Traveling with grandchildren

Get the kids excited
Koenig suggests reading about the chosen destination with your grandchildren and then asking them what they hope to get out of the trip. That way, everyone’s expectations can be discussed and hopefully met.

When we asked for tips from our members on this topic,   Travelmommy told us her parents have taken several trips with her young children and the experience has been very positive. “Usually my folks send a card before the trip with a map or a picture of where they plan to take the kids, but last time they sent a video,” she said. The video they sent was called Shae by Air, and Travelmommy told us the video was instrumental in preparing her children and getting them excited for a flight with their grandparents. “The premise of the DVD,” she said, “is that children, even small ones, have the capacity to understand what to expect and what is expected of them, and with that the ability to be respectful, good little travelers.” According to the company Web site, Shae by Sea and Shae by Land videos are on their way, great for road trippers or grandparents who love to cruise.

Go!
Koenig said the most popular trip booked through GrandTravel is a safari in Africa. It is enjoyable for both the grandparents and the children and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She said other popular trips were tours of Europe, specifically London and Paris, and Alaska. Also available through the Web site is a “Dinosaur Discovery” trip in Colorado where kids actually work with scientists on excavation. What kid hasn’t gone through a dinosaur-loving phase?

These trips don’t come cheap, but you’ll have the expertise of a company who's been planning intergenerational tours for 20 years. Also, there will be other children and adults on the tour to interact with. Other organized travel opportunities are offered by Elderhostel, the Sierra Club and Rascals in Paradise.

If an organized tour is too cost-prohibitive, consider going at it alone. How about camping at a National Park? Not only do seniors enjoy deep discounts at the parks, but there are plenty of kid-friendly activities like hiking and wildlife viewing. Had something a little more relaxing in mind? Rent a vacation house at the beach -- kids never seem to tire of the ocean and the sand. Remember it’s not as much about where you go as it is about the memories created from the time spent together.

The Independent Traveler is an interactive traveler's exchange and comprehensive online travel guide for a community of travelers who enjoy the fun of planning their own trips and the adventure of independent travel. You can access our wealth of travel resources and great bargains here at www.independenttraveler.com, or at www.bargainbox.com.

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