Asia: Agoda highlights six destinations for ‘skip-gen’ travel - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Travelling with grandparents and grandchildren while the parents stay at home is emerging as a distinct holiday trend in Asia. Known as “skip-gen” travel, the concept gives two generations an opportunity to spend time together independently, while parents remain at home.

Agoda sees growing potential for this form of multigenerational travel, driven in part by more active retirees and greater familiarity with digital booking among older travellers. The accommodation platform has selected six Asian destinations that it considers particularly suitable for grandparents travelling with younger family members. The emphasis is on cultural experiences, a relatively gentle pace and activities capable of appealing to different generations.

Kanazawa offers Japanese culture at a gentler pace

Kanazawa combines reminders of Japan’s samurai era with preserved geisha districts, traditional teahouses and Kenroku-en, one of the country’s best-known landscape gardens. Its compact old town allows visitors to explore many attractions without lengthy transfers.

For younger travellers, the city adds more interactive experiences. Gold-leaf workshops provide an introduction to a craft closely associated with Kanazawa, while the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art brings a contemporary contrast to the historic surroundings.

Ancient history and family attractions in Gyeongju

Once the capital of Korea’s Silla Kingdom, Gyeongju is characterised by royal burial mounds, pagodas and UNESCO-listed temples. Its relatively flat, park-like setting lends itself to walking and cycling, including excursions by tandem bicycle.

The historical attractions are complemented by Gyeongju World amusement park. After dark, the illuminated Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond offer another experience that can appeal across generations.

Mysore combines palaces, parks and markets

In India, Agoda recommends Mysore for its comparatively relaxed garden-city atmosphere. Mysore Palace and its evening illumination provide one of the city’s major sights, while Karanji Lake Nature Park and the Regional Museum of Natural History add options particularly suited to families with children.

The city’s silk and sandalwood markets offer a less strenuous way of experiencing local culture. Wide roads and a slower pace also make Mysore an alternative to some of India’s larger and more hectic metropolitan destinations.

Lijiang opens the door to Yunnan’s mountain scenery

Lijiang in China’s Yunnan province combines a UNESCO-listed old town with the dramatic landscape of the Himalayan foothills. Canals, cobbled streets and traditional Naxi wooden architecture shape the historic centre.

One of the region’s major natural attractions, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, can be experienced by cable car, allowing travellers to reach high-altitude scenery without a demanding climb. Agoda also points to Lijiang’s low-rise urban structure and mild climate as advantages for mixed-age travel groups.

Ninh Binh explores Vietnam at water level

Ninh Binh offers limestone karst landscapes and rice fields that can be explored at an unhurried pace. Sampan trips through Tam Coc and Trang An take visitors along waterways surrounded by steep cliffs and green countryside.

Flat rural roads also lend themselves to cycling, while riverside homestays provide a quieter base than Vietnam’s major cities. The combination of boat trips, countryside and relatively gentle activities makes the region suitable for travellers with different levels of mobility.

Tainan brings generations together through history and food

Taiwan’s former capital Tainan offers historic temples and old neighbourhoods in a less densely built environment than Taipei. Waterfront parks, traditional streets and night markets provide different ways of exploring the city without requiring a tightly scheduled programme.

Food is an important part of the experience, with night markets introducing visitors to local specialities. Candy-making and craft workshops in the old town add hands-on activities for younger travellers.

“Skip-gen travel is not about doing less, but about different generations sharing the same itinerary in a way that truly works,” says Jay Lee, Regional Director, North Asia at Agoda. He points in particular to the cultural importance of relationships between grandparents and grandchildren in many Asian societies.

Whether the journey is about introducing grandchildren to family roots or discovering somewhere entirely new together, the six destinations illustrate a broader shift in family travel: instead of trying to design one holiday for every generation at once, grandparents and grandchildren are increasingly setting out on an adventure of their own.

Image Credit: © AI generated illustration