At What Age – and Why – Should Children Travel Alone with Grandma and Grandpa?

Since our daughters were about one year old, they’ve regularly set off on little adventures with their grandparents. There are many reasons why families choose to let children travel alone with their grandparents or other relatives. These reasons vary widely: from the desire to create quality family time, to giving parents a chance to enjoy time as a couple, or even as a solution for covering longer work commitments. Below you’ll find tips for a successful multi-generational trip.

But at what age does it actually make sense for kids to go on holiday without their parents? The key requirement is a strong, trusting relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, built through frequent visits and shared caregiving experiences. Grandparents should also feel physically and mentally fit enough to take on full responsibility for the children during the trip.

Choosing the Right Destination

For a child’s first solo trip with grandparents, it’s a good idea to start close to home. Many family-friendly hotels in Austria now offer special packages for grandparents and grandchildren, including supervised children’s programs to give grandparents a little break. When selecting a destination, it’s important to think about activities that both adults and kids will enjoy — whether it’s in the mountains, by a lake, in a city, or at the seaside.

In our case, we also allow our children to travel to neighboring countries, as long as we can reach them by car within a few hours in case of an emergency.

Setting Clear Expectations Before the Trip

Grandparenting often comes with a more relaxed approach — a few more sweets, a bit more screen time. That same spirit usually carries into vacations too. But it’s still essential to set clear boundaries in advance about what is and isn’t okay. Late bedtimes every night or three ice creams a day? These should be discussed beforehand.

At the same time, it’s important to accept that grandparents have their own parenting style. What makes a holiday with grandma and grandpa special is exactly that — their tendency to let a few things slide and spoil the kids a bit.

It also helps to discuss any special routines, preferences, and dislikes of the children to help them settle in more easily — especially if they experience homesickness during the trip.

Packing for a Multi-Generational Trip

In addition to the usual travel items, grandparents should also bring some personal comfort items for the child:

• the sand timer for tooth brushing

• their favorite bedtime book

• a beloved stuffed animal

• and a pacifier, if needed for sleeping

Don’t forget a travel-sized first aid kit, and make sure all important documents are stored in a folder, such as a parent-child health booklet (formerly known as the mother-child pass), vaccination card, insurance card, and a note with essential health information (e.g., blood type, allergies, emergency contacts).

Since 2012, children need their own child passport. This is valid until age 12; afterward, a standard passport or national ID card is required. Copies of the child’s passport, birth certificate, and a travel authorization from the parents should also be included in the travel document folder.

Why Is a Travel Authorization necessary?

In many countries, grandparents may run into entry issues if they do not have a signed authorization from the parents. This letter proves that the parents have given their consent for the trip and temporarily transferred responsibility to the grandparents. In some countries, such as Greece, this authorization must even be notarized.

Notarizations can be done at a notary’s office or district court. It’s also recommended to bring the consent form translated into English or the local language of the destination. The Austrian ÖAMTC provides templates and multilingual travel authorizations for this purpose.

This document should be accompanied by:

• a copy of the child’s birth certificate

• copies of the signing parents’ passports or ID cards

• and a copy of the child’s passport

Documents Children Must Have with Them:

• Parent-child health booklet (formerly mother-child pass)

• Vaccination card

• Insurance card (e-card)

• Note with important info (blood type, allergies, emergency phone numbers)

• Child’s passport

• (Notarized) travel authorization

• Passport copies of the parents

• Copy of the child’s birth certificate