 |
Maureen Jones of All Horizons Travel in Los Altos, CA, is an expert in selling many types of travel. Here, she shares her knowledge of selling family vacations that include folks of all ages. Hint: This is a great article to send to clients who may be hesitant to take a trip because of the economy. Tell them that the time for sharing memories with loved ones is now!
This article is dedicated to helping grandparents create lasting memories for themselves and their grandchildren. We know that when grandparents and grandchildren travel together, they are drawn closer and relate to each other in remarkable new ways. Surrogate grandparents such as aunts, uncles, and friends are welcome.
Honoring a graduation, a special birthday or a school award, a bar mitzvah or a retirement, are all reasons for planning a trip. It's another expression of love, to spend precious time together.
Itineraries should stimulate curiosity, encourage exploration, discovery and be fun-filled.
There should be opportunities to relate to each other on an intergenerational level and to connect with the family’s past, as well as peer activities where grandchildren will enjoy activities only with other grandchildren.
Planning a family vacation can be challenging, so you need an expert to consider all of the varying interests, athletic abilities and, to put it politely, limited attention spans— and who knows the best destinations to choose from.
We take into account the budget, and the ages of the family before we recommend a list of opportunities. There are so many to choose from; anywhere in the world is on our radar.
A cruise is a marvelous choice. Everyone can do their own thing, and meet up for meals.
The grandparents should have a suite to use as the meeting place. If there are little ones in the group, then the nannies take care of their activities. A great place is Alaska, on a small ship, with marine biologist and naturalists on board.
Australia is a fantastic place for them to see nature, animals, aboriginal culture, and the Great Barrier Reef. I arrange for families to have a behind the scenes tour of the Taronga Zoo and feed the animals. Learn to paint your own boomerang and visit a remote cattle station.
New Zealand is the hiking, fishing and golf capital of the world.
Several of the tour companies provide two guides to each family, and places like Europe, Asia, all offer something unique. We have the capability to design an itinerary in whatever country you choose, to meet the family’s interests and ages.
Africa is a big seller, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, on which we receive rave reviews.
Magical Great Britain, visiting lots of historic places is popular.
Picture you and your family making pizza together in Rome under the watchful eye of a skilled chef, or practicing the tango in the ballroom of a historic mansion in Buenos Aires. We can do many things to make this a very unusual and special holiday
We can arrange an adventure in the U.S. Two of the most popular are Arizona and Utah,
Rafting down the Colorado River, seeing Monument Valley with a Navajo guide, spend three nights at a working ranch, or going to Wyoming, and experience a dude ranch.
We can even take care of people with disabilities. All it needs is careful planning.
Do you want to trace your family’s history? Visit the country where your ancestors came from. There is lots to see in Scandinavia, Scotland, or wherever. I just did one for a grandmother who wanted a driver/guide in a kilt which tickled the two grandsons. They told me, "don’t let Gran buy us a kilt."
A popular choice is one of the all-inclusive resorts in the South Pacific, or Mexico with plenty of varied activities for people of all ages. Wonders of the Canadian Rockies is another popular choice, visiting the National Parks and taking a train trip.
Depending on the size of the group, there are discounts to be had. Most people want to travel during school holidays, but we can handle whatever dates are the most convenient. One of the most important items for success is to have your own tour guides who can relate to the younger members of the group. We create the effortless journey. Our feet on the ground approach is unique in the travel industry. We know child-friendly hotels and meals.
It's about you, it’s about your children, it's about time, it's more than a holiday, it’s an adventure. Let the adventures begin.