Here Are The Latest Multi-Gen Travel Trends

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:40 PM ET, Wed September 4, 2024

Multi-generational travel has been popular for years, but it seems this family-forward style of travel is expanding in a number of ways.

A new survey released by Beaches Resorts and conducted by Censuswide finds that there’s now a growing desire to bring “three or more” generations together for vacations. But that’s not the only development emerging from the recent survey.

Here’s a closer look at the latest in multi-generational travel.

So-Long Solo Getaways

It seems the days of parents planning vacations to take time off from their child rearing duties and have a little down time may be waning.

A substantial 49 percent of parents surveyed say they are swapping solo getaways for multi-generation family trips.

“Almost half of respondents are redefining their vacation preferences with a family-first mindset, prioritizing vacations that include multiple generations,” says the survey.

Nuclear Family Trips, Not So Much

Planning a vacation for just you and your children is so...2019. A notable 50 percent of parents polled say they prefer to take a multi-gen vacation over a vacation with just their kids

Also notable, 76 percent of survey respondents agree that travel is the ultimate way to make memories as an extended family, while 57 percent are interested in starting new family traditions centered around vacations with grandparents.

And finally, a resounding 69 percent of parents are eager for their children's grandparents to join more of their family vacations.

Buh-Bye Skip Gen Trips

In case you missed the memo, skip-generation trips have been popular in recent years. Not familiar with this particular term? It means trips involving just grandparents and their grandchildren — sans the children’s parents.

But these days, parents are eager to join the fun, according to the Beaches survey.

In fact, 37 percent of parents surveyed wished they could be part of grandparent-grandchild vacations, valuing the chance to create lasting memories together.

Hello, Nostalgia Trips

A wave of nostalgia also appears to be sweeping travelers. That’s evidenced in the 60 percent of parents who say their core childhood vacation memories include their grandparents.  

And when it comes to grandparents, it seems 70 percent of respondents make the effort to facilitate time spent between their children and grandparents, with almost the same number of parents (67 percent) wishing they'd spent more time with their own grandparents.

Of those parents who have taken a multi-generational vacation, 55 percent are bringing their children's grandparents along for the fun – a natural fit as 43 percent said grandparents are traveling more than ever with almost half of them traveling internationally an average of twice per year, and 50 percent of working grandparents taking PTO to go on vacation with their families.

Grandparents Are Officially 'Best' Travel Buddies

People are remaining active in life far longer than ever and millennial parents are taking notice.

Sixty-one percent of respondents agreed that grandparents were more active than expected during travel, with 62 percent saying they were more adventurous than expected.

What’s more, when it comes to vacation planning, parents are tapping into that zest for adventure, with 63 percent of parents saying vacations are more enriching when grandma is involved in the planning.

Equally notable:

72 percent of parents said that grandparents are extremely helpful on vacation
59 percent agree that having grandparents along for the trip eases stress.
On multi-gen vacations, 46 percent of parents have booked / would book a second room for kids to stay with grandparents.

Parents and Grandparents Are Still Cool

It seems there comes a time in every child’s life when mom and dad are no longer cool (sigh) and that can also bring an end to the family vacations.

But wait, not so fast.

The Beaches survey revealed that a whopping 65 percent of parents say their kids crave more vacation time together.

“Parents and grandparents can rest easy that they are no longer cramping their kids' vacation vibes,” says the survey.
The data shows children are also placing value in spending time with family on vacation, with 72 percent of respondents saying their kids have expressed an interest in traveling with their parents and grandparents.

Moreover, every moment counts, with 66 percent saying their children would prefer family activities over the Kids Club at a hotel.

This supports data uncovered in an earlier survey conducted by Beaches Resorts among parents of Gen Alpha children (those born in 2010 and later), where 70 percent of traveling tweens preferred to enjoy activities with their parents while on vacation.

When presented with different criteria they look forward to when planning multi-gen vacations, the priority was on time spent together as a family, with options for activities (54 percent), restaurants (54 percent), large accommodations/connecting rooms (45 percent) and the rare opportunity to have everyone in one place (36 percent) valued most.