The popularity of multi-generational or 3G holidays – as they’re increasingly being referred to have exploded in the last decade. But what is it really like going on a multi-generational holiday? It’s a question I get asked a lot. It’s definitely not always a walk in the park but I think going on holiday with your parents gets a bad rap. Here’s our experience of multi-generational holidays…

From city breaks to cruises and everything in-between, we’ve done it all – and my advice would be to test the waters (and each other’s limits) with a short break before you take the plunge with a longer holiday.

For me, it’s never been about an extra set of hands, but more so an extra set of memories – Boo is one incredibly well-travelled child but ask her and she’ll still say that going shelling along the shoreline with Grandma is up there with some of the best days of her life. And that’s something that is priceless when it comes to travelling with extended generations. I remember the joy of British summer holidays with my Mum, sister and grandparents – FYI sand infested sandwiches were a thing. I think the rise in multi-generational travel is just an evolution of this trend.

Some people assume that 3G travel comes out of necessity cost-wise, especially for single parents like myself and it’s not hard to see the financial incentive when travelling without a second adult can often be cost prohibitive. However, for us, it was more about experiencing new adventures together and exploring the new dynamic of three generations travelling together. It’s amazing how much fun you have with your mum on holiday once you’re on holiday and am no longer an annoying teenager, ha! Let the record state that I inherit my love of Campari and Tonic from my mum!

Of course, there are some potential pitfalls when travelling as a multi-generational family. The biggest pre-departure obstacle we’ve found is settling on a destination/resort that suits all three of us. This is where my love for planning and research comes into its own. Simply put there is no perfect destination for everyone, it does take considerable time to find a holiday that ticks the boxes of a woman in her 60s, a woman in her 30s and a Boo but it can be done; from experience, we’ve found both big (I’m talking Royal Caribbean big) and small (hello lovely little resort in Crete) can be just the ticket and offer something for everyone without substantial compromise.

I won’t lie – there are moments during our trip when we’ve fallen back into mother/daughter roles – let’s just say I still like to take long showers and my Mum’s indecision can make me a little angsty. Think of Christmas day stress but less intense; if you can do Christmas with your parents that you can do a multi-generational holiday.

Here’s the snap that sums up a multi-generational holiday for me – heading off to dinner in the shadow of two of my favourite people who are absorbed in each other plotting and planning their swimming pool activities for the following day.

The reality is multi-generational holidays are a really rounded experience with both good and bad but on balance, a positive impact on the trip and it’s an opportunity that I’m glad to be able to take advantage of out of choice – bring on more trips for me, Boo and Grandma too.

Laid on a sunlounger sunning myself on our recent holiday to Crete I realised I’d barely shared any imagery on social media – and as a travel blogger that was pretty unusual. Apart from the customary outfit boomerang each night before dinner and shots of Boo jumping in the pool (for the 3479859th time!) there wasn’t much else on IG stories. It dawned on me: I wasn’t keen on shouting from the rooftops that we were on a package holiday. When I did talk about where we were on social media and subsequently when I wrote about our time at Althea Village Suneo I was eager to defend it being a package holiday and how it was a last minute bargain – as if that somehow explained us signing up for a week of animation teams and buffets for three meals a day. Surely package holidays were never a prefered choice?

My first ever press trip was a package holiday to Majorca and was only the second package holiday I’d been on.

I immediately saw the benefits to tour operated holidays when travelling with children – but even then I wondered how long until I could return to independent travel with Boo in tow. I couldn’t wish for a better travel companion in Boo, we’ve done it all – and whilst she’s a sponge when it comes to culture nothing beats laying by the pool watching Boo play pool games with the reps.

Holidays aren’t about storing up bragging rights for your return to the office, it’s for making memories, memories that keep us smiling and laughing as we’re walking to school in the rain on a bitterly cold Tuesday in January.

Package holidays are seen as the lesser of the travel treasures we can obtain, a sub-standard experience –  one that requires travellers to forsake a seemingly authentic holiday in favour of all you can eat buffets and a holiday rep.

Here I am making a stand for unlimited ice-cream and a sea of sunloungers but what about the majority of Brits at the resort and often culturally tone-deaf theme nights? For every potential pitfall of package holidays there are just as many when it comes to independent travel: ever hiked up a mountain to explore an ancient Roman town ruin to be mansplained by a fellow traveller you encounter? I have and it’s just as annoying.

No family’s holiday is more valid because they went off-piste and stayed in a remote setting as opposed to becoming emotionally invested in the dance routine to baby shark – just me?!

I’d be a hypocrite if I said I’m satisfied by package holidays alone – we have travel in our blood and love exploring. What I am saying is that you there is room for both types of holiday with no one better than the other.

Perhaps the title of this post is completely wrong; package holidays don’t need defending, they’re not the poor relation when it comes to family travel they very much hold their own. It’s time we as travel bloggers were less snooty and more inclusive when it comes to showcasing the best holiday options to our audiences.

Whilst my favourite mode of transport is plane – hey I’m one of those special people that actually get excited when I check in for a flight regardless of where I’m going – the idea of a summer road trip with Boo comes a very close second.

If I’m honest, a road trip hadn’t been high on my agenda until we spent nearly a month in Spain in the summer of 2016. We hired a car and it gave us so much freedom; freedom to explore surrounding towns, freedom to explore hidden beaches. It also reminded me that if you take away all the pressures of everyday London traffic I really enjoy driving. Chuck in amazing scenery and I’m sold on a family road trip.

The big dream is to one-day head to the US for a road trip around either Florida or California. Before we embark on such a big adventure I’d love to cut our road trip teeth on a scenic tour across Europe.

For ease, I’d probably choose to spend the majority of our trip in Spain as I’m conversationally fluent in Spanish and it’s best to be prepared when travelling with children.

Linguistic skills aren’t the only important prep before a road trip. If hiring a car the servicing will have been taken care of – although it’s always wise to carry check the essentials, such as water levels, tyres etc.

However, with European road trips, there is often the option to join the continent with your own car – there are loads of benefits to this (no hunting for an illustrious usb port in the dark of an airport car park – spoke from experience!). The best way to ensure your car is fully prepared and up to long road – shameless pun – is to look into a pre-trip service. Kwik Fit offers car servicing and checks the condition of things such as batteries and tyres. This could prevent car breakdowns, which is a guaranteed holiday downer.

Where would you head on a family road trip – let me know in the comments below…

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.