Things to know when planning a bucket list trip for your parents

Taking a parent or parents on a bucket list trip seems to be growing in popularity. It is incredibly rewarding, but it takes some planning to make sure the trip meets everyone’s expectations and needs. After planning three bucket list trips for my father, the top five things to know when planning a bucket list trip for your parent(s) are:

The trip is about your mom and/or dad

Remember that this trip is about her, him or them. As much as there might be things that you want to do in the city or area you are visiting, that shouldn’t be the first priority. That’s not to say you can’t have fun too, but remember this trip is for your parent(s).

Make it magical

Ask some questions so you can better understand why the particular destination made their bucket list. It’s not always what you think. When we took my dad to San Francisco, it wasn’t just that he wanted to see the City by the Bay — he also wanted to eat fish and chips wrapped in newspaper at Fisherman’s Wharf. When he was about seven years old, he saw a photo in a newspaper travel section of someone doing that and he promised himself that one day, he would too. It was pretty special to help him fulfil a promise he made to his childhood self.

Understand his/her physical limitations

Taking a cruise was the perfect way to travel with my dad. You unpack once and the travel to different places happens while you eat, drink and sleep. Additionally, for every tour I booked, I mentioned that he had some mobility issues. Everyone was incredibly helpful and the cruise line let us use one of their wheelchairs in the ports if we needed it. In San Francisco, we rented a wheelchair and that meant that we could get around a lot easier as a group and it didn’t put additional physical pressure on my dad to keep up. We have travelled on West Jet and Air Canada with my dad and both were exceptional when I requested wheelchair assistance at the airport. A quick call to the airline’s customer service team means that getting to the gate at the airport is a piece of cake.

Don’t forget travel insurance

I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the cost of travel insurance for my dad and his wife. I quickly got over it when I realized how much more it would cost if something were to happen and we didn’t have it. You have to see it as part of the cost of the trip.

Expect to see a different side of your parent(s)

My dad has always been the strong, silent type. As a family, we’re more likely to punch each other in the shoulder or make a joke, rather than be all warm and fuzzy. However, seeing my dad experience things like having fish and chips at Fisherman’s Wharf, walking with him down the street where his mother grew up, and standing with him as the White Cliffs of Dover came into view showed me a softer, gentler side. It was incredible and it created a much deeper and stronger bond between the two of us.