Multigenerational family vacations continue to gain in popularity, with travelers focused on spending as much quality time with their extended families as possible. This, according to a new survey released by Beaches Resorts.
The Censuswide survey, which polled over 1,000 North American families, with respondents aged 25-45, revealed a growing trend towards bringing three or more generations together for richer and more diverse family travel experiences. Among the key findings, 74 percent of respondents who had taken a multigenerational vacation expressed continued enthusiasm for extended family getaways, with 67 percent of parents prioritizing family travel to maximize time across generations.
Traveling With Extended Family Takes Priority
Nearly half of the respondents are reshaping their vacation preferences with a family-first approach, favoring vacations that include multiple generations. Specifically, 50 percent of parents surveyed expressed a preference for multigenerational vacations over trips with just their kids, with 76 percent agreeing that travel is the ultimate way to create lasting memories as an extended family.
Additionally, 57 percent of parents showed interest in initiating new family traditions centered around vacations with grandparents, and 69 percent of parents are eager for their children’s grandparents to join more of their family vacations.
We’ve all been hearing about the skip-generation trips, but now more parents want to be part of the fun, with 37 percent of parents surveyed wishing they could be a part of grandparent-grandchild vacations.
Nostalgia is playing a big role in these decisions, with 60 percent of parents reporting that their core include their grandparents. In fact, 70 percent of respondents are making the effort to connect the two generations. Among those 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 reported that grandparents are traveling more than ever, with nearly half traveling internationally on average twice per year, and 50 percent of working grandparents taking PTO to vacation with their families.
Modern Family
The survey data suggests that grandparents make excellent travel companions. Sixty-one percent of respondents agreed that grandparents are more active during travel than they expected, with 62 percent citing that they are also more adventurous. As a result, 63 percent of parents believe vacations are more enriching when grandparents are involved in the planning. In fact, 72 percent of parents stated that grandparents are extremely helpful on vacations, with 59 percent agreeing that having grandparents along eases stress. And whereas it’s been commonly assumed that grandparents are forking the bill, this survey found that almost half of the parents surveyed are willing to cover all expenses for grandparents to join their vacations. Additionally, 46 percent of parents have booked or would book a second room for their kids to stay with grandparents.
Time for Bonding
According to the data, children also value spending time with family during vacations, with 72 percent of respondents noting that their kids have expressed an interest in traveling with their parents and grandparents. Furthermore, 66 percent of respondents indicated that their children would prefer family activities over the kids club at a hotel. This aligns with findings from an earlier Beaches Resorts survey among parents of Gen Alpha children (those born in 2010 and later), where 70 percent of traveling tweens preferred to engage in activities with their parents while on vacation.
When asked what they look forward to when planning multigenerational vacations, the top priorities for respondents included time spent together as a family, 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).
Summer is Here to Stay, If Beaches has Any Say
Beaches Resorts has launched a new limited-time offer, Fall Fam Jam, that’s valid on stays of five nights or longer for travel through November 20 and available at all three Caribbean locations: Beaches Turks & Caicos, Beaches Negril and Beaches Ocho Rios.
The offer includes a complimentary Sesame Street Tuck-in for tots or a rejuvenating couples spa treatment for parents at the resorts’ Red Lane Spa. Families can choose between a favorite bedtime story from characters like Elmo or Bert, or parents can treat themselves to a little time out of their own—with countless other activities included that appeal to the entire family.
At Beaches Ocho Rios and Beaches Negril, families who complete their booking before Oct. 6 can combine the Fall Fam Jam offer with the Experience Jamaica sale. This includes a $500 air credit for stays of seven nights or longer as well as a $275 Island Routes tour credit, valid on a wide variety of excursions throughout Jamaica, such as the Dunn’s River Falls, catamaran snorkeling adventures and more.
For more details, visit beaches.com or taportal.sandals.com/landing.
