Family

Travelling with grandparents and young kids

Three generations in one house is either the best trip you will take or the longest week of your life, and the difference is almost entirely the house. Here is what to look for when the youngest is two and the eldest is eighty.

The one thing that decides everything: a main-level bedroom

Before anything else, confirm there is a bedroom on the main level with a bathroom nearby. Grandparents navigating stairs at midnight, or worse after a long travel day, is the single most common reason a multigenerational stay goes badly. Ask directly — do not assume from a photograph.

Separation without isolation

Young children run on a different clock. Naps at one, dinner at five, asleep by seven. Grandparents often want quiet evenings; parents want an hour after bedtime. A home with distinct floors or wings gives each generation somewhere to be, while one shared kitchen and living area keeps the trip from becoming three separate holidays under one roof.

The kitchen matters more than the amenities

With toddlers, eating out is a project. With grandparents, dietary needs are often specific. A real kitchen — counter space, a table that seats everyone, room for two people to cook — turns three meals a day from logistics into the best part of the trip.

Honest safety talk

These are private homes, not childproofed facilities. Stairs have no gates, pools have no lifeguards, fireplaces are real, and balconies are accessible. Where a home has a pool or hot tub, keep gates closed and secured and never leave a child unattended near water. Cribs and high chairs are available on request as a courtesy — inspect any equipment yourself before use and supervise at all times. This is worth reading properly in our terms before you book.

Homes that suit three generations

Dual-Suite Estate — 4 Bedrooms

Two separate suites under one booking — the natural fit when grandparents want their own space and door, and the family wants theirs, without anyone driving between two addresses.

View Dual-Suite Estate →

Twin-Kitchen Suite — 3 Bedrooms

Two kitchens — useful when dietary needs differ, when someone is cooking for a toddler at 5pm and everyone else eats at eight, or when two households share a stay.

View Twin-Kitchen Suite →

The Poolside Estate — 8 Bedrooms

Sleeps 20 across 8 bedrooms and 4 baths, with a heated pool, a separate 2-bedroom-plus-den suite and a private coach residence — space for a large extended family with real distance between the generations when they want it.

View The Poolside Estate →

Questions worth asking before you book

See homes with room for every generation.

See family homes →

Common questions

Where can we stay with grandparents and young kids near Toronto?

Look for a home with a ground-floor or main-level bedroom for grandparents, separate living areas so nap times and evenings work, and a full kitchen. Canterra Stays homes across Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto are set up this way, and cribs are available on request.

Do you have homes with a ground-floor bedroom?

Several homes have main-level bedrooms suitable for anyone who should not be climbing stairs. Tell us who is travelling when you enquire and we will point you to the homes that work.

Are cribs and high chairs available?

Cribs are available on request as an optional courtesy, subject to availability. A responsible adult must inspect any child equipment before use and supervise children at all times — full details are in our terms.

How do we keep three generations comfortable in one home?

Separation without isolation. Homes with distinct floors or wings let grandparents settle quietly, parents keep their own space, and kids have room to be kids — while one kitchen and living area pulls everyone back together for meals.

Are the homes safe for toddlers?

Homes are private residences, not childproofed facilities. Stairs, pools, fireplaces and balconies all require active adult supervision at all times. Where a home has a pool there is no lifeguard and gates must be kept closed and secured.