Ditch the solo trip flex—2025’s most meaningful travel is all about taking the whole crew, nostalgia included.
What’s a Grandymoon? Why Gen Z, Millennials, and Boomers Are Packing Their Bags Together
Remember when a “family trip” meant fighting over the radio in a station wagon or taking one blurry Polaroid in front of Niagara Falls? Welcome to 2025, where that same spirit gets an upgrade. The grandymoon is the hottest (and honestly, most heartwarming) travel trend right now—imagine your whole family, from toddlers to TikTok teens to the grandparent who still uses AOL, jetting off somewhere epic, together.
But it’s more than a trend; it’s a movement. After years of digital everything and family group chats that never quite replace a real hug, people are craving something deeper. The grandymoon is the answer: a reset button on family time, where memories are built in real life—not just backed up to the cloud.
Then vs. Now: From Road Trips and Travel Agents to Airbnbs and Algorithmic Adventures
Flashback to the 60s and 70s. Vacation meant bundling into the family car, maps so big they doubled as picnic blankets, and every rest stop being a roll of the dice. Flying? That was for the fancy or the fearless, where meals were served on real plates and people dressed like they were meeting the Queen.
Today, the destination list has exploded—think Tuscany, Bali, or even Iceland’s blue lagoons, all just a few clicks (and maybe some credit card points) away. Air travel is so casual you’ll spot someone boarding in pajamas, and planning is less about travel agents and more about AI-powered recommendations, viral TikTok itineraries, and Airbnbs that sleep 14 (including, yes, Grandpa’s CPAP machine).
Where Are Grandymoons Actually Happening?
The beauty of the grandymoon is it works wherever your family feels most alive together. Europe’s Mediterranean coasts—Spain, Portugal, Italy—are seeing a surge in multi-generational villa rentals, with plenty of shared tables for noisy dinners. Closer to home, U.S. families are rediscovering the magic of the national parks, swapping resort pools for Yosemite hikes. Mexico’s coast, Greek islands, even Disney resorts (with a grown-up twist)—if it’s big enough for a crew and has room for both wine and juice boxes, it’s grandymoon territory.
Getting There and Staying There: Then and Now
Travel used to be an event: paper tickets, dressing up, and sometimes even applause when the plane landed. Now, it’s logistics. Check-ins are digital, boarding passes live on your phone, and grandma can track your flight from the comfort of her recliner. The way we stay has changed too: no more fighting over the hotel’s last tiny soap. Instead, families rent sprawling villas with infinity pools and kitchens that finally get some use. Everyone has their space, but the living room becomes the new family table.
Making Memories: Film Rolls, Instant Reels, and Everything In Between
There’s a kind of magic in the old family photo albums—bad haircuts, matching windbreakers, that one cousin always blinking. But now? Every memory is instant, edited, and (let’s be honest) a bit more staged. Three generations can go viral for a group cannonball or a coordinated dance in Santorini. But the heart of it hasn’t changed: travel is still about making memories you actually want to revisit, not just post.
The Purpose of Travel: From Rare Escape to Radical Connection
Let’s talk about why this trend really matters. Decades ago, a trip was an escape—an annual splurge that signaled success or gave you a break from routine. The photos served as trophies, proof that you’d “arrived” somewhere new. But as the world shrunk, flights got cheaper, and the internet gave us FOMO 24/7, travel started to mean something else.
For grandymooners, it’s about connection. It’s the chance to see your family as actual people, not just holiday fixtures. Grandparents get to share stories over late dinners in Lisbon; parents discover their kids are surprisingly fun to hang with; grandkids realize Grandma is wilder than anyone guessed. The destination is a backdrop for the real adventure: finding new ways to belong to each other. In a time when we’re all constantly distracted, there’s something radical about being present together—maybe even leaving your phone in the villa for a day (okay, half a day).
And maybe the most surprising part? The purpose isn’t limited to family. Some friend groups are picking up the vibe, booking retro-style “friendymoons” where the only goal is to recreate those nostalgic, old-school trips—think matching bucket hats, waist bags, and way too many group photos. You don’t need shared DNA, just a shared sense of adventure (and maybe a playlist heavy on Fleetwood Mac).
So whether you’re bringing three generations or just three best friends, the message is clear: Travel like it’s the old days, but better. The world’s wide open. Your crew’s waiting. Who’s packing the snacks?
