Traveling with children and grandparents has shifted from focusing on the destination to ensuring an enjoyable journey. How do I know this? As a parent of twin boys, I can attest that when we take family trips involving eight people across three generations, meticulous planning is essential to keep everyone entertained. Here’s how we enhanced our recent family vacation to Yanqing’s World Garden Park, located about a two-hour drive from our home!
The Space Solution
After discovering that regular vans were inadequate and using two cars only resulted in more chaos, my husband made a fantastic find on Xiaohongshu — a round-trip charter for RMB 3,000 (peak season rates) which provided us with VIP transportation at less than RMB 400 per person for a lounge-like experience. The Toyota Coaster, a mini bus that can comfortably accommodate up to 13 passengers (not including the driver), turned out to be the ideal solution.
This experience was more than just hiring a driver with a big vehicle; it became a memorable part of our trip. The entire family enjoyed singing karaoke with the integrated system, and the spacious legroom transformed what could have been a tedious long drive into a delightful experience for everyone.
Pro Tips:
Confirm mileage limits beforehand (we ensured single trips remained under 100km).
Plan pick-up and drop-off routes with the driver in advance to avoid any miscommunications on the travel day.
Why We Loved Our Toyota Coaster
- Airport-quality VIP shuttle comfort
- Zero-gravity seating
- Stroller-accessible aisle space
- Built-in karaoke system (making toddler rockstars shine!)
- Climate control for a pleasant environment
- Suspension that reduces motion sickness
Our "boring 2-hour drive" turned into a cross-generational concert, featuring everything from Chinese ballads to nursery rhymes, accompanied by juice boxes. On the way back, even our grandma, who is prone to car sickness, remarked, "These seats are incredibly comfortable – I didn’t feel nauseous at all during the journey!"
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READ: How To Manage A Classic Beijing Burnout
Images: Siyu He
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