When it makes sense NOT to take the kids or grandkids
By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Content Agency
Taking the Kids
The Hultins generously invited their daughters’ families to join them on their 50th anniversary trip to Greece and Croatia, but the Colorado couple were secretly relieved when it turned out just their two daughters were able to go.
Their daughters, twins in their 40s, took the initiative to research and plan tours, choose restaurants and make reservations. There were no concerns about keeping the grandkids amused, mediating their squabbles or adapting to their schedules.
That makes for an entirely different trip, agrees Sue Van Wey, a Denverite, who travels with her Washington, DC-based son who also is in his 40s, the only single one of her four children. “We like to go, go, go,” she explained, noting that they have traveled all over Europe together, typically meeting at the end of his business trips. “With the kids, you can’t do everything you plan, and you have to go at a slower pace.”
Certainly, multigenerational trips are very popular. According to the latest research from the Family Travel Association, 71 percent of grandparents surveyed report they have taken a multigenerational trip recently. Fifty-seven percent say they are planning one.
But another family travel trend is quietly gaining traction– parents traveling with grown kids, not just when they are out of college, but when they are well into middle age. I’ve met these families on luxury cruise ships, far-flung adventures, all-inclusive resorts, even on a white-water raft trip on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. One family was celebrating Dad’s retirement as an airline pilot.
Sometimes the parents are footing the bill; sometimes it’s the kids. “One of the best parts is my son always flies me first class, using his miles,” said Sue Van Wey.
That’s the key, of course – to choose a trip with plenty to appeal to different generations without scores of other families’ children. That’s likely why adult-only cruise line Virgin Voyages and Windstar Cruises, known for their sailing yachts and ability to sail to smaller ports, appeal to this demographic.
“It’s a meaningful way to spend time together and aligns with broader trends we’re seeing across the industry, especially around holidays and milestone moments,” said a spokesman for Virgin Voyages.
Charlotte Wells, global director of product and operations at Unforgettable Travel Company, agreed, “We see a growing trend of families celebrating milestones with a trip rather than a dinner or party.”
Ellen Bettridge, the president and CEO of Uniworld River Cruises, noted that she is seeing this trend on board and firsthand “as I have children who no longer live at home and trips have become a meaningful way to reconnect while sharing something new together. The small ship size creates an intimate atmosphere where families can truly spend time.”
Families traveling with grown children don’t necessarily want to spend all of their time together. They are seeking trips “that balance time together with the flexibility to explore independently,” explained Erin Karpovich, a Holland America Cruise Linecruise director. Itineraries in Alaska and Northern Europe, she added, really stand out for these groups because of the mix of iconic scenery and exploration.
Uniworld’s new women-only cruises, Bettridge added, have attracted many mother-daughter duos as “travelers are placing greater value on connection and experiences that are best shared with the people they love most.”
That’s also been the case with Backroads’ women-only adventure trips, which also appeal to sisters, friends and solo travelers. “The camaraderie, support, and joy are unmatched,” said Californian Eileen Jacobowitz who enjoyed a Canadian Rockies hiking trip with her daughter, Dani Wiesenthal.
Unforgettable Travel, as well as other travel companies, including Abercrombie & Kentand Smithsonian Journeys, are seeing a greater demand from these families with adult kids for private trips. Smithsonian Journeys has seen a triple-digit increase in tailor-made trips that can be structured around your family’s interests and fitness.
We’ve certainly traveled with our adult kids, but to be honest, I’m not sure I could find a trip that would appeal to all three and their partners.
If you want to plan a special trip to celebrate an anniversary, a retirement or birthday, make it clear you hope they will be willing to compromise. Would the backpack-loving couple be willing to go on a cruise? Would the luxury travelers be willing to opt for an eco-resort with no air conditioning?
Talk to “the kids” to gauge their interest. And be clear about who is paying for what. Are you covering all of the costs? Do you expect them to cover flights?
There’s also the chance to reconnect over a shared passion – scuba diving, fishing, art, or theater, perhaps. In fact, a new Summer 2026 Travel Trends report from Airbnbsuggests that adults are planning “playcations” around activities they love, whether surfing, golf or boating.
Bobbe Hultin noted it has been a long time since she and her husband John traveled just with their daughters before they were married or had children. Before this trip, she said, “the planning has always before fallen on our shoulders. This is making for a less anxious, more relaxed me.”
Sue Van Wey, meanwhile, is planning a summer Alaska cruise with three of her children and their spouses to celebrate a daughter-in-law’s 40th birthday. Only one grandchild, a baby, will be along as will her other grandparents. “They are doing different excursions,” Van Wey said. “I’ll be with the adults.”
(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)
©2026 Eileen Ogintz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.