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Even though they might have driven you crazy during your teenage years, the chances are nobody has loved you as unconditionally as your parents. You probably won’t remember all those times they had to get up in the middle of the night to feed or change you when you were a baby. Or all those times they looked after you when you were sick.
Then there are the countless miles they drove doing the school pickup. Or to take you to or from extra-curricular activities like football, rugby, netball, ballet, dance or music lessons. Let’s not forget the sacrifices they made to put you through university and fund foreign family holidays. And you also should be grateful for all those times they picked you up late in the evening after a concert, party or night out with your friends.
If you have been lucky enough to have parents like this and are able to do so, then perhaps it is time to give something back to them? In this article, we will outline how you can do that by organising a perfect getaway for your parents.
Organising the perfect getaway
Whether you are organising it as a surprise or are planning it in conjunction with them, the key thing to remember is that your parent’s getaway needs to be as stress-free as possible.
To do this, you will need to properly plan and research the trip and make sure every detail is covered. This needs to include from the moment they leave their home to the moment they get back after the mini-break or holiday.
Here are some of the things you should consider.
How long will the trip be for?
The length of the trip is an important factor to settle on early. Will it be a weekend jaunt? Or maybe a four-day break? Perhaps you want to send them away for 2-weeks or even upwards of a month.
Once you have decided upon this, you can start to settle on a destination.
For instance, you won’t be able to travel to London from Sydney and back over a weekend. Likewise, six weeks in a remote village might be a little long too.
The length of the trip also determines other factors like the budget you will put aside for it too.
Where to go
The most important thing you need to consider is where your parents would like to go.
Although you might think a 2-week trek around the Amazon rainforest is a ‘must-have’ experience of a lifetime, your parents might disagree.
So it is important to get into their psyche and understand what destinations would appeal to them.
Obviously, the destination depends on budget, especially if you are surprising them with the trip. However, one way of finding out where they would like to go is to ask them in a roundabout way.
A simple ‘where would you go on holiday if you won the lottery?’ could provide you with inspiration.
That said, if you have your heart set on surprising them, why not organise a trip to where they had their honeymoon all those years ago?
Alternatively, if you know they love the beach or greenery, choose somewhere with this landscape you know they would love. Maybe the Caribbean or Cornwall.
When to go
Having decided where your parents will go, you will need to determine the best time to go there.
A few factors should come into consideration here, including the cost – after all, peak season is the most expensive time of the year. It is also the busiest too in terms of visitor numbers. Therefore, you might want to arrange for the visit to take place when the kids are back at school.
Another aspect to consider is the weather. Beach holidays are best when the weather’s warm, and the overseas variety is a very attractive option when the colder months of winter hit your hometown.
It’s best to check weather updates or even download weather applications to know the current weather before heading.
You should also take into account other people’s birthdays and certain events that happen during the year. Your folks, for example, might not want to travel on Christmas Day or miss the tennis at Wimbledon. So try and gauge the optimum time of the year they would want to be away.
Where to stay
Wherever your parents will visit, they will need a place to stay. This could take the form of a hotel, motel, caravan park or temporary accommodation as provided by Airbnb or Vrbo.
Be mindful of your folk’s need to be near major attractions they want to visit, as well as shops, restaurants and transport links.
You will also need to take into account the standard of the hotel they would want to stay in and what services and amenities might be available within it.
If your parents are unable to climb stairs, check out hotels that have available ground-floor rooms or a good elevator. Alternatively, if they like views, then search for something a few levels up.
Travel Arrangements
Once the accommodation has been booked, you can turn your attention to the travel arrangements.
Unless you or your parents will drive to the holiday destination, you will need to organise their flight, train or coach transportation.
During your research, don’t forget to look out for flight and hotel package deals, as these offer convenience and can also save money too.
Don’t forget to organise how your parents will get from their home to the airport, train station or coach terminal. If they are going to the airport, a nice touch is to arrange for a limousine to take them there!
Once they arrive at their holiday destination, you will also need to book transportation that will take them from the airport or train station to their hotel. Likewise, you will need to do the same when it is time to go home.
Insurance
If your parents are leaving the country, it is imperative to take out insurance as you never know when they might need it.
While they might have a preferred insurance provider they always use when travelling abroad, there is no harm in sourcing a few quotes for them from other companies.
You never know, you might even get a cheaper price for them than they would normally pay.
Organise a special day trip or experience
Sending them away is a lovely gesture. But why not go the extra mile and organise an extra special experience for them?
This could include anything from a scenic helicopter ride to a champagne sunset sail on a yacht.
If you are thinking of food, a dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant or a picnic on the beach is a good option.
Alternatively, why not treat them to a degustation meal courtesy of Gathar, which they can even eat in their own hotel or holiday accommodation.
Arrange a SIM Card
If they are heading abroad, another thing you can arrange for your folks is a sim card.
This will enable them to easily phone you if they need to in an emergency situation. Or just to let you know what a wonderful time they are having on their holiday!