How to plan a family reunion trip
A family reunion spans toddlers to grandparents and a dozen households, so the thing that makes it hard isn't the destination — it's coordination across ages, schedules, and tech comfort. Plan around the widest range of needs, collect dates far in advance, and keep one shared plan everyone can actually see.
What makes it tricky
- Coordinating many separate households is the single slowest step.
- A one-size itinerary can't fit toddlers, teens, parents, and grandparents at once.
- Information gets stuck in one cousin's phone and never reaches everyone.
- The less tech-savvy relatives get left out of the plan entirely.
Step by step
- 1
Poll dates far in advance
Coordinating many households takes time, so start early and collect availability rather than declaring a weekend. Make the overlap visible so the final date feels objective, not imposed by one branch of the family.
- 2
Pick a destination with something for every age
Choose a place with a range of options — low-key and active, indoor and outdoor — so grandparents and toddlers both have a good day. Plan for different energy levels rather than one shared schedule.
- 3
Keep the plan somewhere everyone can see
Put the itinerary and decisions on one shared page, and use a link so even relatives who won't install an app can follow along in a browser.
- 4
Split shared costs fairly
Log the big house, the group meals, and the shared activities as expenses and split them across households so no one family is quietly carrying the reunion.
Do it in one place with LFG
Mark availability to find the dates that work for the most people, put the toss-ups to a poll, build a shared day-by-day itinerary, and split the cost so no one fronts the whole trip — all on one page the whole group can see.
Common questions
- How far in advance should you plan a family reunion?
- Six months to a year for anything involving travel. Coordinating many households' schedules is the slowest part, and the earlier you collect availability the more people can actually make it.
- How do you include relatives who aren't tech-savvy?
- Keep one shared trip page and send a link anyone can open in a browser — no app install, no account required to view. The plan should be visible to every relative who needs it, including the ones who won't sign up for anything.