Perhaps some of the fondest memories you have as travellers are of the times spent with the extended family. Times when grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and newborns travel from far and wide to be in one special place for a short but unforgettable getaway. Unique destinations and multigenerational family holidays offer everyone a chance to discover new cultures and form lifelong memories together, without the interruption of everyday life. Whether it’s a beach escape, a theme park trip or a cruise together, these are the holidays that make the best memories.
For a holiday in a picture perfect location, a beach escape provides the perfect break and is a chance for multigenerations travelling together to recharge and connect.
More than 3 million visitors holiday on the Gold Coast each year and many of them are families. This is a playground for all ages, with plenty of options for couples, thrill seekers and singles out for a good time, but there’s no doubt that it’s extra special for kids. Most children are happy if they have a swimming pool at the hotel or apartment, a beach with plenty of sand for their artistic creations, and a park where they can run riot on the play equipment. For those who want to lay back and relax, there are more than enough beaches, parks and resorts to keep the kids entertained while you unwind and enjoy the golden sunshine!
What’s not to love about a Fijian holiday with your family? Only four hours flying from the east coast of Australia Fiji is great for budget conscious travellers, and the beaches are perfect! Fiji has a range of family friendly resorts from five star to budget, and there’s plenty of activities and programs for kids of all ages. Outside of the pools, bars and restaurants of the resorts, there are plenty of family friendly activities. You can go walking on the white sandy beaches or dive and snorkel offshore.
Read more: Fiji Destination Guide
As the theme park capital of Australia, the Gold Coast is home to Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld, Wet’N’Wild and WhiteWater World. The theme parks have a variety of passes available, from day passes to unlimited and annual passes and monthly memberships. If the kids love animals, the Gold Coast has a variety of animal attractions including the popular Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the David Fleay Wildlife Park. There are also a range of other attractions such as the Outback Spectacular — a stunning night-time show of Australian horsemanship — Ripley’s Believe It or Not and the Infinity Attraction, which is full of themed rooms, laser shows and mazes.
Sydney also has plenty for families to do and a trip to Luna Park has to be on the list. Located at Milsons Point at the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge you and the family can catch the train, ferry or bus to the amusement park. Once there you can enjoy million dollar views riding the ferris wheel, which has been in operation since 1935, or one of the other 20-odd rides at the park.
This one is a given. No doubt your grandkids have dreamed of going to Disneyland. The beauty with Disneyland is there are so many different theme parks across the world to choose, from Disneyland in Hollywood and Orlando to Disneyland Paris and the Asian Disneylands in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong. All up there are seven Disneyland theme parks and resorts across three continents. What makes Disneyland such a great place to take the grandkids? Well, the parks cater for rides from the younger kids to the teens, and the magic of the location makes it just as fun for parents and grandparents! While a visit to the American or Paris parks could set you back a bit of money, the closeness of the Asian parks makes them popular for those travelling on a budget.
Read more: Thinking about taking the grandkids to Disneyland?
Multigenerational cruising is on the rise, with river and ocean cruising becoming an increasingly attractive holiday option for the extended family. For extended families who may live in different places and lead busy separate lives, a cruise provides a great opportunity to come together. Being on board a ship beats a beach house. After all, it has shows, activities, shore excursions and a range of hassle-free dining options to keep everyone happy, no matter what your age, personality or interest.
The world’s biggest ships have space to pack in enough to suit everybody: rock-climbing walls, zip lines, surf simulators, ice-skating rinks. The kids’ space is massive. Some shore excursion choices are family-friendly, such as dog-sledding in Alaska or a visit to Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.
Clubs divide kids into ages 3-5, 6-8 and 9-11, with interesting science-oriented activities, pirate parades, Barbie at Sea and dance evenings. There are also meet-and-greets with DreamWorks characters and interactive classes for tots accompanied by parents.There are also adults-only solarium retreat, massages in the Vitality Spa, and a wide range of evening entertainment, including a casino and jazz club. With ‘My Family Time Dining’ kids are served quickly before heading off with staff, while adults can stay behind to enjoy their meal.
Read more: 5 Asian cruise routes that will get you sailing
No surprise that Disney is child-oriented, with probably the best facilities afloat for kids. That doesn’t mean adults can’t have a good time too. Multi-generational cruising is central to Disney’s operations, with activities and amenities crafted to suit. That includes long operating hours for children’s activities, allowing adults more flexibility.
Under-3s can attend a nursery. Kids 3-12 play musical instruments, do training exercises, train to be pirates, watch puppet shows, meet Mickey and dance with Snow White. The freedom to select from any of 100-odd experiences means younger kids can join with older siblings. Kids aged 11-14 can enjoy movies and hi-tech entertainment. At teen club Vibe, members can use a private deck area, join in karaoke and watch teen-oriented shows.
The latest movies, fine-dining restaurants, an adults-only pool and a rejuvenation spa with couples massage treatments. Paleo fine-dining restaurant is adults-only, as is nightclub entertainment. Shows and movies, themed deck parties and fireworks at sea. ‘Dine and Play’ allows families to enjoy dinner together.
Princess’ latest two ships are very family-oriented, with larger kids clubs and more activities and dining options, as well as family suites. Its more adventurous shore tours include good options for multi-generational families, such as canoeing and fly fishing.
The program for kids is divided into two age groups, 3-7 with arts-and-crafts projects, movies and cartoons, and pyjama parties and kids-only dinners; and 8-12 with interactive science activities, yoga, video games, foosball and a junior chef program. Kids between the ages of 13-17 get their own deck parties, hip-hop classes, late-night movies and sports and singing competitions.
A flexible dining option means you can eat any time between 5:30pm and 10pm in some restaurants. ‘Movies Under The Stars’ offers a great chance for the extended family to get together on the pool deck for a Hollywood blockbuster.
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