Want a Family Vacation That Even Your Teens Will Love?

When you’re planning a vacation with teens in mind, rule #1 is to realize that teens have different expectations compared to other family members when it comes to traveling.

Get Them Involved Early

Letting them provide input from the start contributes to their attitude. It helps set the tone and is something Jenny Reed, owner and travel specialist with OurCruisePlanner.com, always suggests to clients.

“This way they are less likely to complain, will take pride in knowing they helped choose the itinerary,” says Reed.

Mom of a teen girl Jennie Ingersoll says keeping the older kids involved during the actual vacation helps the overall vacation vibe. “Allow your teen to plan the activities for one day.”

Contributing to their vacation experience, teens can also accomplish tasks ranging from helping keep track of expenses, setting up the GPS, reviewing destination guidebooks for activity ideas to journaling. 

“Teens might enjoy keeping a log or video of where you go, what you see, and their reactions,” Reed explains.

Travel Tricks

Father of a teen girl, Tom Waithe says “Teens actually differ from one to another like the rocks on a beach, and they are about as hard to figure out.”

Traveling with his 13-year-old, he has found a few travel tricks to keep the sanity including:

Feed the Teen: Keep them stocked with favorite snacks.

Give them Money: Provide a daily allowance and give them control to spend it.

Keep them Connected: Let them keep in touch with their friends from emailing, Facebook updates and Twitter.

Get enough Sleep: Do not rush each day to get out. Build in a morning to sleep in and down time.

Respect their Privacy: If the budget allows, consider booking a multi-bedroom suite or connecting rooms giving the teens their space.

Summer Options

While teens like a variety of experiences when traveling, Lauren Goldenberg, The Family Traveler LLC, asserts not all teens like the same things.

A variety of vacation types exist which Goldenberg, who is also mom to a teen, recommends:

All Inclusive Resorts: Teens have freedom at an all-inclusive resort, can eat often, try new adventures and can gather with parents for dinner, excursions, and other events.

Cruises: Teens can take part in age-appropriate programming and enjoy teen-only areas.

National Parks: Great for adventurous and active families who also like beautiful scenery, cultural experiences and nature.
Europe: Very popular with families with teens who want to learn about history, culture, and different political systems.

“It's a big world,” she says. “See the world through their eyes and let them see the world through yours.”