It doesn’t matter who the name is -- anyone who works with groups. But you definitely want a name and headshot as it makes it much more personal.
Grandparents are vacationing with their families like never before. And the reason’s simple: They want to share memories – rather than things – with their children and grandchildren.
Here’s a typical scene. Grandma and grandpa are watching the sun set over the Galilee as the younger generation, play board games in the hotel lobby after a hard day’s hiking. They’re enjoying quality time together as a family, time they’d struggle to find back home.
I have the pleasure of seeing scenes like this again and again in my work. It delights me every time to see families come to Israel and explore this special country. It deepens their connections with it. And the bonds between the generations.
Nowadays, older people are staying active for longer, grabbing opportunities to see new places - and recognizing that it makes sense to do it with their loved ones.
What’s the secret to a successful family trip for three or more generations, with a wide range of interests?
I like to hear lots about everyone’s likes and dislikes before putting together a schedule. Then I suggest a range of activities, some that everyone can do together, and some that suit particular family members.
A day in the Golan may start, for example, with a chocolate-making workshop for all ages. A guide then takes younger participants on a challenging hike, while the more mature tourists head to a wine-tasting.
The beauty of this kind of mix and match is that the hikers and the wine-tasters are all buzzing with news when they arrive back for dinner together. It takes the whole atmosphere of the trip up a notch because everyone wants to share their new experiences.
Some days, I arrange for the whole family to tour together. Grandparents tell me there’s nothing quite like walking through the gates of Jerusalem’s Old City with their children and grandchildren for the first time. I choose guides with a flair for engaging all age-groups, even teenagers who struggle to look up from their phone.
Touring can prompt lively discussions. I remember watching one family in Jerusalem as grandparents recalled the excitement of the day in 1948 when Israel was established, and a couple of the grandkids gave their reaction to current events in the country seven decades later.
Michal Alperson is a senior member of the BE Israel team, and she shares my enthusiasm for family trips. “It’s said that travel broadens the mind” she says. “I’d add that it also binds the family. For years after a trip, at every family gathering people will reminisce, talk about memorable moments, and refer to shared jokes.
“And given that Israel’s story is all about ties that bind generations and heritage, there’s no better place for a family trip.”
