While venturing overseas with your best friends might seem more appealing as compared to going on a family vacation, it’s undeniable that being on holiday with the parents does have its perks. Ahead, 11 millennials share their innermost thoughts on heading abroad with the fam.
Millennial thought #1: “Which parent takes better IG-photos?”
“Our family discovered my mum’s photography potential during a family trip to Paris a few months ago. I really wanted a nice OOTD shot outside the Louvre and didn’t have anyone to take it for me, so I asked my mum to stand in. It took a couple of tries (which was kinda awkward because I had to pose shamelessly in front of many people) but it turns out, she’s awesome at taking IG-worthy photos. She became the official #InstaMum for the rest of our vacation.” – Gina, 18
Whether it’s skiing down snowcapped mountains in Sweden or lazily lounging on the beaches of Bali, documenting your experiences via Instagram is definitely a given. But what do you do during those fab outfit days where #OOTDs are a given and there aren’t any IG-savvy friends in sight? You turn to your parental units (as you always do) and give ’em a crash course in photo-taking of course! Here’s a thought: after you’ve gotten that Insta-worthy shot, remember to return the favour by snapping some solid shots for your parents too.
Millennial thought #2: “There’ll always be someone more responsible/ prepared than me.”
“I went on my grad trip last year and I realised that travelling with friends versus family is very different. My parents would take care of everything (like keeping the important documents, making sure we had enough money, figuring out the transport system…) whereas I had to figure it out on my own. While I had a rewarding experience, I really appreciate (and missed) having my parents around.” – Paul, 22
Ran out of battery and didn’t bring a portable charger? Fresh out of napkins after spilling gelato on your brand new outfit? Forgot your sunscreen? Chances are your parents will be prepped with everything you could possibly need (way before you knew you needed it), and have it ready at your disposal – because they’re awesome and all-knowing like that.
Millennial thought #3: “This is a great way to prove my #Adulting skills!”
“My parents used to be really strict, but they’ve loosened up ever since I showed them that I’m perfectly capable of functioning on my own when we went to Korea. And all it took were little gestures, like ordering on behalf of my fam in restaurants to navigating around the train stations – I guess watching all those K-dramas paid off!” – Althea, 19
Pro tip: Wow your parents even further by searching up flight and hotel discounts easily on Expedia!
Millennial thought #4: “Yay! All my expenses are covered.”
“I didn’t realise how much a vacation actually cost until my friends and I started planning a short trip overseas. With our student budget, we couldn’t realistically afford nice accommodations, flights at our preferred timing (because they tend to be more expensive), and we had to be more frugal when it came to meals and shopping as well.” – Li Ting, 19
We’d be lying if this thought didn’t make it onto the list – one perk that comes with travelling with your parents would be that they’d settle every and any trip expense. From airfare to hotels, food to shopping, chances are they’d spare nothing to ensure the family has a fun and memorable time. With that being said, don’t forget to show appreciation for their generosity. Perhaps you could chip in for a family meal, or at the very least, drop them a heartfelt note thanking them for bringing the fam on holiday. Alternatively, if you’re on a long vacation away, try mailing your parents a cool postcard so they’ll receive it by the time you guys arrive back home.
Millennial thought #5: “I never knew that about my parents!”
“For my parents’ 25th anniversary, we went to Venice (where they had gone for their honeymoon). The family had a fun time experiencing the sights and sounds while our parents offered us mini tidbits from their time there two decades ago. Their little trips down memory lane were cheesy at first (especially since it’s hard to imagine the two of them as young and hip adults), but by the end of our vacation, I could totally relate to them on a different and more personal level.” – Gabriel, 22
Millennial thought #6: “I feel so much safer with my parents around.”
“A cockroach appeared in the hotel room I was sharing with my best friend and we totally freaked out. We had to leave the room and ask one of the hotel staff to help us get rid of it – all the while I was thinking how nice it would be if my dad were there to catch it for us. (Laughs)” – Michelle, 20
Isn’t it funny how most of our fears are instantly quelled when our parents show up? Whether it’s battling unwelcome insects, dodging potential tourist scammers or trying to stop getting freaked out over spooky hotel room vibes, there’s nothing like having your parents around to make you feel totally secure.
Millennial thought #7: “Thank goodness I don’t have to plan the itinerary!”
“My friends and I all pitched in to plan our Korea trip itinerary, but we made the rookie mistake of planning to go to summer attractions… in the winter. Luckily, we managed to find other places to visit so the trip out wasn’t a complete waste of time.” – Desiree, 20
Heading on vacation with your friends is one thing, but pulling off a successful trip is another. And let’s be honest here; planning a holiday with your crew might even feel uncannily like doing project work – where anyone who doesn’t contribute might be branded a ‘freeloader’. With that being said, yet another good point of going overseas with your parents would be the high chance of you being able to wriggle your way out of mundane tasks like planning the itinerary or booking the accommodations.
Pro tip: Do your part for your family trip by sourcing out the cheapest flight and hotel booking on Expedia! Package savings can come up to almost 80% for certain destinations, and the travel site recommends fun activities and events in your area of interest in case you have spare time on your trip.
Millennial thought #8: “I can totally be myself, 100% 24/7.”
“I have a peculiar habit of having to leave the toilet door open when I’m using it when I’m abroad (because I’m afraid of creepy things springing up on me in the shower), which made things a little awkward for the friends I was travelling with at first (Laughs).” – Esme, 23
One thing that comes with holidaying with your fam is the utter ease and comfort that comes with being around loved ones who’ve known you your entire life. And there won’t be any awkward or embarrassing moments; whether it’s having to hog the toilet after getting overly adventurous with street food, or even getting into mini arguments about which touristy spot to spend the afternoon. Family’s for life and you’re ‘stuck’ with each other either way, so there’s definitely no need to feel paiseh.
Millennial thought #9: “Thank goodness my parents can bargain better than I do!”
“I used to get embarrassed by my mum’s haggling because she could get really persistent, but I definitely picked up a thing or two, which comes in handy when shopping overseas. Money saved is money earned!” – Bing Da, 21
While bargaining isn’t for everyone, haggling pretty much comes with the territory of cheap shopping, and there’s no doubt that scoring discounted prices will give you more leeway with regards to your travel funds.
Millennial thought #10: “Vacations = family quality time.”
“Between juggling my part-time job and school commitments, I haven’t been spending much quality time with my parents. The family could finally get together properly when we headed to Perth, Australia a couple of months back and it was nice being able to catch up and bond. It reminded me that I should always make time for my parents no matter how busy I am!” – Dan, 22
Featured image: Stacy Wyss on Unsplash | Additional images: Expedia Singapore Instagram
This post was brought to you by Expedia Singapore
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