excursions and outings, such as snorkelling, paddle boarding, panga rides, visits to beaches to see sealions, hikes or visits to islands to learn about various conservation efforts such as tortoise breeding programs. Accept that younger children (or older grandparents!) may not have the stamina to keep up with a fixed itinerary, and there’s no need to try to fit in everything everyday. If it’s needed, take an afternoon off and spend some downtime on our sundeck or in the lounge with a good book to avoid having to deal with cranky, overtired grandchildren.
- Be the team leader: Whilst involving grandchildren in the planning is probably a good thing, don’t expect them to sort the admin! Passports and travel documents, health and travel insurance, any necessary vaccination cards or medication, or even a letter granting a grandparent permission to travel with a grandchild overseas without the child’s parents might be required. So plan ahead, check with the parents so nothing falls through the cracks, and get everything in order well in advance.
For tips about packing and the available itineraries, follow the links to these blogs.
Our team would be more than happy to help, so feel free to get in touch via our website with any questions you may have about travelling with your grandkids, or contact us on info@galapagosnetwork.com or call toll-free (800) 633-7972. We look forward to welcoming you all aboard!
