Grandma is coming! When I was a kid, I always loved it when she came along on a trip. And my parents always had a babysitter on hand when they wanted to do something without us. Now, my brother and I organize our own multigenerational travel, and there are sustainable vacation apartments and hotels that are perfect for that purpose. And sometimes, Grandma and Grandpa even stay for free!

Multi-generational travel in Italy

According to Albergo Diffuso Relais del Maro in Italy, multigenerational travel has increased significantly. “In the last two years, we have witnessed the increased frequency of this type of travel firsthand,” they say. “Some of the stays and clients have touched us the most.”

Relais del Maro is spread over several houses in the small Ligurian town of Borgomaro. There is much for families to discover both in the hinterland and on the coast. Small idyllic villages, Mediterranean nature and the Mediterranean Sea offer a wonderful environment for various leisure activities. E-bikes can be rented. Or how about a guided visit to a nursery or a pottery? If you are interested, you can even make your own pottery – your host, Elena Scalambrin, will be happy to organize an appointment for you.

Tip for a multigenerational vacation in Liguria: Whale watching

By the way, Stefany Seipp, the founder of Green Pearls®, tested the sustainability of whale watching. As an outing for a multi-generational vacation, she said she could definitely recommend a whale watching cruise. “For kids as young as 5 or 6 years old, it’s certainly great,” she says. Not only do you get to see giant marine mammals up close, but you clean up the ocean from plastic debris.

Family-friendly luxury right by the sea: ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA

Fancy a beach holiday? The ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA offers adults luxurious relaxation and children a well-thought-out program right by the sea in Sicily. While grandparents, parents, and older children enjoy the view of the waves or take a break at the spa, younger children are in good hands at the AKI Kids Club.

The program deliberately focuses on nature and culture. Activities include building sandcastles on the beach, crafting with natural materials collected from the area, taking an excursion to a farm, and visiting a beekeeper where honey can be sampled directly from the source. Children learn about their surroundings in a playful way—and make new friends along the way.

On request, younger guests can eat together in the children’s area or join their parents and grandparents again. The result is a vacation where every generation can find their own rhythm.

What you can learn from your grandparents: According to Condé Nast Traveller, traveling with grandparents is an important trend: “Gen Y and Z have a lot to learn from their grandparents (now in their 60s or 70s (boomers) or 80s and 90s (quiet generation). “ This includes craft skills in particular. According to Heritage Crafts, there are currently 70 ”highly endangered” skills in the UK alone that are in danger of being lost. (These include, for example, glove making, rattan furniture, and bow and arrow making. Click here for the Red List.)

With children and grandparents in the Alps

3-generation special at the Tyrolean Hotel Klosterbräu

The Hotel Klosterbräu in the tourist town of Seefeld in Tyrol is a hotel that is particularly committed to multigenerational vacations. “When three generations arrive, grandma or grandpa gets a free vacation,” they say. “We believe the best vacation is when the whole family is together. That’s why we have rooms with connecting doors, so living together is as pleasant as possible.”

The converted monastery, which has been in the family for six generations, has a huge wellness area with seven themed saunas, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, relaxation rooms, yoga and fitness facilities. There’s also plenty for the kids to do, including kids-club, babysitter-service and a petting zoo and nature playground right next to the hotel.

– Click here for the 3 Generations 1+1 Special from Hotel Klosterbräu

Multigenerational travel in a Log Cabin in Austria

We also recommend the Summit Lodges Pfunds in the Tyrolean Oberland. These two luxurious vacation homes are built in the style of American log cabins. Each lodge exceeds 120 square meters and can accommodate up to six people, offering two separate bedrooms and bathrooms. Each lodge has a kitchen, a private sauna, and a large living area with a fireplace.

Host Marco Spiss gave multi-generational use some thought:

“From our terraces, parents can always see their children. In addition, the entrance gate can be closed to prevent children from leaving the property unattended.

Family time at the lake: Hotel Weihrerhof, South Tyrol

The Hotel Weihrerhof is located on the Wolfsgrubener bathing lake on the Ritten, a place where several generations naturally come together. Host Klaus Pichler sums it up: “We have room for all generations.” Whether paddling on the lake, playing on the lawn, or gazing at the Dolomites together, this is a place for encounters as well as retreats.

The rooms and suites with lake or mountain views offer plenty of space and tranquility. Particularly beneficial for families: consciously and playfully introduced cell phone-free times thanks to the Digital Detox offer, which strengthen togetherness and refocus attention on spending time together.

Reaching new heights together: mountain hut vacation in the Allgäu

For fit grandparents and nature-loving families, the Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu region recommends its apartment chalets at the Edelsberghütte. Depending on the hiking trail, you can reach the hut in about 40 to 90 minutes – the ascent is deliberately part of the experience here.

Whether you want to cook together, play games, enjoy evenings in the hut, or simply experience the peace and quiet of the mountains, the chalets offer space for socializing and retreating. Depending on your preference, you can stay in one large apartment or use two adjacent ones — ideal for multigenerational trips, offering proximity and space.

Eco-hotel with family rooms in the countryside

If you’d rather stay in a hotel, the eco-hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe, Lower Saxony, offers special family rooms with connecting doors. For children, there are “extra beds, cribs and baby phones with a connection to the restaurant”. According to the owners, grandparents especially enjoy the large sun terrace next to the playground. Kids can run around and adults can relax. In addition, there are ideal multi-generational destinations in the area, such as Hof Claus (with a corn maze and farm golf), the Wolf Center Dörverden and Lorenzo’s Alpaca Farm.

“What’s more, everything (except the sauna and hot tub) is barrier-free, so you can easily get around with walkers, wheelchairs, strollers, etc.” – Kristin Okelmann

Multi-generational vacation in Croatia

The Hotel Korinjak on the Croatian island of Iz is a very special example of a multi-generational vacation destination. Founded by Ratko Vlahov, the hotel is now run by his granddaughter Mikela, who grew up with the hotel as part of the third generation. In her personal story Mikela recounts how closely family life and the hotel are intertwined, showing how naturally several generations come together at Korinjak.

The hotel’s concept is simple. The rooms are minimalist, and life takes place outside under pine trees, by the sea, or on walks across the peaceful island. The food is entirely vegetarian and vegan. While the grandparents enjoy the peace and quiet, the children explore nature or go on boat trips with the family—with a little luck, they might even see dolphins. It is a place that slows the pace of life down and creates space for genuine togetherness.

Multi-generational adventure in Cambodia

If you want to experience a multi-generational vacation in a completely different way, the Canvas & Orchids Retreat in Cambodia is an extraordinary place. The floating tents are quietly located on the river and create a relaxed atmosphere. While grandparents enjoy nature and tranquility, parents and children explore the surroundings together—kayaking, wildlife watching, or visiting nearby villages.

Shared meals on the floating decks and experiences such as sunset cruises on the river naturally bring the generations together. A vacation for genuine encounters and shared wonder.

Out and about together

In general, multigenerational trips are a wonderful way to strengthen family bonds and spend valuable and intense time together. Of course, the idea doesn’t have to be limited to grandparents-children-grandchildren; siblings, aunts and uncles, second cousins or other relatives can also make great travel companions!

The bonus with the accommodations we have presented is that they are already thinking about the next generation through their sustainable concept – and that is a topic that should be very high on the agenda, especially for a multigenerational vacation!

This is an update from October 13, 2023.

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