Multi-Family Getaways

[bears]

Any recommendations for a vacation destination that would work for multiple families? MH's group of college buddies loves the idea of a big trip with everyone, but they've never been able to quite figure it out. My big fear is that they have some "great idea" that everyone is enthusiastic about but is logistically challenging making everyone (or maybe just me) miserable. I'd like to have a few ideas MH could share for a trip next summer with his friends that may be better than anyone else's suggestions.

It would be 5-6 families with kids ranging from preschool to high school ages. Most would be coming from the east coast, but those outside of the east coast would be flying out of hub cities. Probably open to travel within US, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, and possibly central America. 

I'd like that whatever the choice is to have separate areas for each family--I really value my privacy and need time to decompress away from everyone else (and no chance that anyone will see me in my towel getting out of the shower). YMCA of the Rockies looks like it could be a good choice, but not sure if there are any other places that fit the bill.

[icedcoffee]

Cruises are really good in this aspect. Or really just any vacation where you don't all share a rental house. And with 5-6 families that's tough to do anyway.

[scm1011]

We did an all-inclusive in Feb with another family (Club Med Punta Cana) and it was awesome. We each had our own space but met a lot throughout the day for pool/beach time, pickleball, snorkling, meals, etc. There are activities for everyone and kids clubs that go from babies to teens.

[devonpow]

We do a big family trip with extended family each year - so 3 to 6 separate families, with kids between 6-16. We usually stay at resorts that have good suites/apartments. Occasionally houses when it’s fewer families. Previous, fun trips have been: Breckenridge, Park City, Wisconsin (lake resort),and Austin. This year we are doing Costa Rica which will be super fun but is a lot more planning thus far lol. With kids in various age groups we find the best trips are on water or mountains - east, accessible outdoor fun is a must.

[1confused1]

If California is an option:

Paradise Point Resort in San Diego is fantastic. Each family could get their own room, there are multiple pools, bars, restaurants, activities at the resort. You are across the Bay from Sea World and close to other SD destinations (zoo, animal park, etc.).

I’m in California, so this location is easy for us, but we have a huge camping get together with multiple families every year at this resort. It has pools, restaurants, bars and is close to the beach. I don’t have a trailer, so I rent a “chateau”. www.sunoutdoors.com/amp/california/sun-outdoors-paso-robles

[bears]

Apr 25, 2023 13:38:31 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Cruises are really good in this aspect. Or really just any vacation where you don't all share a rental house. And with 5-6 families that's tough to do anyway.

MH and I have done one cruise and really didn't like it, but I definitely saw the appeal of a cruise with a large group. My kids are also dying to go on one (my parents go on a lot of cruises)...so maybe I'll be open to the option.

[Roc A Bee]

I’d do an Al-inclusive. Each family has their own room. You can do meals together or alone. Lots of activities that can be group or you can opt out.

[icedcoffee]

If you do a group house though definitely come back here with all the drama on how to split it evenly. I love those threads.

[ssmjlm]

Cruising really works well for this type of trip.

And AI with a travel agent could work to make sure you're all in the same area of the resort.

[bears]

Apr 25, 2023 13:50:55 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

If you do a group house though definitely come back here with all the drama on how to split it evenly. I love those threads.

A group house sounds like my worst nightmare, so I'd be certain to come back and post a complaint thread!  I honestly would rather NOT do a vacation than have to split a house with another family. 

[shauni27]

Apr 25, 2023 13:43:12 GMT -5 1confused1 said:

If California is an option:

Paradise Point Resort in San Diego is fantastic. Each family could get their own room, there are multiple pools, bars, restaurants, activities at the resort. You are across the Bay from Sea World and close to other SD destinations (zoo, animal park, etc.).

I’m in California, so this location is easy for us, but we have a huge camping get together with multiple families every year at this resort. It has pools, restaurants, bars and is close to the beach. I don’t have a trailer, so I rent a “chateau”. www.sunoutdoors.com/amp/california/sun-outdoors-paso-robles

This is a great suggestion; I have stayed there a few times, usually in a bungalow for even more privacy.

I also think the Arizona Biltmore could work for you group, or find a condo complex that has multiple rental units and do that--each family can have its' own unit! 

[shauni27]

Apr 25, 2023 13:55:04 GMT -5 bears said:

Apr 25, 2023 13:50:55 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

If you do a group house though definitely come back here with all the drama on how to split it evenly. I love those threads.

A group house sounds like my worst nightmare, so I'd be certain to come back and post a complaint thread!  I honestly would rather NOT do a vacation than have to split a house with another family. 

there is literally only one family I would do this with, and we just returned from our third vacation with them. We split it 50/50 and get enough space for all of us. 

I literally could not even do this with my mother or sister or in laws. Literally just this one friend and her kids, lol.

[Susie]

We do this with my college friends, but it's only 3 families.  2016 we did Russian River Valley and San Francisco.  2017 we did La Jolla/San Diego.  2018 was Tybee Island, GA.  We're a bicoastal group so we try to alternate coasts.

2019 was no go because all 3 families had newborns, spaced so that no time of year really worked.

2020 was supposed to be Colorado, but it got cancelled for obvious reasons.  

We're now planning our next one for Feb 2024 in Costa Rica.

In the past we rented one house, but in each of 2016-18, we were 3 couples/2 children.  Now we're 3 couples/6 children, ages 1-9.  A single house is unrealistic.  We're mostly looking now at condos where we can be adjacent/nearby, or resorts.  

[goldengirlz]

Apr 25, 2023 13:45:41 GMT -5 Roc A Bee said:

I’d do an Al-inclusive. Each family has their own room. You can do meals together or alone. Lots of activities that can be group or you can opt out.

An AI would also have the advantage of not having to worry about splitting meal costs. And some of them (like Club Med) have good kids clubs for babysitting.

I also think a cruise to Alaska might be fun — mostly because it’s the only destination that would be worth it to me to endure a cruise.

[namasteak]

YMCA of the Rockies - families could do cabins or lodge rooms, cook or use the cafeteria and if it is a big enough group you may be able to book as a reunion for a group discount. It’s great for all ages , even child free people.

[momin2013]

I think an AI would be easiest for this scenario - each family gets their own space, no worry about splitting meal costs, easy to hang out as much or as little as you want during the day, and then you can make plans to meet up for lunch/dinner (or not), etc. I did a trip like this to the DR once with a few families and it worked out well.

[ECB]

Yeah, I think the AI option is probably your best.

We've done a ton of group trips and usually in a huge house- we like it, but it's also with groups of people (one college, one neighbors, one family) who are pretty much like-minded in how we approach the money side of it. But it's definitely not for everyone.

We did do an AI trip way back with another couple and their son, and we were able to get rooms next to one another. It was nice since our kids were 1.5 at the time, we were able to put them to sleep then hang out on one of our balconies in the evening. And we swapped babysitting duty one night so that we were able to go out for a dinner just the two of us, and vice versa.

[melissa]

I vote a cruise. You can get together for group activities when you want to and also spend much needed alone time too.

[redheadk]

Especially for the first time with the whole group, I’d pick an AI with a travel agent. No potential issues with splitting bills, assigning people to cook, etc. I like it best when we know ahead of time that we are definitely doing big group dinners on certain nights and an activity/excursion one day then play it by ear for the rest (like a private boat/snorke excursion or something). It is a good balance of organized but not overly scheduled.

Cruising is not my thing but one benefit of cruising is that they could probably accommodate dinners for the whole group together without much fuss.

[karinothing]

We travel with friends frequently. WE have done the beach, Spain, the mountains and national parks. We just rent a big house. We don't really worry about meal costs that much. Tend to split everything 50/50 or one person pays one day and the other the next. With 5-6 families I would do an AI because then we could do things together or separate.

[krystee]

I also would do the AI because those wanting to stay a whole week could and those wanting to stay 3-4 nights could, whereas a cruise would be a very strict schedule. I actually love cruises, but it could be a little more logistically complicated than an AI (where to stay the night before the cruise…or someone missing the cruise if they try to fly in day of) and I am all about removing complications for group trips.

[SusanBAnthony]

YMCA of the Rockies is probably a no go.

You can get a huge reunion cabin that sleeps 20+ people but they are NOT private. We did a family reunion at one and I would not recommend.

To get regular cabins it is a whole ordeal. We are going this summer. We became members to get priority booking. Each member can reserve one cabin so my mom had to join too. In Feb you pick your preferred weeks. They fill them in order of being a member for the longest. So we were last in line. I called and asked our chances as first year members and they told me odds are we wouldn't get July or August. Luckily we were flexible on both weeks and cabin type so we did get a week in July. But all of that would be less likely to be successful of you are coordinating multiple groups and needing more than two cabins.

Plus figuring out cooking food in that scenario sounds stressful.

I would suggest an AI of some kind to avoid dealing with food.

There are interesting non beach AI's. My cousins go to one in northern MN called Fair Hills. They have golf, boating, etc. I don't know exactly but my cousins go every year as an extended family for exactly the reasons you stated.

ETA: I forgot about the lodge rooms. Those are easier to book. If you are ok with hotel rooms and not wanting a living room and kitchen that could work great. We were underwhelmed by the cafeteria food though and wouldn't want to eat it for all meals for multiple days (it was fine but not spectacular).

[erbear]

Big beach house where there is plenty of room for everyone to do what they want.

This sounds like my worst nightmare. As a parent of teenagers, you could not pay me to go on a vacation with toddlers, even if I love their parents.

[devonpow]

Take a look at the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort - we were going to do this last year but ended up going to Breckenridge instead for various reasons. Every family can have their own cabin rockymountainresort.com/

[namasteak]

RE: the Y
1) there are 2 locations - Estes park is harder to get reservations at than Snow Mountain .
2) cabins are easier to reserve at the beginning and end of the summer
3) Give the group sales people a call. They may be able to help you with a multi cabin reservation .

It is basically a giant family summer camp but at Estes Park you have easy access to the small downtown that has tacky stores, some decent restaurants & breweries.

Everything at the Y is a little old but decently maintained so that is something to consider when you think of peoples preferences.

I totally get that it’s not everyone’s kind of vacation but it’s our favorite so I can’t stop myself from mentioning it.

[bears]

Apr 25, 2023 18:32:54 GMT -5 erbear said:

Big beach house where there is plenty of room for everyone to do what they want.

This sounds like my worst nightmare. As a parent of teenagers, you could not pay me to go on a vacation with toddlers, even if I love their parents.

I normally would agree with you, but the parents of the oldest kid are the same as the parents of the youngest kid, so they have no choice.

[fryjack2]

We did a big family trip to Woodloch Lodge in PA and I felt like I was in Dirty Dancing. LOL

We have done Beaches Turks and Caicos with 2 other families and that worked out well. We each had our own rooms/villas, all meals were included, tons of activities included, kids heaven, food was eh but easy enough to do with a big group.

[livinitup]

About 8 years ago, we did a multi-family vacation in Boston and stayed at a great hotel. It was an extended-stay type hotel, so all of the rooms were suites with kitchenettes. We were on the same floor but each family had their own rooms/bathrooms/connecting rooms for their kids. The city itself is amazing with lots to do. We were even within walking distance and got tickets to a concert. The hotel was in a prime location and even had lots to offer (typical stuff) like breakfast (which was fun/easy as a group), lobby, games, and outside seating.

It was pretty easy to be together or apart as much as anyone wanted in any combination of families.

[jlt19]

Yeah, the only way I’d do this is a cruise or AI. Multiple options for together time or alone time, plus separate quarters. Is someone is adamant on spending extra for a bigger room or nicer view, doesn’t affect everyone else’s pocketbooks.

Actually, now I kind of want to invite another family to our AI trip planned this summer so my kids have friends to play with, lol. Their ages split them between two different clubs and they won’t go “alone”. Maybe they would with a friend!

[sandandsea]

All inclusive in Mexico would probably be be easiest. Could have different arrival/departure days and could do excursions or just stay at the resort. We are doing this with my family this year because it’s the easiest and most affordable option for everyone. Also my mom and I put our foot down that we aren’t cooking or cleaning for the week so rentals were out.