Top Five Reasons to Travel with Your Mom

Jul 29

My mother has always loved to travel. Although she worked very hard during my childhood to go to school, work fulltime, and raise three children, she was able to take the occasional overseas trip. I remember her returns filled with stories of stilted huts in the Philippines, gorgeous fabrics from China, and castanets from Spain. I was in awe. Needless to say, I caught the travel bug. I’m unsure if it was genetic or environmental, but I love traveling. As my mother shares this passion, it was natural for us to begin traveling together. We’ve done several trips in tandem, the most recent adventure being the Croatia Yacht Cruise with Women Who Explore.

mom and daughter making faces on a boat with ocean in background

During this trip, we island-hopped in a private yacht with a group of what soon would become friends. It was a choose-your-own-adventure vacation; we could do what we liked on each island with the support of a tour guide that traveled with us. We swam in crystal blue water. We explored local shops and museums. And we consumed delicious local foods and wine.

Traveling with my mother has been such an adventure. Since traveling to Croatia, I’ve created a Top 5 list of why traveling with your mom is the best!

1. Moms make good travel buddies

Moms know you a lot better than most people. My mom can tell when I’m tired or hungry. She knows my irritants and preferences. Traveling with someone who knows you so well makes it easier to plan a jam-packed day and know when to take a breath. While walking by a Croatian cliff in Dubrovnik near a public beach, my mother didn’t bat an eyelash when I decided to strip down and jump off the cliff. She sat at the beach bar, ordered a beer, and took videos of my daredevil nature with a smile on her face.

2. You will learn new things about your mom

On the flip side, you may think you know everything you about your mom, but I guarantee that you do not! For our most recent Croatia trip, I learned how my mother finds the cheapest flights, tips on dealing with travel stress, and, most importantly, I learned more about my mother’s adventurous spirit as she paddled away on a SUP in the Mediterranean Sea at the age of 75.

3. Your mom will expand your travel lifestyle

I am a trekking traveler. My mom is more of a cruise traveler. Traveling with my mother has expanded my adventures to include trips that I never would have taken without her. The Croatia Yacht cruise seemed too fancy for me as I’m usually sleeping in a tent, but sipping a cocktail while lounging on a sun deck was amazing!

4. Traveling with your mom is good for your health (and hers!)

Research suggests that good connections and support could improve health and increase longevity. Having strong bonds can improve sleep and both physical and mental health. Traveling with my mother has deepened my connection with her. I can’t quantify how “healthier” either of us are because of it, but I can certainly say that it has made both of us happier.

5. You will make memories to cherish with your mom

I will remember our Croatia adventure and relish in the memories we made. We danced, we sang, we swam. She played her harmonica in front of an audience for the first time at an off-the-cuff talent show. We explored a new landscape, a new history, a new culture...together. And I will hold those in my heart.

Traveling will not only change you, but it will change the relationships of those you travel with. If you’re hesitant about traveling with your mom, don’t be! The connecting experience of sharing in adventures will stay with you forever.