A bit of extra planning goes a long way in keeping the experience fun and relaxed for everyone involved. Here are 5 easy ways to make your escape fun and stress-free.
1. Pick the Right Destination and Accommodations
Photo credit: https://www.westgateresorts.com/family-vacation-packages/
Where you stay is as important as what you do when planning a trip with a senior relative. It could be a place with steep walking paths, long staircases, or heavy heat that will suck the energy out of them before the first day even gets going.
Seek destinations that are accessible and easy to navigate, with plenty of comfortable places to sit down and rest. You generally can’t go wrong with a full-service resort or a central location to cut down on back-and-forth. As you think about your options, look at family vacation packages to see if there’s comfortable lodging that can accommodate everyone under one roof.
A few things to check before you book:
- Entrances without steps and working lifts
- Bathrooms feature walk-in showers and strong grab bars
- Ground floor rooms or rooms near major areas such as dining rooms and lobbies
2. Plenty of Free Time to Read
It’s easy to want to fit every single attraction, tour and dinner spot into your schedule. But when you cram a busy itinerary with an older relative, exhaustion is usually the outcome—and who has fun when they’re running on empty?
Instead, structure your days around a much slower, more relaxed pace. Organize your main activity for the morning when everyone is fresh, then a long, leisurely lunch and an open afternoon.
Easy ways to stay comfortable while keeping up the pace:
- Schedule afternoon breaks: Take an hour or two every afternoon to nap, read a book, or watch TV back at the hotel.
- Go for low-impact sightseeing: A scenic boat cruise, a train ride, or a trolley tour instead of a three-hour walking tour.
- Keep dinner plans simple: Pick eateries near where you’re staying so no one has to make the long trek back late at night.
3. Early Organization of Medications and Health Essentials
When you’re packing, always put health and comfort first. Figuring out how to replace a prescription you forgot, or finding a pharmacy in an unfamiliar city, can add a lot of unnecessary stress to your trip.
Put all essential medications in your personal carry-on or daypack—not checked bags—so they stay with you at all times. It’s wise to take some extra medicine for a few days in case your travel plans are delayed.
What to pack in your day bag:
- An updated medication list and times to take medications
- Contact details of their main doctors back home
- Copies of insurance cards, travel insurance policies
- A small pouch of simple supplies such as band-aids, compression socks, and basic pain medication
4. Plan Mobility Assistance in Advance
And, even if your relative can walk around the house, navigating giant airport terminals, train platforms, or bumpy cobblestone streets is a whole different ballgame. There’s no reason to feel shy about asking for a little extra help.
Airports and large train stations offer free wheelchair assistance from check-in to the gate. Calling ahead to set this up will save your relative energy for the fun parts of the trip instead of using it up in long security lines. If they use a cane, walker, or other walking aid, make sure it’s clearly tagged before you leave.
5. Keep the Lines of Communication Open – Expect to Tweak
Ultimately, flexibility is the key to keeping multi-generational trips fun. Touch base with your parent or relative during the day to ask how they’re doing, but be casual so they don’t think they’re holding the group back.
If you see tiredness creeping in, be ready to switch your afternoon plans to something low-key. It’s a small price to pay for happy, comfortable and well-rested companions to skip a photo spot or take a rain check on a museum. Instead of trying to check off every item on your list, try to spend quality time together.
Last words before you get in the water
Every coastal area has its personality, quirks in the weather and water conditions. Always check local wind and tide forecasts before launching your kayak. Wear a reliable life jacket and pack your gear in secure dry bags so you can concentrate on enjoying the views.