Ask any grandparent, and they’ll tell you—with a big grin on their face—that spending time with their grandchildren rejuvenates their soul. This is precisely why many active grandparents are embracing one of the latest travel trends: skip-gen travel. As the name implies, skip-gen travel bypasses the parents, creating a unique opportunity for grandparents and grandchildren to journey together and create cherished memories.
Finding Time to Travel Together
Among the first 500 members to join Inspirato, Linda and David have enjoyed years of
unforgettable vacations with family and friends.
Their grandchildren, now in their late teens, grew up going on Inspirato vacations to Telluride, the Berkshires, and other locales around the world. With each escapade, their family grew closer, creating countless memories while honoring family traditions.
However, as their grandchildren grew older, orchestrating a family trip became a formidable challenge. With one grandchild in college, two in boarding school, and a fourth attending public
school, aligning everyone’s schedules proved increasingly difficult. What was once an effortless endeavor transformed into a complex puzzle, requiring careful planning and coordination.
“We’ve been to a lot of places together with the whole family,” claims Linda. “We’re lucky that everyone wants to be together. But now that the grandkids are older, everyone has different schedules that make it almost impossible for the ten of us to get together.”
The Gift of Travel
Sick and tired of juggling schedules—and aware their grandchildren will become young adults sooner than later—Linda and David took matters into their own hands and made a decision that continues to benefit the entire family to this day. Rather than giving their grandkids traditional presents for their bar and bat mitzvahs, Linda and David chose to offer them a much more meaningful experience.
“We decided to gift them a trip—anywhere they wanted in the world.” Linda explains. “It started last June, when our oldest grandson was finishing boarding school and no one else had time off. We decided to take him to London and it was beyond wonderful. It was a very different kind of trip then going with the whole family, and the one-on-one time was just fabulous. And of course, Inspirato took care of everything from beginning to end.”
One Trip Led to Another
After the wild success of their skip-gen trip to England, Linda and David quickly started planning more adventures with their other grandchildren. As luck would have it, their grandson Levi was studying abroad in Jordan, and they seized the opportunity.
“We were just in Petra with Levi and Inspirato planned a fantastic night-time tour of the city, “Linda says. “It was pitch black, and there were lit lanterns illuminating the whole walk. And while we were walking, he opened up to us about his life, family, friendships, and relationships in a way I never, ever would have had to experience if not for our walk together. And,” she beams, “you learn what fine kids they are. They’re different when their parents aren’t there—you see a side of them that’s very different, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
A Different Kind of Adventure
Planning a multi-generational vacation for a large family presents several challenges beyond conflicting schedules. One of the most significant difficulties is catering to diverse interests.
“Our grandchildren are very adventurous, and they planned a trip to New Zealand last December for our whole family. We all went sky diving, bungee jumping, and white-water rafting off waterfalls—not things that David and I typically like to do,” explains Linda. “When we travel one-on-one with the grandkids, we’re able to do things at our own pace and show them a more cultural side of things.”
One of the greatest advantages of skip-gen travel is the opportunity to slow down and spend quality time together. As an Inspirato member, the added benefit of planning activities that everyone will enjoy enhances the experience.
“Inspirato makes it so easy,” Linda shares. “Initially, we were a bit apprehensive about traveling alone with our young grandson, but Inspirato took care of everything, allowing us to really focus on him. It’s incredible—you can provide them with a list of ten activities you want to do, and they’ll make it happen.”
The Ones Left Behind
As a parent, it’s natural to worry about your children when they travel. Add a grandparent or two to the mix and the stresses can multiply! Luckily for the Schiffers, they have peace of mind when planning their trips.
“Because Inspirato takes care of so much, there’s no need to be afraid as a parent if they’re not traveling with us. They know we’re all in good hands the whole time.”
Passing of the Torch
Not only does skip-gen travel augment existing family ties, but it can also inspire new traditions of multi-generational trips.
“My daughter said to me that when she’s a grandmother, she hopes her grandchildren want to travel with her,” Linda mentions. “She’s seeing in real time how great this is working out for everyone. My only advice is to stay in shape, keeping up with grandkids isn’t easy! But, traveling with them is a great way to keep us motivated and feeling young. And if you asked our grandchildren, they’re just head over heels about doing this. It’s incredible.”
With a focus on staying active, Linda and David have exciting plans for their next skip-gen adventure. They are taking their granddaughter to Munich to see Adele and Coldplay perform on consecutive nights. Utilizing Bespoke, they are creating a custom itinerary and plan to explore Austria following the concerts.
“Our [Inspirato] Care team knows our whole family so well now,” states Linda. “I know they’ll help us plan something amazing—every trip has been better than the last.”
Quality Time Together
While the dream for any grandparents is to be together with their extended family, skip-gen trips offer a more manageable alternative and foster genuine, one-on-one conversations.
“For a grandparent, nothing compares to spending alone time with grandchildren—there’s nothing like it,” David recalls. “Inspirato gives us the opportunity to make that happen. People hear about our trips and tell us they want to be adopted by us, and that’s such a compliment.”
The Time to Act is Now
Skip-gen travel offers an invaluable opportunity for grandparents to forge deeper connections with their grandchildren, creating memories that will be cherished for years to come. By stepping into the role of travel companions, grandparents like Linda and David not only strengthen familial bonds but also pass down traditions and wisdom in a unique and engaging way.
In today’s fast-paced world, skip-gen encourages grandparents to stay active and engaged, while giving grandchildren the chance to learn from and bond with their elders. Whether through sharing family stories or exploring new destinations, these trips create a unique and lasting impact on everyone involved.
“We need to do this now while we can—we see the times changing, we see the schedules changing, and that keeps us motivated. So, for grandparents looking to create unforgettable experiences and strengthen their family bonds, the time to embrace skip-gen travel is now.”
As an Inspirato member, we guarantee you’ll have some of the skip-gen travels in any one of our luxurious accommodations across the world.
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