Making the Most of Summer Travel: Tips for Busy Families (Yes, Even Grown-Up Ones)

Summer travel with family can be equal parts magic and madness, especially when everyone’s at a different stage of life. As someone who just returned from a multigenerational trip with our daughters (one married with a toddler, one single and adventurous), I can say this: it is possible to make it fun for everyone. You just need the right mindset, and a little planning.

Here’s how we made the most of our summer getaway, and how you can too.

1. Keep It Simple

You don’t need a jam-packed schedule or a cross-country tour to make it special. For our trip, we chose one destination and gave ourselves plenty of flexibility. Between naptimes for our three-year-old granddaughter and time-zone naps for, well... us (we’re not 25 anymore), simplicity saved us.

Pro tip: Cruises and resorts are amazing for groups like ours. Everyone could do their thing whether it was pool time, spa time, or just grabbing a cocktail by the pool, without needing to coordinate every minute.

2. Plan Together

Before the trip, we asked everyone to share what was most important to them. For some of us, it was relaxing. For others, it was exploring. And for the three-year-old? Snacks and water slides.

Having input from everyone meant no one felt left out. And it helped us prioritize what really mattered (like finding the best ice cream spot and a stroller-friendly walking trail).

3. Don’t Overpack the Schedule

When you’ve got different energy levels and interests, over-scheduling is the fast track to burnout. We built in space for naps, downtime, and spontaneous fun. Some of our favorite memories came from wandering with no plan at all.

Even just sitting on a balcony together, watching the sunset while the baby napped, became a favorite moment.

4. Use Tech to Your Advantage

We shared a group chat and photo album so everyone could stay in the loop and share memories in real time. I also used a simple itinerary app to keep track of dinner reservations and activities so no one had to ask “what’s next?” 500 times a day.

5. Expect a Little Chaos—and Roll With It

We had early mornings (thanks to the toddler), wardrobe mix-ups, and one very opinionated snack meltdown, but we rolled with it. Family trips aren’t perfect. They’re real. And sometimes the bloopers are what make the best memories.

6. Work with a Travel Advisor (That’s Me!)

This trip reminded me just how much smoother things go when someone handles the logistics. I planned it all using the same approach I use for my clients: focus on the people, the pace, and the purpose, then build the rest around that. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of planning a trip that works for everyone, I’m here to help.

Final Thought

Family vacations will never be one-size-fits-all, and that’s okay. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, teens, grown kids, or grandparents, what matters most is the time together. Embrace the chaos, soak up the quiet moments, and find the joy in just being there.

From one salty soul to another , happy travels.