Multigenerational family vacation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do it regularly. Loads of fun. We do it at our second home and destination vacations (dude ranch, cruise ship, Greenbrier, etc). Usually 3-5 families plus our parents and inlaws for each family. One time we went to Italy with over 40 people.

We try to do at least one whole family event a year. We haven't done one since Covid and I know people are getting antsy cuz we keep talking about it and side-eyeing each other to see who will break first and say "what the heck" and start planning, Covid be darned.

Sounds like you guys have a lot of money. I’m guessing these vacations don’t involve the childless aunt sleeping on the couch and you sharing a 150 sq foot bedroom with your husband and two kids

[Anonymous]

Multigenerational family vacation, colonoscopy, or root canal?
The colonoscopy prep is miserable, but you sleep during the procedure and no pain.

[Anonymous]

The absolute only way to do it is to get a HUGE house. That's what we do. You need very few shared bathrooms, a pool and lots of refrigerators.

We cook at home, with each "family" taking a night. Then sometimes if we need an extra night, we do takeout. We keep a running list of needed groceries and whoever is cooking that night, goes to the grocery that day and gets stuff for dinner, and anything else we need.

We don't do ANY forced group excursions. If you want to go somewhere, you can go! If you want to invite other people, do it! If you don't want to invite anyone, that's FINE!

My SIL always sneaks away for most of an entire day to shop. Because that's what she wants to do!

But the huge house, with lots of "adult sized" beds (kings!) and shared kid rooms only is key. Also, more bathrooms than you think you could ever need. My 80 year old Dad would not make it through the week sharing a bathroom with my 12 year old niece.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The absolute only way to do it is to get a HUGE house. That's what we do. You need very few shared bathrooms, a pool and lots of refrigerators.

We cook at home, with each "family" taking a night. Then sometimes if we need an extra night, we do takeout. We keep a running list of needed groceries and whoever is cooking that night, goes to the grocery that day and gets stuff for dinner, and anything else we need.

We don't do ANY forced group excursions. If you want to go somewhere, you can go! If you want to invite other people, do it! If you don't want to invite anyone, that's FINE!

My SIL always sneaks away for most of an entire day to shop. Because that's what she wants to do!

But the huge house, with lots of "adult sized" beds (kings!) and shared kid rooms only is key. Also, more bathrooms than you think you could ever need. My 80 year old Dad would not make it through the week sharing a bathroom with my 12 year old niece.

+1

You mean no bunk beds that smell like blown out diapers for the married folk? No musty pull out basement sofa bed that smells like all the mold in the world is in this particular room? Both scenarios because the couple that shows up an hour or so later than everyone because they have to actually work in an office to get paid?

Is this the same "vacation" where grandparents treat each grandchild equally, and don't insist on golfing 18 holes for the day with all grandchildren but one set - then insisting that the one set "do a puzzle" as an act of "bonding" with said grandparents - even though that one set of grandchildren's favorite thing to do is golf? And, when the latter set of grandchildren is old enough to notice, and they ask about it, you have to try to cover up the accurate unfavorable presumptions of said grandparents? The cover ups that don't work?

Yes, by all means, let's make "memories"!!

Love the idea that PP had of renting nearby condos or apartments. Other than that, not enough paid vacation time to see people that live ten minutes away, but don't include. Sorry, not sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The absolute only way to do it is to get a HUGE house. That's what we do. You need very few shared bathrooms, a pool and lots of refrigerators.

We cook at home, with each "family" taking a night. Then sometimes if we need an extra night, we do takeout. We keep a running list of needed groceries and whoever is cooking that night, goes to the grocery that day and gets stuff for dinner, and anything else we need.

We don't do ANY forced group excursions. If you want to go somewhere, you can go! If you want to invite other people, do it! If you don't want to invite anyone, that's FINE!

My SIL always sneaks away for most of an entire day to shop. Because that's what she wants to do!

But the huge house, with lots of "adult sized" beds (kings!) and shared kid rooms only is key. Also, more bathrooms than you think you could ever need. My 80 year old Dad would not make it through the week sharing a bathroom with my 12 year old niece.

+1

You mean no bunk beds that smell like blown out diapers for the married folk? No musty pull out basement sofa bed that smells like all the mold in the world is in this particular room? Both scenarios because the couple that shows up an hour or so later than everyone because they have to actually work in an office to get paid?

Is this the same "vacation" where grandparents treat each grandchild equally, and don't insist on golfing 18 holes for the day with all grandchildren but one set - then insisting that the one set "do a puzzle" as an act of "bonding" with said grandparents - even though that one set of grandchildren's favorite thing to do is golf? And, when the latter set of grandchildren is old enough to notice, and they ask about it, you have to try to cover up the accurate unfavorable presumptions of said grandparents? The cover ups that don't work?

Yes, by all means, let's make "memories"!!

Love the idea that PP had of renting nearby condos or apartments. Other than that, not enough paid vacation time to see people that live ten minutes away, but don't include. Sorry, not sorry.

Aw, and you wonder why you are so miserable... No way would we want to vacation with you, either.

[Anonymous]

Need tons of money and no awkward conversations about who is paying for what. Also the people involved need to be chill and calm.

For all of the above reasons these trips do not work in mine or DH’s families.

[Anonymous]

I have done this before, but I don't find it relaxing at all. Someone (usually me) ends up doing all of the organizing and planning and finding the house and such. Then any issue with the sleeping arrangements or collecting the money from everyone or one hundred other things falls upon me as well. Cooking for everyone is a pain as is doing the dishes and shopping for food.

My suggestion is to do something like an all inclusive resort or a cruise where no one has to plan anything and everyone has their own room and you can just meet up and get together whenever you want or also do your own thing too.