28 Jul 10 Planning An Extended Family Holiday
Family reunions don’t happen very often- so when you do organise one you want to go off without a hitch. You need to appeal across the generations and secure a location that encourages family togetherness.
Whether it is a 70th birthday, golden anniversary, a weekend break, or holiday with a few families or a reunion it is best to choose somewhere that everybody has to travel to. Then your get together is the focus -as the event everyone is there for. A bonus to this is not one family is shackled with all the responsibility of planning and catering.
Set your reunion in an area of natural beauty – that way you automatically have a beautiful backdrop with a tons of activities to cater for visitors. When considering accommodation, activities and catering, budget is a factor. Groups may pool a kitty so incidental expenses are dealt with. Ideally it is a good idea for each family unit to be responsible for paying their own expenses to make it easier for some organisers.
If you can, choose a central location- somewhere that relatives can meet half way. With accommodation, ideally search for somewhere that gives each family or couple their own space to retreat to with lots of common areas that all ages can interact. Check that there are ground floor units available in case someone has mobility issues, and highchairs and cots available for little ones. It is good to have a range of accommodation to suit couples through to family groups.
Reunions are made easier if your accommodation has shared food preparation areas- for example covered BBQ areas preferably overlooking playgrounds, pools or gardens. Self contained units are ideal as it gives more flexibility with budgets and meal options. Plan in advance how meals will be catered for. At our last reunion, we developed a roster for evening meals and for kids’ snack times. The older generation were also supplied with midday meal from their family- so it meant they rarely catered for themselves. Other nights were allotted for a meal out or fish and chips on the beach, and we tried to include a girls’ and boys’ night outs.
Of the families, not everyone will want to be involved in group outings all the time. Schedule your time so everyone can do their own thing. Ensure the location has easier meal options so the group can go their separate ways- preferably to an assortment of restaurants, cafes and takeaway options. It is best if they are in walking distance. If you want some group meals out- book as soon as possible in case the venue is busy on the day.
In the same way, your group needs a range of activities to choose from. Certainly, organised day tours are an option for large groups of people – the fact that they provide meals is a bonus too. It is good to balance these with some free activities e.g. fishing, beach swimming, bushwalking, picnics and visits to areas of natural beauty. A game of soccer, badminton or touch football is a great way to mix with relatives you haven’t seen in a while – make sure there are options to include some physical activity in your holiday. Some of the group may want to include some extreme adventures – and mark the event with a sky dive for instance. Others may prefer to keep to activities for the whole family and pop on a boat, visit the playground or see some native animals.
Although one or two people takes the lead on planning, it is good to check with the whole family to determine dates, locations, venues, activities and catering. Go with the majority – but be sure to make it easy for the organisers to create an event you and your family won’t forget.
All this and more is available at Rainbow Getaway, for your next no fuss- all fun family reunion, big or small, with family activities for all ages and abilities. Share this with your relations to get them thinking – for the best beach holiday or reunion.
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Tags: accommodation, accomodation Rainbow Beach, beach holiday, budget holiday, events, Family, family activities, family reunions, group tours, Holiday, holiday planning, Queensland, self catered accommodation, travel, Travel & Leisure
