Jupiterimages
The Question
It's been a lifelong goal to visit India and I'm finally going with my two teens.
How do I get them excited about my dream trip?
The Answer
As a teenager, having spent an afternoon of a family vacation refusing to get out of the campervan to see yet another English castle - I would tell you the name of said castle, but I was studying Tiger Beat - I can understand their reluctance.
May I suggest a three-pronged plan of attack?
First, get them on board through their interests. "You're always looking for something to make it relevant and give them a personal connection," says Mary Turner, who writes the Travel With Teens and Tweens blog (travel-with-teens.com).
The Boston-based mother of two researches activities prior to trips - from natural swimming holes in New Hampshire's White Mountains to the Egyptian collection at the Met in New York - and then presents them to her kids, 13 and 17. Discussion, compromise and a family itinerary follow.
Second, get them on board through their weakness: Facebook. It's important for teens to stay connected, Turner says, so when she books hotels or condos, she looks for Web access to allow her kids to post status updates: "Yawn. Another boring day hanging out with mom at the Taj Mahal." (You can also lure them with cool travel apps, such as Postino, which turns photos into real-word postcards, as well as all the silly games that will keep them busy during the long train trips.)
And finally, this is India: the colours on the street, the literature, the food, the yoga, the temples, the camel treks, the sheer, crazy amazingness of it all. And if all that fails, rent a Bollywood movie. The music and dance moves are sure to intrigue.
Send your family travel questions to concierge@globeandmail.com.
Special to The Globe and Mail