Family Vacation Central

Teens on family trips are becoming less negative about the idea of taking a family holiday, according to research by Mintel.

A survey by the company found that less than a quarter of teens on family trips(23%)  aged between 16 and 25 currently feel the need to escape from their parents during a break, compared to over a third (36%) two years ago.

A Quarter of teens on family trips enjoy it.

In talking about it 24% of the teens on family trips said in 2008 that they cannot afford to travel without their mum and dad, while 18% expressed the same view this year, suggesting that money is not the main reason behind the positive attitude towards family holidays.

Tom Rees, senior travel analyst at Mintel, said: ‘While the recession may have played its part in encouraging Britain’s young adults to get a paid-for break with their family, these figures highlight the fact that it’s not about cost for those choosing to do so.

‘However, recession-driven recruitment freezes have hit graduates particularly hard and created a real fear that a “lost generation” will be the legacy – influencing both their attitudes towards holidays and their ability to travel.’

I remember as a teens on family trips that I was not a big fan wanting to hang out with friends instead but once away I always had a good time.

Around a quarter (23%) of the 16- to 25-year-olds surveyed said they are likely to go on holiday with their parents again in future.

Really the most important thing that parents of kids still at home can do is to keep the kids and young adults interested in being teens on family trips. Just like when you go tent camping as a little kid and have an exciting time, now that the kids are older the vacation choices need to stay interesting to the kids as well.

It takes a village to raise a child, and at least as many to entertain one on an airplane. With that in mind, Nina Willdorf, editor in chief of Budget Travel, collected travel advice from her readers for a handy new book, The Smart Family’s Passport: 350 Money, Time and Sanity Saving Tips (Quirk Books, $14.95).

Here, a few of our favorites:

I write my cell phone number on the inside of rubber bracelets . . . and have my children wear them when we’re away from home. That way, should we get separated, they can show the number to a helpful adult.

– Susan Redman, Hebron, Conn.

When we take our kids to foreign destinations, in addition to spending days at museums, cathedrals and castles, we visit supermarkets and department stores. We learn a lot about each culture by perusing the aisles. Some food is odd to us, some is familiar and we always buy something new to try.

– Gwen Gibbons, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Whenever we stay at a hotel whose rate doesn’t include a continental breakfast, I bring several packages of instant oatmeal. Even rooms without a microwave often have a coffeemaker, so heating water isn’t a problem. We all make our own oatmeal in the coffee cups provided.

– Julie Bunczak, Wausau, Wis. Continue reading →