How to Holiday Together (and Still Like Each Other!)
There’s something wonderful about getting the whole family together for a holiday.
Grandparents, parents, kids, cousins, siblings and friends all under one roof. Meals together, days by the pool, plenty of laughs and memories that inevitably get talked about for years afterwards.
Of course, anyone who has actually travelled with a big group also knows there’s an art to getting it right!
At Elite Holiday Homes, we welcome large families and groups to the Gold Coast every week, so we’ve learnt a few things about what makes a great group holiday.
Give Everyone Some Space
Possibly the most important rule of all!
Travelling together doesn’t mean you need to spend every minute together.
One of the biggest advantages of choosing a large holiday home rather than several hotel rooms is having plenty of different spaces to enjoy. Someone can be relaxing beside the pool, the kids can be watching a movie, another group can be enjoying a coffee outside and somebody else can sneak away for a quiet afternoon nap.
Then everyone can come back together when they’re ready.
Don’t Plan Every Minute
The Gold Coast certainly isn’t short of things to do, but you don’t need an itinerary for every hour of every day.
Pick a few activities everyone really wants to experience and leave some space in between.
A morning at the beach followed by an afternoon around the pool can be just as memorable as a day packed with attractions.
And sometimes the best part of a holiday is simply having nowhere you need to be.
Share a Meal at Home
Going out for dinner with 10, 12 or 16 people can be an adventure in itself!
One of the pleasures of having your own holiday home is being able to gather around the table for breakfast, fire up the BBQ for dinner or enjoy a long afternoon meal together.
For something a little more special, our guests can also arrange a private chef through My Holiday Concierge and enjoy the restaurant experience without anyone having to leave the house.
Best of all — nobody has to work out who’s driving home.
Let Different Generations Do Their Own Thing
One of the reasons the Gold Coast works so well for multi-generational holidays is that everyone can have a completely different day.
The kids might want theme parks. Mum might want Pacific Fair. Dad might want to stay beside the pool. Grandma might want lunch somewhere fabulous.
And absolutely nobody should be forced onto a rollercoaster if they don’t want to go!
Split up for a few hours and meet back at the house later. Everyone gets the holiday they want.
Choose the Right Home for Your Group
This can make an enormous difference.
Think beyond simply how many people the property sleeps. Consider the number of bathrooms, living areas, bedroom configurations and what your group will actually use during the stay.
A pool might be essential for the kids. A cinema or games room can be fantastic for teenagers. Grandparents may appreciate a bedroom that doesn’t require navigating lots of stairs.
Our team knows our homes extremely well, so if you’re unsure which property will work best for your group, talk to us. We’d much rather help you choose the right home from the beginning.
And Finally… Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Someone will take too long in the bathroom.
Someone will forget something.
Someone will want the air-conditioning colder.
Someone will inevitably ask, “What are we doing today?” before you’ve even finished your first coffee.
That’s the big family holiday!
The trick is to embrace the chaos, enjoy having everyone together and remember why you organised the trip in the first place.
Because long after the holiday is over, it’s rarely the perfectly organised itinerary that everyone remembers.
It’s the laughs around the table, the kids in the pool, the late-night conversations and those wonderfully ordinary moments when the whole family was together in the one place.
And that’s exactly what a great holiday should be about.
Planning a Gold Coast holiday with your family or a group of friends? Explore our range of large holiday homes and find a place where everyone can stay together.
Elite Holiday Homes
Bringing family and friends together on the Gold Coast.