10 Family holidays to take with ageing parents before travel gets too hard

10 Sep 10 Family holidays to take with ageing parents before travel gets too hard

There is a window in life that is easy to miss.

Your children may be getting older, your career may finally be giving you a little more freedom, and your parents may still be healthy enough to travel. For a few precious years, three generations can potentially explore the world together.

But that window doesn’t stay open forever.

For parents in their 70s and 80s, mobility, confidence, energy and health can change quickly. A destination that feels easy today might feel overwhelming in five years.

So if there is a family holiday you have always talked about taking together, perhaps this is the year to stop talking about it.

Here are ten memorable trips worth considering.

New Zealand’s South Island

New Zealand is almost tailor-made for multi-generational travel.

Queenstown, Wanaka, Mount Cook and Milford Sound offer extraordinary scenery without requiring everyone to undertake demanding hikes. Scenic drives, lake cruises, wineries and comfortable lodges mean you can experience plenty while keeping the pace relaxed.

Best of all, it is relatively close to Australia.

A Mediterranean Cruise

Cruising removes many of the challenges associated with travelling with older parents.

Unpack once, settle into comfortable accommodation and wake up somewhere new each morning.

A Mediterranean itinerary could include Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain and France, with everyone able to choose excursions that match their own mobility and interests.

Then come together again over dinner and share stories from the day.

Japan

Japan is fascinating at any age.

Ride the bullet train, explore Kyoto’s temples, experience Tokyo’s energy and discover a completely different food and cultural landscape.

Japan does require walking, stairs and busy transport hubs, which is exactly why it can be worth doing sooner rather than later.

Tasmania

A Tasmanian road trip allows you to slow everything down.

Explore Hobart, Freycinet, Cradle Mountain and Launceston, stopping at vineyards, farm gates, bakeries and historic towns along the way.

Hire a comfortable vehicle, book good accommodation and leave plenty of room in the itinerary for spontaneous lunches and conversations.

Sometimes the simplest holidays become the most memorable.

A European River Cruise

For older travellers who have always dreamed of Europe, a river cruise can be an ideal compromise between adventure and comfort.

Cruise the Rhine or Danube through Germany, Austria, Hungary and surrounding regions while your floating hotel travels with you.

There are castles, old towns, markets and museums to explore, but very little packing and unpacking.

Hawaii

Hawaii works beautifully when different generations want different things from a holiday.

Younger family members can surf, snorkel and hike, while grandparents can relax by the pool, enjoy scenic drives or simply sit beside the ocean.

Everyone can reconnect over dinner as the sun sets.

The Canadian Rockies

Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper offer some of the world’s most spectacular scenery.

Take scenic gondolas, spot wildlife, enjoy mountain lodges and consider adding a luxury rail journey such as the Rocky Mountaineer.

It is the type of destination where simply looking out the window can be an experience.

Italy — Slowly

Don’t try to see all of Italy in two weeks.

Choose a region, perhaps Tuscany, Rome, Umbria or the Italian lakes, and experience it properly.

Rent a villa, visit village markets, enjoy long lunches and sit around the dinner table talking well into the evening.

For families, Italy often becomes less about sightseeing and more about being together.

An Australian Outback Journey

Some of the greatest landscapes on earth are in our own backyard.

Take your parents to Uluru, the Flinders Ranges, the Kimberley or Australia’s Red Centre.

Choose comfortable accommodation or a guided tour rather than trying to make the experience overly adventurous.

Watching the sun set over an ancient Australian landscape together is something few families forget.

Their Dream Destination

Finally, forget every travel list you have ever read and ask your parents one question:

“Where have you always wanted to go?”

Maybe it is Paris. Maybe it is the Northern Lights. Maybe they want to return to the town where they grew up, trace their family’s history overseas or finally drive around Australia.

Their answer might surprise you.

The Best Time May Be Now

There will always be reasons to wait.

Work is busy. Flights are expensive. Someone has commitments. Next year might seem easier.

But next year also means everyone is a year older.

One day, you may look back and realise that the greatest luxury wasn’t the hotel, the destination or the business-class seat.

It was having your parents beside you.

So take the holiday.

Take too many photos. Order another bottle of wine. Ask them questions about their childhood. Listen to the old stories again. Stay an extra night.

Because years from now, you probably won’t remember what the flights cost.

You’ll remember that you went.

If this article has inspired you to think about your unique situation and, more importantly, what you and your family are going through right now, please get in touch with your advice professional.

This information does not consider any person’s objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before making a decision, you should consider whether it is appropriate in light of your particular objectives, financial situation, or needs.

(Feedsy Exclusive)