How to Traveling with Your Parents, Survive & Do it Again

*Sappy Post Alert*

As we get older, we don’t often realize that our parents are getting older as well. As our time becomes less available, with our busy schedules and popping social lives, we slowly forget that the time we have with our parentals also becomes scarce. The truth is, and as sad as this sounds, I don’t think we realize how much we take our parents for granted. At least, in a personal aspect; I don’t think I could find the words or time to thank my parents for everything that they have done.

Traveling is something that makes me beyond happy, having the ability to learn about a new culture or discover new perspectives about life is simply something that spreads a smile across my face. Being able to share something that you are so passionate about with the people you love, is something that leaves you speechless, a feeling hard to describe with words.

One of my greatest memories and moments I have been blessed enough to have is traveling with my family, specifically parents. Now, I know what you are thinking, and it isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. The trips have their ups and downs and an ample amount of annoyances, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Here are some tips on
“How to Traveling with Your Parents, Survive & Do It Again”

• Plan TOGETHER!

  • One way to make your parents even more excited about their trip abroad is to do the planning together. Even if you have been to the town, city, country before including them in the planning phase.

• Go slow. Physically AND mentally.

  • avoid making trips that include intertwining itineraries, multiple cities/countries, tours every day, and something planned for every second.
    • make it relaxing, just enjoy your time together; there is no need to conquer the whole country in your given amount of time.

• Print it, Screenshot it, Write it.

  • This is important for traveling with any other human being or by yourself. We can’t rely on technology for everything, every second of the day.
    • Have a spare notebook with the address of your hotel, location of airports/train stations, any activities. Have an outline of your trip. Print out your tickets ahead of time.

• Separate.

  • Just because you are on vacation together, does not mean that you have to spend every second together. Sometimes we need our ‘me time’ and your parents may want their ‘together time.’  Go do you boo, for an hour or two or half a day. You’ll thank me for this!

• Take Pictures!

  • I am the queen 👸 of snapping shots! But, my parents aren’t the fondest of being in front of the lens; but as we grow older the opportunity of getting photos together gets smaller and smaller. So take advantage of your time together in a new world, and say cheese!

• Learn to let it go!

  • Pick and chose the battles you want to fight wisely. You are going to be traveling together for some time so getting upset over the petty stuff probably isn’t going to be worth it. If they want to go left instead of right but you know the fastest way is left; eeehh go right! If they don’t capture that perfect Instagram glam shot like the travel accounts your stalk, eeehhh who cares. Throw some lightroom presents on it and move on. If they want noddles and you want pizza; learn to compromise and have pizza for breakfast and noodles for lunch.

• Be patient!

  • Your parents may be world travelers or this may be their first time abroad but remember that. They may not be as experienced with you in maneuvering the time schedule for the trains or faking another language to order your meals. They may not be as fast or physically fit to keep up with you. Be patient. If you do find yourself getting frustrated, which can and might happen; take a few moments, separate from each other, go get gelato or noodles and come back refreshed.
    

    

• and MOST importantly be thankful 🙂

  • They did bring you into this world after all. Don’t forget to show them how thankful you are and how much you appreciate what they do for you.

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If you ever get the chance to travel with your parents, make the most of every moment. Like I said before, we are all getting older every day and the older we are the more we realize we need to start valuing time and memories. So make the most of your time together and *sappy* cherish the memories you are making!

I don’t know if I could ever find a way to properly say thank you to my parents. For always believing in my crazy and drastic dreams, for encouraging me to see the ends of the Earth, and not rolling their eyes *every* time I mention a new place I want to discover. For always (well most of the time) answering my FaceTimes at 4AM (because I forgot about the time change and don’t know how to cook chicken) and sending my laundry detergent thousands of miles away. Te amo madre y padre!

My parents have now started to plan their own trips across the pond and our slowly building their own bucket lists to see other parts of the world and in all honesty, I’d like to think that I fueled their fire 🔥  to see the world 🌍 ✈️  and I hope they keep dreaming and traveling! (AND take me with them obviously!)

until our next trip together parentals, te amo ✌🏽 !

All these photos are from our trip to Italy: Rome & Florence together! Thankfully, I have been blessed to go on more trips with mom & dad separately. I’ll tell you about those later!

Have you traveled with your parents before? I would love to hear your stories!

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