How many times did you make an emergency call to your parents to ask for help with looking after the kids last year?
Whether it was to dash off to a quick doctor’s appointment, to look after a sick one while you headed to work, school pick-ups/drop-offs, or keep kids entertained during those dreaded long school holidays, we know there’s a good chance those grandparents saved you at least a handful of times throughout the year.
It’s for this reason that parents are going above and beyond to thank their parents for stepping in to save the day on many occasions. It does take a village, after all.
Grandymoons… the new travel trend for 2025
I stumbled on the travel trend of taking grandparents away for a holiday while searching for fun ways people plan to travel in this new year.
Japan kept coming up as the top spot people were tackling in 2024 and 2025, with Airbnb declaring it stood out as the number one searched destination for solo travelers, couples, families, and group adventurers alike.
But the cost of living crisis has stopped many from traveling abroad, meaning somewhere closer to home was also a popular option.
According to Susan Wheeldon, Country Manager for Airbnb Australia and New Zealand, group bookings have been on the rise
“Families and groups of friends flock to Airbnb with over 80 percent of bookings on the platform now for group trips. Whether it’s relaxing by the pool or exploring a new city together, these trips offer a chance to reconnect and create lasting memories,” she told Kidpsot.
“Airbnb provides affordable holiday options for groups who want to split the cost of a getaway during a time when affordability is top of mind.”
With tools like shared wishlists and group messaging, it means that booking a group getaway is even easier, with no one really needing to “take control” of the planning (the worst job, in my opinion!)
Choosing the perfect spot
I proposed the idea of whisking away my parents, to my siblings who were all on board with the gesture of thanking them with a holiday. But it wasn’t any sort of holiday… it was a “grandymoon.” Kind of like a honeymoon or babymoon but for the grandparents.
A time when they get to spend time with ALL of their grandkids at the same time and relive their youth by having their own children also under one roof for an extended period of time.
“Having the whole family under one roof again – and now with partners and kids as extras – sounds like a nightmare…” I heard many people say.
I have to confess, I kind of agreed.
Browsing through Airbnb we tossed up two options – a spot by the beach or a winery – which seemed to be two of the most trending terms for group bookings.
We settled on Greenacres in Pokolbin, Rothbury, an expansive home located in the heart of the Hunter Valley. The 30-acre property was not only able to host up to 20 guests (8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms), but it also boasted many things that would keep the whole family entertained for a weekend away – including a large swimming pool, tennis court, and games shed.
The estate was even pet-friendly which meant the pooches don’t have to miss out on the family fun, either. How good!
The home is spread out with three sleeping quarters in the main house, as well as a self-contained two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage and a Bunk House which sleeps five guests.
It was cozy enough to host everyone in one spot without living on top of each other and entertaining enough that no one could get bored (or complain about the adults wanting to go wine tasting nearby!)
Sounded like the perfect spot to me – it was time to action this plan!
The family holiday everyone loved
It took all of one hour for me to realize that this was actually the best idea I’ve had all year. The other was buying a $29 inflatable raft from Kmart for a camping trip. But this isn’t the time to boast about that.
After settling into the homestead, we poured ourselves a drink and basked in the afternoon sun on the back patio.
Everyone was happily scattered. Some kids were swimming in the pool, others were playing tennis, and the rest of us were sharing a yarn and laughing. While we were all doing something different, we had one thing in common. We were all relaxed.
This post was originally published on here
