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August 5, 2020 | Guest post by: Frankie Girl
It has never been easier to stay connected to your family than it is today, thanks to huge advances in technology and the wealth of social media. But Facebook photo albums and joint Zoom calls don’t always cut the mustard, and sometimes there’s nothing quite like a proper family get-together.
Planning a family reunion can be a tricky business, and as with any family event, there are a whole load of speed bumps to avoid and hurdles to get over to ensure a successful and enjoyable event. But pulling off a multi-generational vacation will make you the toast of your family, and the event will be talked about for years to come.
A destination family reunion can be as simple as a weekend in a cabin in the woods, or as involved as a short cruise vacation around the Caribbean, and everything in between. Whatever you decide to do, there are a few things you’ll need to think about. Here is a guide that will help you make your family’s get-together a huge success.
The key to planning any family events is getting things in the calendar as soon as possible, and organizing everyone in advance. Coordinating schedules can be hard when it is just you and your immediate family, so imagine what it is like with the whole tribe to think about! Giving yourself a decent run up to nail down dates is crucial, to ensure that everyone can make it and to allow you enough time to plan everything else. One pro tip: once you’ve finalized the dates, don’t deviate! Stick with the agreed date and make others work around it.
This is really a nicer way of saying delegate! When it comes to organizing a family reunion, sharing the load is crucial to prevent you from buckling under the stress. One piece of great advice is to get one representative from each individual family to consult, bounce ideas off, and to lend a hand with various aspects of planning and organizing. Take advantage of the different skill sets in the family as well, and make sure everyone is playing to their strengths. One benefit of this approach is that no one can complain that they weren’t consulted in advance!
Once you’ve nailed down dates and have a planning committee together, it is time to pick where you are going to go. You’ll need to take into account the likes and dislikes of all the family, as well as any specific needs family members might have. Letting every family come up with a few ideas within a certain budget range can be a helpful way of putting together a shortlist. Destinations like ski resorts or all-inclusive hotels are a good way of providing activities and alternatives for the whole family, while a cruise offers the same benefits as well as the chance to visit multiple destinations.
If you come from a large family, it is likely that you’ll have relations of all ages, and there will be a fairly wide variety of needs and preferences when it comes to accommodation. Choosing a good place to stay will be a balancing act between what everyone wants, what a few people might need, and what is available! Some things are universal, and making sure that there is enough space for everyone to be comfortable, and enough for everyone to do is absolutely key. Sometimes you can do more with less on a cruise getaway or and all-inclusive resort. Options like these can be great solutions, as can renting a large holiday home with enough activities and games to keep everyone entertained.
When it comes to ensuring that the reunion runs smoothly, one of the best things you can do is schedule as much as you can in advance. If you are planning an active holiday with hiking, swimming, skiing, or boating, put together an itinerary so that everyone knows when things are happening, and what they will need to bring. Once you arrive at your destination, corralling everyone to do anything will be tough, so sorting the main activities out ahead of time is a really great idea. Of course, not every minute of every day needs to be accounted for - it is important that everyone has some downtime - but a bit of planning does go a long way.
A family get-together would not be the same without themed swag, so don’t forget this vital element of any reunion. Reunion swag is a classic tradition, so make sure everyone has something to take home with them to remember the trip by. Truth be told it doesn’t really matter whether it is a family-branded hat, a t-shirt, or a family photo album, it is the thought and the souvenir that counts.
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We are Jacob and Taylor. Travel is our passion and we love sharing our experiences here at The Travelling Souk. Our hope is that you would be inspired by this little blog to try something new, embrace an adventure, and live life to the fullest.