Kids on the coast

by Wendy Buckley, Travel With Kidz. www.travelwithkidz.com.au

Families are now living and working all over the world, more so than ever before. Just as you might have packed up the kids and caught a train to Sydney twenty years ago, now you can jump on a plane to visit Mum and Dad on the other side of the world. (Although the latter is far more exciting, and will probably include personal TVs on the back of your seat with hundreds of movies and songs to keep them amused.)

Baby boomers are expected to live longer due to medical advances and healthier lifestyles, and good financial planning is allowing the grandparents of today more time and flexibility to travel with their children and grandchildren.

When planning a family holiday spanning three generations, you need advice based on experience and firsthand knowledge. Among the many things to consider when looking at a multi-generational holiday, families should ask themselves whether they want the holiday to be mainly:

• Cultural: eg dancing with the Maasai in Tanzania, or exploring a sacred cave in Fiji

• Historical: eg staying in a 100-year-old Tuscan Villa and walking the cobblestone streets of Sienna

• Environmental: eg staying in Jean Michel Cousteau’s Fiji Resort where marine biologists are available to guide you

• Active: eg anything from Club Med Circus School at Club Med Lindeman to riding a cable car to the peak of Table Mountain in Capetown

• Relaxing: eg taking time out on a sandy beach where a chef prepares family dinners in your private villa

You should also discuss whether you prefer self-catering or all meals included; what kind of climate everyone like (tropical/beach or cool/mountainous?); and whether to holiday closer to one family group or the other, or meet in the middle.

Another important variable to consider is whether you want boutique or resort accommodation. Many families love all the frills of big resorts like the Sheraton Port Douglas Mirage Resort, which offers a golf course, tennis lessons, massages, lagoon pools and a kids’ program during school holidays, along with a choice of one, two, or three bedroom villas which are perfect for families. Others like intimate, personal, boutique hotels, such as the luxurious Nam Hoi located in Hoi An, Vietnam, with its butler service and limousines to buzz you around your shopping trips.

Some families find it easier and less stressful to book and pay for all transfers, accommodation, meals, and tours in advance. For example, a Club Med holiday allows multi-generational groups all-inclusive deals and a huge range of prepaid activities, allowing each family member to be as active or relaxed as they want to be, without having to arrange transport and argue over where to eat, or who’s paying! Organising safe, reliable childcare that provides adults with a break to enjoy time together can also help to ensure a successful family holiday catering for all the generations.

More ideas for terrific holidays with three-generation appeal”

Carnival Cruise Line

Your package is paid for up front and includes transport, accommodation, meals, entertainment, and professional childcare. You’ll visit amazing destinations and only have to unpack once! The whole family can splish and splash at Carnival WaterWorks, do lunch on the Lido Deck, catch a movie, and enjoy mini golf, swimming, shore excursions and shopping. Grown-ups can be pampered at Spa Carniva, check out a stage show, chill at the adults’ Serenity Retreat, hit the casino, dine in the steakhouse, get physical in the fitness centre and more. And the kids can mix, mingle, and have fun with Carnival’s children’s programs (awarded Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2008 “Readers’ Choice Award”). On offer are Camp Carnival (ages 2-11), Circle “C” (ages 12-14), and Club O2 (ages 15-17).

Maria Island, Tasmania

Why not try the great outdoors and keep even teenagers busy? The Maria Island Walk is a unique four-day experience on beautiful Maria Island, just off the coast of Hobart. The spectacular, abundant wildlife includes Tasmanian kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and echidnas. Spot unique birdlife such as the endangered forty-spotted pardalote, Cape Barren Goose (the world’s second rarest breed), eagles and numerous sea bird species. The crystal clear waters include protected marine reserves teeming with fish, dolphins, seals and migrating whales. The days are spent doing not-too-strenuous walking with highly qualified enthusiastic guides, and top quality food and wine and accommodation are all included (cabins for two nights and the homestead for one night). Perfect for family groups of up to eight people.

While textbooks and televisions can teach history and geography, nothing beats sharing the real thing with your family. Lifetime memories are made on a family holiday, so plan carefully to get the most out of your multi-generational travel experiences.