Family holiday with grandma & grandpa

Preparations for emergencies

When travelling, the safety of the children is of course the most important thing. Should something really happen, a written power of attorney regulates the grandparents’ rights in an emergency. In the power of attorney, doctors should be expressly released from their duty of confidentiality towards the grandparents so that they can obtain information about medical details.

If it cannot be guaranteed that the parents can be reached by phone around the clock during the holiday, the power of attorney should also authorise the grandparents to decide on medical treatment measures. This allows doctors to act quickly and without restriction in an emergency.

In the event that a child falls ill while on holiday, you should make a copy of the vaccination card together with a list of all serious previous illnesses, the blood group and any allergies. In the kitchen of our hotel restaurant Bergvagabund, we are happy to check for allergies and intolerances on request and can provide detailed information about the ingredients in our dishes.

This must be observed by law

Within Europe, children and adults can identify themselves with a simple passport. There are special children’s passports for children and young people under the age of 12, which can be applied for at the Citizens’ Registration Office. Before travelling, you should find out exactly where you are going.

Holiday resorts are usually divided according to target groups – in family hotels such as the Hotel Thüringerschanze, children and senior citizens meet people of the same age and can enjoy a programme tailored to them, while more centrally located hotels with good transport links to the surrounding towns tend to focus on young adults and a wide range of party activities.

The little children’s first-aid kit for travelling

At the first signs of a cough, cold or malaise, a little boost for the immune system often helps. If you put together a pharmacy case before your holiday, important little things such as disinfectant, plasters and cough drops are always to hand.

Small everyday accidents can be treated quickly and easily and first aid becomes child’s play. In an emergency, the staff at the Oberhof pharmacy are there for you and will be happy to advise you. In our hotel information A-Z we have already noted down all the important telephone numbers of doctors.

We also have a small plaster at reception. We are not allowed to give out medication to our guests. When packing your suitcase, please remember to pack the most important medicines.

The right time to travel with grandchildren

When the right time has come for overnight stays away from home depends entirely on the personal relationship between the carer and the child. If grandparents maintain close contact with their grandchildren from an early age and occasional overnight stays are part of everyday life, a holiday with small children should not be a problem. We are most frequently visited by holidaymakers with primary school-age grandchildren, but we can also prepare the rooms for holidays with small children on request and offer child-friendly delicacies in the adjacent restaurant. If you have school children, you should be aware of the holiday periods and the associated traffic – at the beginning and end of the holiday season there are usually many traffic jams and car journeys can be much longer than planned.

Travel preparations

When grandparents are travelling with their grandchildren, the car journey to the destination can be a test of patience for both parties. You should therefore always have headphones with you for the children so that digital games and music do not disturb the carers or other passengers. Small travelling games can also shorten the time.

To avoid stops at petrol stations, you should pack enough food and drink. However, if you have young children, you should plan regular breaks and stow a change of clothes or nappies for small children in the car, just in case.

Before the holiday, grandparents and parents should discuss the itinerary with the children to prevent uncertainty on all sides.

Precise agreement with the parents

Before going on holiday with the grandchildren in Thuringia, parents and grandparents should discuss things in detail and clarify the children’s habits and difficulties. Certain rituals should not be interrupted even when on holiday – grandma and grandpa should therefore know exactly the children’s usual sleeping times and eating habits.

In some developmental phases, children need support with learning language or regular hygiene. Grandparents who see their grandchildren often should also be reminded of such little things by their parents before travelling.

It is also easier for grandparents if they are informed about educational boundaries. If the rules on holiday are different from those at home, children often find it harder to adjust and the risk of homesickness increases.

If the children are spoilt too much, the parents will be left out in the cold after the holiday – so precise consultation makes the transition easier for everyone involved. The better the grandparents know about the risks and habits, the less stressful the grandchildren’s holiday can be.

How to make a holiday with grandma & grandpa in Thuringia a success

For grandparents, a holiday with grandchildren is something very special and serves as a rare opportunity to create unforgettable memories for young and old. If the intergenerational trip is carefully prepared and planned in advance, both parties can fully enjoy their time together and parents can relax at home without any worries.

Popular hotel for holidays with grandchildren in Thuringia

Our hotel in Oberhof is very popular for such holidays. A family-run hotel, cosy and unobtrusive. Comfortably furnished and flexible at mealtimes with extensive buffets. The hotel is an ideal starting point for day trips around Oberhof and the entire surrounding area in Thuringia.

Active holidays with grandchildren in Thuringia

Do you love spending active days with your grandchildren? The Thuringian Forest is also ideal for this. Our hotel in Oberhof also has a garage where you can safely store your bikes or mountain bikes.

Or you can hire the appropriate equipment. Mountain bikes, e-bikes and corresponding accessories can be hired at several stations in Oberhof. This reduces the amount of luggage you have to carry on your holiday. You will find countless well-signposted mountain bike trails throughout the holiday region. There is sure to be the right route for every fitness level.

Holidays with grandchildren in Thuringia – what to do?

A day’s holiday at the hotel naturally begins with a hearty breakfast. The Oberhof daily post is available on the breakfast table in the hotel. Guests can find out about today’s activities with the Oberhof Card. The Oberhof Card is an integral part of a holiday in Oberhof and entitles you to free participation in guided hikes in Oberhof. Game boxes can be borrowed from the Tourist Information Centre. This is an entertaining way to pass the time when there are no excursions. The Oberhof city bus can be used free of charge with the Oberhof Card. In combination with the Thuringian Forest Card, there are over 200 leisure activities that can be used with good discounts . Some of the leisure partners are located directly in Oberhof, while many other offers extend across the entire Thuringian Forest. Save up to 20% on your holiday budget.

Holidays with grandchildren in Thuringia – holiday region

After the first few days of your holiday in Oberhof, there should be another day of hiking. Numerous hiking routes lead from Oberhof to the Ohra and Lütsche dams or to wonderful viewpoints. A stopover at one of the playgrounds in Oberhof provides a welcome break.

But Oberhof is not the only pool of ideas for a holiday with grandchildren in Thuringia. There are numerous other excursion destinations in the towns around Oberhof. In Zella-Mehlis, the marine aquarium with its huge shark tank is one of the main attractions. You should combine this excursion with a trip to the Explorata interactive world in Zella-Mehlis. Not only young children are fascinated by the physical phenomena they can try out. A trip to the VIBA Nougat World in Schmalkalden is also popular. Do grandma and grandpa also love a bit of culture? Then a visit to one of the numerous castles in the neighbouring royal cities is a good idea. Thuringia has plenty more to offer for a holiday with grandchildren – a week’s holiday here will fly by.

Holidays with grandchildren in Thuringia – Oberhof

Oberhof offers numerous possibilities for a holiday with grandchildren in Thuringia. First and foremost, of course, is a hike to the famous sports facilities in Oberhof. Our tip: Find out about the training times at the sports facilities in advance so that you can take an impressive look at the performances of the young talents or well-known stars. You can find the current training times at www.wintersportzentrum-thueringen.de.

Grandparents also love to take their grandchildren on a horse-drawn carriage ride in the Thuringian Forest. Carriage rides or covered wagon rides are offered daily in Oberhof. These can also be discovered in the morning in the daily post. Right next to the hotel, Oberhof’s Glasstube is a popular place to visit. Christmas lights, Christmas tree decorations, glass ornaments or souvenirs. Regular demonstrations are also held in the Glasstube. There is also the opportunity to blow and decorate a glass ball yourself.

What else you can do in Oberhof with the grandchildren

A highlight of a holiday with grandchildren in Thuringia is certainly a visit to the Oberhof golf climbing park. Are grandma and grandpa brave? Climb up to 15 metres high above the treetops of the Thuringian Forest and have fun on the challenging elements of the climbing tower. Less courageous grandparents can also book a guided climbing course for their grandchildren. Meanwhile, grandma and grandpa can relax with a cup of coffee at the foot of the climbing tower. Afterwards, the whole family can compete in adventure golf. Who will be the champion and complete the unusual course with the fewest strokes?

That’s quite a lot of activities on holiday with your grandchild in Thuringia. And it’s best to plan several days. And don’t forget the Exotarium in Oberhof. The grandchildren will be amazed here. Marvel at tarantulas, scorpions, snakes, fish and lizards up close. You don’t see that every day.

A visit to the Rennsteiggarten Oberhof, on the other hand, is truly “lovely”. The botanical garden for mountain flora is located just outside the town, at the so-called Rondell. Around 4,000 different plant species from the world’s high mountains await you in the garden. Children in particular will enjoy taking a break at one of the play stations along the circular path. Be “as small as a bug” and enjoy the view. Jump and play spider and learn something at the same time. Round off your visit to the Rennsteiggarten with a delicious piece of home-baked cake or an ice cream.

After a day’s holiday with the grandchildren, return to the hotel. A generous evening buffet is served in the evening. Non-alcoholic drinks are also included in the half-board price. Find out more about the family-friendly offers at the Hotel Thüringenschanze.