Dianne is used to organizing reunion-style family trips for her parents, siblings, children, and siblings, but planning can turn into a nightmare. On a family vacation to Intrepid, Borneo, she ditched her prep work and enjoyed her moments.
We were deep in the Kinabatangan jungle in Borneo, with no power or Wi-Fi. I went on a small group family trip with my 75-year-old mother, my sister's family, and two other families, a total of 7 adults and 7 children aged between 8 and 15.
It was the third day of our Borneo family vacation and we were spending the night in a tree house that was only accessible by boat. Our surroundings were much more rural than I was used to. Bucket showers, mosquito net beds, gravel floors – new experiences that kids will love. A curious silver-tongued langur watches from a wary distance as a small gray squirrel jumps up a tree. And because our treehouse is intentionally off-grid, we had plenty of time to bond.
My sister Susie, mum to 12-year-old Sam and 14-year-old Indi, said: 'The only time the kids took out their phones was to take pictures, which I loved.' She said, 'Watching the kids play Uno and make friends with other kids felt like the childhood I had. No one was distracted by the screen.'
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I am somewhat of an expert when it comes to multi-generational travel. My family and I live in Australia but in another state. My parents live 4200 kilometers (or 2 flights, 8 hours of travel) from where I live in Western Australia. My sister is in Melbourne, which is 3500 kilometers or four hours away by plane. So we travel together.
We are not the only ones. Multi-generational travel has increased as retired baby boomers seek to make memories for their grandchildren instead of buying them things.
Our first taste of multi-generational travel was in 2012 with my parents (age 65), my sister, my brother-in-law, and our young children. We spent a week in Umbria and a week in Sicily. It was really cool. Especially the wonderful old farmhouse where we stayed in Umbria.
The following year, I planned a trip for my family, including my husband's sister and 11-year-old triplets, my 70-year-old mother-in-law, and my parents. A total of 10 people, 3 countries over 3 weeks: Cyprus, Greece and Italy.
We planned it all ourselves. It was a nightmare to manage.
We had to worry about accommodations for a large group, find places to eat that suited us all, figure out a rental car configuration, and moderate discussions about activities suited to different interests and different levels of fitness, mobility, or budget.
Additionally, for multi-generational travel, traveling with your in-laws adds another layer of navigation. It's not easy to be as blunt with your mother-in-law as you are with your own family.
But despite the challenges, traveling together is such an enriching experience, and we relive memories and laugh at stories every time we meet.
In 2022, my sister and her family booked Intrepid's Borneo Family Holiday and invited me. I was so eager to go on the trip that I immediately said yes. Intrepid's small group approach, local leaders, and the idea of an off-the-beaten-path experience without the hassle of organizing a trip were very appealing.
I paid the deposit, booked the flight, and didn’t think about anything else for months. This was a breeze compared to other large family trips I've planned, like a girls' trip to Italy in 2023 with my mom, sister, and niece. It took about 80 hours of research and preparation, probably more.
The only stressful part of our trip to Borneo was packing for our domestic flight to Sabah, which had a 15kg baggage limit. Packing for ten days in the steamy jungle and four days in sophisticated Singapore wasn't easy. I weighed each t-shirt on a kitchen scale and selected clothes by the gram rather than by clothing coordinates.
It wasn't long before I was gearing up along the Kinabatangan River, Sabah's longest river. I saw proboscis monkeys, hornbills, kingfishers, silver langurs, catfish and crocodiles.
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We took a short hike into a deforested area and planted trees with local volunteers. It was hot and humid, but we were glad we dug the hole. Even though it was quite a task, the children never complained. My mother also enjoyed the experience. Over the past few days, it has felt good to be involved in a community project to regenerate the forest that has been our home.
Traveling over land in Borneo with Intrepid was very easy. Unlike other trips, all you had to do was wake up at a certain time and eat breakfast, and everything else was taken care of. The trip was so easy, comfortable and stress-free.
Instead of being caught up in the logistics and planning of travel itineraries, and being distracted by mental to-do lists like booking taxis, contacting next accommodations, restaurant reservations, day tours, etc., I was able to be fully present with my family.
Our trip had something for every family member, regardless of age and interests, a mix of adventure, culture and relaxation.
I didn't have to worry about anything. Our local leader, Stephanie, looked after us all and was great at explaining things in a way that the children could understand. Even on 'free' nights for dinner, Stephanie shared insider tips on where to get the best seafood or the best roti.
And it turns out that tree houses in Borneo were an unexpected highlight and a great place to spend some quality time with family. It is a place where we can truly disconnect from the wider world and reconnect with each other.
Discover more family adventures with Intrepid.