TRAVELLING WITH YOUR PARENTS
MOST of us start off travelling with our parents as children; we build our first memories of other places and people with them. Then comes the bitter-sweet day when we become the keepers of the holiday, the ones who want to show them a good time.
Although your parents might be fitter or more enthusiastic than your friend’s, the fact remains that a two-generation vacation demands more than just the bagging a last-minute flight deal or the enthusiasm for an impromptu road trip. Here are tried-and-tested observations from travellers who enjoy having their parents along for the ride, or flight…
PREPARE TO PLAN
Older people are generally not too fond of surprises; they’ve probably slowed life down a little at home, and might resent not being in control of the situation – even while being really happy to spend time with family. Or they might be happy to relinquish everything to you on the holiday. Either way, be prepared to have a detailed plan in place, keeping in mind their physical condition, level of activity, dietary considerations, and appetite for the unusual, as well as general weather conditions.
“Our family holidays with Mom are generally a little spaced out,” reveals Mona Punjabi (see side bars on these pages to meet our collaborators). “We prefer not to rush her into too many things and try to strike a balance between touristy destinations and leisure time. She particularly enjoys walking tours so we make it a point to add them to our schedule. While planning, I always do a pre-check on the weather, so that I get her adequately prepared. I also keep a list of vegetarian or vegan eating options ready, because Mom is a pure vegetarian.”
Tanayesh Talukdar keeps his father’s dinner time and sleep time in mind. “I also keep the names and phone numbers of nearby hospitals handy. I’ve realised that must be seen to be calm and in control. If we are reaching a destination late, a cab should be waiting for us, there should be restaurants nearby at
