Poet Fernando Pessoa used to say: “To travel, you only need to exist.” And we exist and insist, at any age, with our uncontainable wanderlust. Youngsters, elderly, children, adults, everyone likes to disconnect from routine, discover new places and cultures and live some adventures. The great challenge often lies in finding a trip that pleases all ages.
Arte: Galvão Bertazzi para Folha de SP
For decades family travel has been trying to address this need, but always with trivial trip packages, focused on Disney, cruises or large resorts, that hardly attract those who seek something different for the holidays. Family travel also became overshadowed by backpacking and solo travel, which gained momentum in the internet age.
But multigenerational travel is one of the tourism trends for 2018. Tourists are rediscovering the joy of family travel and exchanging experiences with people of all ages, and travel is getting more creative, different and attractive to everyone. It’s time to take a multigenerational journey!
But what is a multigenerational travel?
Travels that bring together people from at least two different generations are considered multigenerational. They are not necessarily family trips. It is quite possible that in a group on your next vacation you will find travellers of various ages. Multigenerational travel often requires proper planning and democratic exchanges to suit everyone’s taste and expectations. But the results can be very positive.
The discovery of experience and adventure travel has also brought new perspectives to multigenerational travel. Rather than separating children and seniors into distinct activities within a resort, for example, many travel experiences are able to bring together different generations in the same activity. This is what happens, for example, in the pottery workshops of Vivejar’s “From Clay to Art” itinerary, which enchant children and adults of all ages.
Foto: Divulgação
On a trip like this you have the opportunity to exchange impressions and experiences with people with different views. Reactions and interests are also diverse, but they can make you see things differently. It is also the chance to get closer to parents, grandparents and children and learn from them.
Traveller Marcia Serra, 70, who has been with Vivejar twice in the Jequitinhonha Valley, reinforces the chorus of those who have lived very positive experiences with multigenerational travel:
“Living with people of all ages is always very good – during a trip it’s a special bonus, a unique harmony each time. There is a common interest and a sum of different visions and experiences, an harmonious exchange between diverse people that enriches us. During the two trips I made with Vivejar and in others I did by myself, I won a lot and felt grateful and happy, both for the places and their people (also diverse and inspiring), and for the pleasure and privilege of living with fellow travellers from all ages, each with its history and its personal worldview. It is too good!”
