Save Money on Postcards ... Bring the Whole Family; Intergenerational Travel is the New Trend in Family Vacations

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NEW YORK, April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Sitting around the table at a family gathering celebrating her granddaughter's 23rd birthday, 78-year old Dorothy Mandigo of Medfield, MA was struck by a fond memory, "Remember our tour guide from the Tower of London? I was just thinking back to how animated he was ... he truly made the tour come to life."

The greatest gift Dorothy could give her family was the gift of shared memories -- a true, intergenerational family vacation, a growing trend according to a British Airways survey(1) (conducted online by Harris Interactive(R)) which found 77% of 749 parents/guardians with children under the age of 23 consider traveling an important opportunity to build memories and 68% say it helps bring the family together.

London was an easy choice for Dorothy's oldest daughter Jackie. With its rich history and kid-friendly attractions, she knew it would be perfect for the various ages of her children. What made it tough was the 6 hour flight -- how could the entire family stay entertained? Jackie researched the amenities that London carriers offered and settled on an airline that offered the most for a fair price. Half of parents/guardians with children under the age of 23 (50%) like airlines that recognize that family travelers have special needs (e.g. kid-friendly meals, place to change diapers, etc.) according to the British Airways Survey.

The decision to go as one big happy family was Dorothy's. Her son Mark had come back from a brief vacation with his wife full of great stories, most starting with "You should have been there." So Dorothy decided that instead of 'should haves' they would go as a family, somewhere everyone would enjoy, and make the memories together.

Trend Drives Industry to Make Trips More Attractive

Emily Kaufman, more popularly known as 'The Travel Mom' and author of "The Travel Mom's Ultimate Guide to Family Travel" says "According to the Travel Industry Association of America, one in every three family vacations includes three generations of families traveling together." And it's not going unnoticed, adds Kaufman, "The travel industry seems to be embracing this trend and truly catering to this important market."

Travel experts say when planning an intergenerational trip, keep the following in mind:

* Plan Ahead - Research and make your travel plans as far ahead as
possible to ensure the best value on your trip. Involve your children
in the planning -- they will appreciate having a say in developing an
itinerary.

* Something for Everyone - Take advantage of the many London museums and
programs that offer free/discounted admissions. Research ahead and
incorporate them into your itinerary.

* No Food Fights! - Vendors at popular sites aren't the only food option
while traveling. Since you have palettes of all ages, pack some tasty
sandwiches, fruit and biscuits to feed the family after a few hours of
site seeing, and also remember to pack plenty of water.

Besides the joy of having her entire family together to experience a once in a lifetime vacation, Dorothy's best memory of the trip was "Exploring the history and culture of London with that London pass that got us in everywhere for free!" Never one to back away from a deal, Dorothy urged her family to purchase The London Pass once they arrived at the airport. The pass offered free admittance to a long list of popular tourist attractions such as the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral and the London Aquarium. Not only that, but they were offered discounts at some of the restaurants and shops around the city.

And after all the planning and all the preparation what was the outcome of the Mandigo family vacation? Well cut back to the granddaughter's 23rd birthday party and Dorothy's smile ... and the start of talks of next year's all inclusive family vacation.

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