You might be seeing a growing trend at your travel agency: clients coming to you for help planning family trips are skipping a generation. That is, you have grandparents wanting to travel with their grandkids, but the parents-the middle of the generational sandwich, so to speak-are nowhere in sight.
This is more commonly known as skip-gen travel, and it’s becoming an increasingly popular trend. It’s easy to see why: these trips are great bonding experiences for the older and younger generations where they can create lasting memories.
That’s why you need to be as prepared as possible to help them out. To get started, here are some tips on how you can plan the best skip-gen vacations for your clients.
Consider Generations
When helping clients plan skip-gen travel, you need to consider the age and interests of both the grandparents and grandchildren. Understanding each generation’s physical capabilities and preferences will help select the right activities. For example, grandparents might prefer sightseeing or cultural experiences that involve a little less walking, while grandchildren may want more high-energy activities.
The best skip-gen vacations find balance, with destinations that include beautiful sightseeing and relaxing settings, while giving travelers proximity to bustling town squares, or simply lighthearted outings like minigolf. When both generations share an interest in hiking, for example, you can find ways to accommodate both by finding locations that have trails suitable for varying levels of ability.
Choose Accessible Destinations
Selecting skip-gen travel destinations that offer accessibility for all travelers is key. Accessibility here, however, means more than just physical accommodation if older travelers have mobility issues. It also includes the range of activities available. When planning the best skip-gen vacations, you might want to consider cities for this very reason. From food to museums, shopping, and the arts, cities are one-stop destinations that travelers of any age can enjoy. With all their options so close together, they will also have to hurry less, making the experience easier for older travelers who might need to take their time.
Create Downtime for Everyone
Younger travelers need a break too, though, so learn how to develop a skip-gen travel itinerary that includes downtime for everyone. This can be as simple as putting a block labeled “free time” in the calendar, which will provide grandparents and grandchildren with the ability to structure their relaxation however they want. They could stay in their hotel room, find a leisurely viewpoint to enjoy the sights, go see a movie-whatever their hearts desire. Each of them could also opt for a little alone time. If the grandkids are old enough, for instance, they may want a chance to explore local attractions on their own to build a little independence. No matter how they choose to use free time, it’s also a great way to help your clients avoid the burnout that jam-packed schedules can cause.
Suggest Travel Insurance to Keep All Gens Covered
The best skip-gen vacations are ones where grandparents and their grandchildren bond, and it’s easier for them to do that when they don’t have to stress about the obstacles that could get in the way of their trip. That’s why you might want to suggest that they consider family travel insurance.
When your clients find travel insurance for family vacations that fits their needs, they may be financially protected in the event of delayed or canceled flights, lost or damaged luggage, or needs for medical attention. If this sounds like something they could benefit from, then let them know they can search for coverage by comparing plans on InsureMyTrip.com.
As the world’s first travel insurance comparison site, we are an unbiased source of information that lets users build travel insurance quotes from top providers. They can also get answers to their travel insurance-related questions with help from our dedicated Customer Care team of licensed professionals.
To help them begin finding the insurance for family trips that they need, let them know they can start a quote on our site.
