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Port Douglas Family Holiday
Holidaying with multiple generations of family is growing increasing popular among young families. Sharon Burnell from Sanctuary Villas Port Douglas gives us some tips on travelling with the tribe.
I remember years ago, when our now teens were babies, inviting my Mum to holiday with us, on the Gold Coast. Yes – I’m guilty…. we wanted free babysitting and the odd night out and not to be held hostage in our motel room when one of the babies was asleep! The thought of a ‘holiday home’ wasn’t even a ‘thing’ then …. all our holidays were in cheap and cheerful resorts with bad carpet.
Roll on 2019! Oh, how our lifestyles have changed! We have so many three generation families booking a holiday home for their entire tribe, I don’t even blink an eye anymore. It’s almost the ‘norm’ for our bigger holiday homes that sleep 10 guests.
Often it is for a 70th or 80th birthday, other times it is simply a precious family holiday. Here are some thoughtful tips when choosing your holiday home and travelling with three generations.
No. 1 tip - Communicate before the trip
This tip is so important it gets its own heading!! Prepare yourself for the differences that may occur. The parents with young kids may think they have brought free nannies not the Nana. Grandparents may despair of parenting styles or kids’ lazy habits, kids may get frazzled that the grownups always want to go on tours and they just want to swim in the pool. Some relatives will think that you need to do everything together eg. Every single meal together, others want daily time out just to themselves or their kids. BUT if you can sort out your expectations BEFORE agreeing on a holiday together you just may have the most wonderful time with memories to last a life time.
The other 11 tips for 3 Gen Vacay’s
- Choose one of you to do the booking and liaise with the holiday home owner or agent
- Book your flights early so that you can fly up together
- Organise hire car/s or an airport shuttle bus to your holiday home
- Choose a house with space – everyone needs their daily chill out time and relaxing lounge areas
- You need a big kitchen – imagine meal times if there are 10 or more of you!
- Choose a house where most bedrooms have ensuites
- Choose a house with bedroom ‘wings’ or separate pavilions, so the baby doesn’t wake everyone at 5am.
- Choose tours that can accommodate you all (young and old)
- Let everyone know from the start that you are going to do tours just by yourself, immediate family included :)
- Stay where you can walk to the beach or a café or shops is ideal
- Find a nearby playground that you can walk to if you have little ones
