Traveling with Mom (and surviving)!

I have been lucky to travel many places with my mother. Now, I know to some, traveling with your mom sounds like a nightmare, but we have a really good relationship. She is more like a friend than a mom at this point in my life. She is a great travel companion since a lot of my friends don’t have the time or resources to travel with me. Why travel solo if I can go with her?!

We have been to Jamaica, Switzerland, Malta, the Cayman Islands, and are heading to Iceland and Norway in a week! In honor of Mother’s Day, I am sharing some things I have learned along the way to make traveling with mom seamless. Check them out and don’t forget to wish your mom a happy mother’s day 🙂

Avoid party destinations: My mom is a great drinking buddy, but that doesn’t mean I want to go to a club with her! That would be all sorts of awkward. There are so many incredible places to see on this planet, so save the Ibiza and Cancun trips for your girls.
I told you she can drink 😉 but lets keep it on the beach and not in the club
Be patient: Our moms are experiencing this world in a different way than we do. They are coming from a completely different generation and this can impact how they travel. For example, one night in Switzerland, we decided to go out for dinner. I suggested we just go to the main part of town and we will choose a place there. We ended up wandering for about 45 minutes, unsure of where to eat. She got very frustrated and didn’t like not having a plan. Going forward, I know to google a restaurant beforehand so we aren’t aimlessly wandering while hungry. Millennials may have no problem picking a spot to eat on the spot, but our parents may want to prepare in advance. This will help avoid arguments that can spoil a night.
Ferry ride on the Limmat River in Switzerland

3. Have alone time: For an enjoyable trip, it is crucial that you do something alone. My mom loves to go horseback riding and I am allergic, so this is something she will do alone. It gives us a few hours apart and then we are excited to see each other again. This tip applies to whoever you are traveling with. If you want to avoid getting on each other’s nerves, make time to do something on your own, even if just for a few hours. It will help tremendously.

Mom riding in Switzerland

4. Have fun: No matter what happens, just enjoy the time you are spending with your mom. The memories you make with her on your vacations will be the most precious in your life. ❤