Travel experiences come in multiple different forms. One of the most influential factors in any travel adventure is who you choose to share those experiences with. Traveling with others strengthens relationships as the shared experiences and memories connect you to one another.
“Skip-gen” trips are all about who you travel with. This newly trending travel experience emphasizes the idea of using travel and adventures as a bonding opportunity. Check out our comprehensive guide to skip-gen travel, learn about all that this travel style offers, and take inspiration for your next trip.
What Is Skip-Gen Travel?
Skip-gen travel, short for “skip-a-generation,” is a travel trend where grandparents take their grandchildren on a vacation without parents. This allows for quality bonding time between two generations that often don’t get to spend as much time together. This type of trip offers an environment free from the usual distractions and responsibilities of everyday life, enabling the two to dedicate time to discovering new experiences together and learning from each other.
The idea behind skip-gen travel is for grandparents to impart their wisdom, share their interests, and pass on family traditions. For the grandchildren, it’s a chance to gain new perspectives, develop life skills, and create lasting memories with their grandparents. Skip-gen trips allow grandchildren and their grandparents to connect without external influence from their parents.
Why Is Skip-Gen Travel Growing in Popularity?
Skip-gen travel is growing due to a number of factors. For starters, current senior generations are more active and eager to explore the world, especially if they have the means to do so. Simultaneously, overworked parents appreciate the break, and kids relish undivided attention from their grandparents.
Benefits of Skip-Gen Travel
Skip-gen travel experiences also offer abundant benefits that extend far beyond simple enjoyment and relaxation, factoring into the popularity of this travel style. Skip-gen trips are a unique chance to foster intergenerational relationships, cultivate learning experiences, and create lifelong memories. Below are some of the major benefits of skip-gen travel.
Intergenerational Bonding
Skip-gen travel offers a priceless opportunity for grandparents and grandchildren to connect on a deeper level, strengthening familial bonds and understanding across generations. Without the presence of parents, both parties can communicate more freely and have more genuine and rewarding interactions.
Educational Opportunities
Grandparents can share their wisdom and life experiences with their grandchildren and expose their grandchildren to different cultures, customs, and places. The grandparents also gain wisdom about the world of current generations by learning about contemporary trends and youthful perspectives.
Lifelong Memories
Skip-gen travel is an adventure that both generations embark on together, creating a sense of camaraderie and shared experience. These unique experiences often lead to unforgettable memories that grandchildren will cherish forever.
Independence
For the grandchildren, this type of travel promotes independence and self-confidence as they learn to navigate new situations without their parents.
By partaking in skip-gen travel, families can create a legacy of adventure, curiosity, and love for learning that the grandchildren can later pass down.
Planning a Skip-Gen Trip
Planning for a skip-gen trip can be another great intergenerational bonding experience. Getting all parties involved in the planning strengthens relationships and builds excitement for the forthcoming adventure.
Considerations When Planning a Skip-Gen Trip
When planning a skip-gen trip, there are a few key factors to keep in mind.
Health and Mobility
Consider the health and mobility of all parties involved. Grandparents may not be as physically active as their younger counterparts, so planning an itinerary that isn’t overly strenuous is crucial. Similarly, depending on the grandchildren’s age, the children may not be able to participate in certain activities.
Interests and Skills
The best skip-gen trips incorporate the interests and physical abilities of both generations. You want to choose activities that get everyone excited and involved. Excursions with a mix of educational and recreational activities work best to keep younger children engaged.
Travel Logistics
Every trip comes with logistics. Ensure that the accommodations are comfortable and easily accessible for both older adults and children. Some things to consider include car rental services, nearby medical facilities, and a budget plan. A diving liveaboard trip covers accommodation, food, and activities. This crosses off a majority of travel logistics to consider, making it a stellar option.
Trip Duration
Longer trips could result in fatigue for the grandparents and crankiness in younger kids. So, plan a trip duration that strikes the right balance, allowing enough time for relaxation and enjoyment without overwhelming anyone. The goal of skip-gen travel is to create beautiful memories without causing undue stress or exhaustion.
Choosing the Best Skip-Gen Trips
Choosing the right destination and activity is crucial to having an enjoyable and memorable skip-gen trip. These experiences create lasting memories, so think about destinations and adventures that will provide enriching experiences. This may range from national park exploration and sight-seeing historical sites to exploring unique marine life across the globe.
Liveaboard diving experiences make the perfect skip-gen trip, especially for those traveling with older grandchildren and those with a love for the ocean. A liveaboard dive boat provides an all-inclusive scuba diving adventure in the open seas. Grandparents and grandchildren can explore coral reefs, encounter marine life, and discover underwater shipwrecks together. On the Dewi Nusantara, there’s more than just diving to look forward to. There are opportunities for sea kayaking, island exploration, and exposure to local Indonesian culture, too.
Liveaboards also allow time for relaxation, where you can share stories, create new memories, and form deeper connections while surrounded by the beautiful ocean and other fellow adventurers from around the world.
Tips To Make Skip-Gen Travel a Success
On top of choosing a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, like venturing off on a liveaboard dive boat in Indonesia, you can guarantee a successful skip-gen trip in many ways. One of the most important keys to a successful trip is flexibility. Stay open to new experiences and be understanding of each other’s needs and wants.
Another top tip for success is setting distinct boundaries for how you spend your days and respect each other. Set distinct times for distraction-free group bonding moments where you limit technology use and activities that don’t involve more than one person, like reading or work. Also, set aside time for those who are more introverted to take a break, isolate, and reboot.
Skip-gen travel experiences strengthen bonds and create lasting memories across generations. With this comprehensive guide on skip-gen travels, you’re now ready to embark on a memorable intergenerational adventure.
If you love diving, book a trip to explore remote dive locations along the Indonesian archipelago with Dewi Nusantara. You can spend quality time together out on and in the beautiful ocean.
