Planning a holiday with Teenagers & Young Adults

Once you’ve got teenagers and young adults in the mix, they’re not looking for organised games at 10am and a mini disco at 8pm. They want a bit of freedom, a bit of independence, and (let’s be honest) decent Wi-Fi. And parents? Parents want everyone to have a good time and to actually feel like they’ve had a break too.

The good news is: it can absolutely work. It just needs a slightly different approach.

Get everyone involved early (decision-making + planning)

Everyone has ideas about what makes a great holiday… the challenge is getting those ideas to line up. The easiest way to do that is to turn the decision-making into something shared — and ideally, something quick.

One idea that works brilliantly? Make it a family WhatsApp challenge.

Ask everyone to come up with one holiday idea each. Give them a budget range, a rough set of dates, and any “must stick to” details (for example: direct flights only, a pool, walkable location, or no more than one hotel change). It keeps it realistic, and it stops the ideas from going wildly off-piste.

If needed, you can also steer things in a slightly different direction with a few ideas that go beyond the usual “beach resort” plan,  especially with teenagers and young adults, who often love a trip that feels a bit more like an experience.

Think a family small-group tour (so everyone gets adventure and you’re not carrying the whole itinerary), a cycling holiday , or island hopping where you get variety without feeling rushed.

Once the suggestions are in, get everyone to vote on their top choices. Then, take the favourites and do the sensible bit: check the logistics. What’s the travel time like? Are there passport, visa or health requirements? What will meals and activities cost once you’re there? This is where you turn a dreamy idea into a plan that actually works for your family.

Once the destination is chosen, the real planning begins

This is the fun part,  and it’s also where you can keep everyone invested.

A simple trick that works really well is giving everyone ownership of a day (or an “area”) of the trip. Someone can plan a day trip. Someone else can pick a few restaurants or day excursions. Another person can find free things to do, cool neighbourhoods to explore, or the best beach clubs / markets / viewpoints. It takes the pressure off one person doing everything.

Just do yourself one favour: set a budget for whatever they’re planning. Otherwise you may discover that your teenager’s “one fun activity” is… a private speedboat and champagne picnic. 😄

Don’t over-plan it - build in breathing space

This is the bit that makes or breaks a holiday: space. Teenagers and young adults don’t love being marched from one activity to the next, and you’ll enjoy the trip far more if you’re not trying to “maximise every minute.” The sweet spot is having a few anchor plans, the things you really want to do, and leaving plenty of free time around them.

I also swear by slow mornings when you can. Holidays often run later, whether that’s dinner, a sunset walk, or just everyone relaxing in their own way. So rather than forcing early starts every day, plan for later starts and let mornings be easy. The whole mood of the trip improves when nobody’s exhausted.

And here’s a small one that sounds boring but is genuinely a lifesaver: have a plan for food on day one. After travel, everyone’s tired, hungry, and a bit out of sorts, so knowing where you’re going for that first meal can make arrival day feel instantly calmer.

Pre-departure: a little organisation goes a long way

Before you go, create a shared packing list. Not because anyone loves packing, but because it stops the classic “I forgot my charger / I thought you packed the suncream / why have we brought four hairdryers?” situation. It also helps you share items like toiletries, adaptors, and battery packs so you’re not all carrying duplicates.

Don’t overpack. As the saying goes, if you pack it, you carry it. Travel is so much easier when you’re not wrestling heavy luggage through airports, on trains, and up hotel stairs.

Another one worth sorting early: phone data. If everyone has a mobile, organising SIMs or eSIMs in advance can save a lot of drama. Airlo is one option (there are others too), but the main thing is having a plan so you’re not arriving somewhere and immediately hunting for a SIM shop, or worse, coming home to a huge roaming bill.

Finally, share the itinerary with everyone. - flights, hotel details, transfer info, addresses Apps like TripIt are great, but honestly, a shared Google Doc or Notes note works perfectly. It’s just nice when nobody has to ask “what time are we leaving tomorrow?” fifteen times, and you will not panic if anyone wanders off; they will always be able to get back to the accommodation.

After the holiday: keep the good bits going

Once you’re home, create a shared photo album where everyone adds their favourites. It’s such a lovely way to relive the trip for years to come, and it’s often the only way parents actually get sent the good photos!

And then… while the holiday glow is still there, start the next conversation. Not planning in detail, just planting the seed. “Where next?” is a surprisingly fun chat when everyone’s still in a good mood.

If you’re planning a family holiday with teenagers or young adults and want help finding the right destination, the right pace, and the right mix of together-time and freedom, drop me a message — I’d love to help.