Travelling with grandchildren
Travelling with your grandchildren: a grandparent’s guide
More grandparents than ever are taking the grandchildren away on their own and leaving the middle generation at home (you’ll see it called a “skip-gen” trip). It’s one of the most rewarding ways to travel — it just asks for a little extra planning: the right paperwork at the border, a pace that suits a child and you, and cover that looks after everyone. Here’s honest, practical, grandparent-to-grandparent help with all of it.
This is general travel-planning guidance — not legal, immigration or medical advice. Documentation and entry rules differ by country, airline and family situation, and change; always confirm the current requirements with official sources before you book.
The rules & paperwork people forget
Travelling with a child who isn’t your own can raise questions at the border — especially if you have a different surname. The trip is so much smoother if you carry a little folder of proof. What experienced grandparents bring:
- A signed — ideally notarised — letter of consent from the child’s parents or legal guardians, giving permission to travel and to authorise medical treatment if needed.
- Proof of your relationship to the child, such as a copy of their birth certificate.
- The parents’ contact details and the child’s medical information (conditions, allergies, medication, GP).
- Copies of the child’s passport and any visa, kept separately from the originals.
Requirements differ by country and airline and change — we can’t list them all here. Confirm the current rules with the destination’s embassy, your airline, and your own government’s travel advice (e.g. UK FCDO or US State Department ) before you book.
Planning a trip that works for both of you
Pace it for two generations
A six-year-old and a sixty-six-year-old rarely want the same day. Travellers who do this well plan one big thing a day, build in proper downtime — a pool afternoon, a park, a nap — and keep journeys short. You set the rhythm; the memories come from the slow bits, not a packed itinerary.
Where to go
Easy wins: short flights, English-friendly or easy-to-navigate cities, walkable centres and a base you don’t have to keep changing. Nature, trains and gentle adventure travel especially well across ages. Iceland, Ireland and much of Scandinavia are firm favourites — calm, safe and full of wonder.
Two sets of health needs
Pack your own regular medication in its original packaging in your hand luggage, plus a small kit for the child (their usual remedies, any allergy meds, sun protection). Carry a note of any conditions and the child’s medical details, and know where the nearest care is before you need it.
Make the journey the easy part
Book seats together, bring snacks, chargers and a tablet loaded up front, and choose flight times that don’t wreck everyone’s sleep. Tell the airline if you’d like help at the airport. A slower first day to land and reset beats racing straight into the trip.
Tell Wavvia who’s coming and it builds a gentle, age-aware itinerary — short days, downtime, kid-friendly stops and a sensible pace — around your dates, for free.
Looking for an easy, awe-filled destination?Iceland, Ireland and the Nordics are firm favourites — calm, safe and full of wonder. See our coolcation picks →One trip, two generations — get everyone covered
When you're the only adult, cover matters more, not less. Look for a policy that covers both you and your grandchild — declare any pre-existing conditions honestly, check the medical limits and any age terms, and make sure the child is included before you buy.
Single-trip cover, high medical limits
Flexible family & group cover
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Travelling with grandchildren: common questions
Do I need a consent letter to travel abroad with my grandchild?
It’s strongly recommended. Carry a signed (ideally notarised) letter from the parents or legal guardians giving permission to travel and to authorise medical treatment, plus proof of your relationship such as the child’s birth certificate. Border officials may ask for it, especially if your surname differs from the child’s. Rules vary by country and airline and change — always confirm with the destination’s embassy, your airline and your government’s travel advice before you book.
What are the rules for grandparents taking grandchildren abroad?
You need permission from everyone with parental responsibility for the child, ideally as a written (often notarised) consent letter, plus the child’s passport, any visa, and proof of your relationship such as a birth certificate. Some countries insist the letter is notarised and some don’t. Requirements differ by destination and airline and change, so check the current rules with the destination’s embassy, your airline and your government’s travel advice before you go.
Where are the best places to take the grandchildren?
Choose easy, safe and walkable: short flights, a single base, and a mix of things both generations enjoy. Nature, trains and gentle adventure travel brilliantly across ages — Iceland, Ireland and Scandinavia are firm favourites. Our coolcation and best-time guides are a good place to start.
Please read: this is general travel-planning guidance, not legal, immigration, insurance or medical advice. Rules for travelling with a child who isn’t your own — consent letters, proof of relationship, passports and visas — vary by country, airline and family circumstance and change without notice. Always confirm the current requirements with the destination’s embassy, your airline and your own government’s travel advice, declare any pre-existing conditions to your insurer, and check the cover for both you and the child before you buy. Wavvia is not liable for decisions made from this information.
Some links are affiliate links — Wavvia may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is general information, not legal or medical advice; verify entry rules and cover with official sources before you travel.