As the school year comes to a close and the warmth of summer beckons, it’s not uncommon to find yourself among the 22% of individuals who have yet to finalize their summer travel plans. Our family found itself in that 22% bracket last year. While our kids’ camp schedules had been arranged well in advance, we hesitated to plan our family vacation until the last moment. The reason was simple: our daughter Emily was about to start high school and was contemplating trying out for the high school soccer team. Given these uncertainties, we held off on making any concrete vacation arrangements.
Once we were finally able to pinpoint a suitable window for our vacation, we chose to revisit one of our family’s beloved summer destinations: the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Situated within driving distance from Washington, DC, this charming locale feels like a world apart.
Last summer, we opted to rent a house so that we could share this cherished spot with my parents, who had flown in from California. It was a fantastic experience, as they got to savor the offerings of a completely different ocean while spending quality time with their grandchildren, whom they hadn’t seen in nearly a year. This experience got me thinking about the fun and potential of organizing a repeat trip, this time including my brother’s family and his younger children, aged 5 and 3, on our next Eastern Shore vacation.
Tips for Planning a Multigenerational Summer Vacation:
1. Choose a Destination That Appeals to Everyone:
Given the wide range of ages within our group (including grandparents, teenagers, a kindergartener, and a toddler/preschooler), it’s essential to select a destination that offers something for each member. While our teenagers relish high-adrenaline activities on land and in the water, these pursuits may not be suitable for younger children. Finding a place that caters to all age groups is paramount.
2. Explore Various Lodging Options:
For a multigenerational trip where the goal is to have flexibility while maximizing shared time, a hotel might not be the most suitable choice. Hotels often lack shared communal spaces, resulting in families spending some meals and daytime hours together but retreating to their separate rooms in the evening.
A service like Vrbo provides a range of homes of varying sizes, offering shared and separate spaces to maximize flexibility. Vrbo, pronounced VER-boh, is a preferred platform for booking vacation homes, cabins, and condos, both for summer travel and year-round. With the average Vrbo property in the U.S. accommodating six people, it’s an ideal choice when planning a multigenerational summer getaway.
3. Utilize Tech Tools to Stay on Budget:
Enjoying a vacation doesn’t necessitate emptying your wallet. Savvy travelers keep an eye on fare watch sites and apps, but did you know about Vrbo’s “Bang for your Buck Index”? This index identifies travel destinations with the lowest average cost per night and helps you find vacation homes that are both budget-friendly (less than $250 per night) and offer desirable features such as proximity to beaches, dining options, outdoor activities, and more.
For those considering domestic destinations, several cities in Florida rank among the top value-packed destinations, with the lowest average cost per night. Some of these cities include Lakeland and Winter Haven, Fla., Tucson, Ariz., Orlando, Fla., Branson, Mo., and more.
If you’re open to international travel, Vrbo reports that the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) offers excellent value, with average prices per night in USD comparable to or less than those of U.S. cities listed in the Bang for your Buck Index. Some international destinations that provide great value include Porto, Portugal, Calgary, Canada, Tokyo, Japan, Carolina, Puerto Rico, Lisbon, Portugal, and others.
Wishing you a splendid summer filled with safe travels and memorable family adventures, and remember, the new way to refer to Vrbo is VER-boh!
