Families continue to use travel as a means of staying close and reconnecting. The 2018 Virtuoso Luxe Report shows exactly how they’re doing so and what you can expect for the most popular family travel destinations and trends this summer.
Generation Z Boasts Big Buying Power
Generation Z (those born in the mid-1990s to mid-2010s, or three- to 23-year-olds) greatly influence family travel spending. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation reported Gen Z has a buying power of $43 billion and influenced $600 billion of family spending.
Members of Gen Z push their parents to take their interests into consideration when planning family travel and influence their parents’ decisions through social media, reviews and word of mouth. Typically, Gen Z travelers look for active experiences in unusual destinations, preferably those visually suited for social media.
Making up more than a quarter of the population, Gen Z’s influence on the travel industry isn’t going anywhere, with many travel brands turning their attention away from millennials to focus on this up-and-coming group. What sets Gen Z apart from prior generations? A global mindset that seeks even more unusual, authentic and unique experiences apart from the norm, and a lifestyle driven by social media presence and activity.
Top Family Travel Types
The Luxe Report ranked family travel types, with beach resort stays coming in at first place for preferred family trips. Following, in descending order of popularity, were active or adventure trips, celebration travel, mother/daughter or father/son trips, guided or private tours, ocean cruising, cultural immersion trips, educational trips, river cruises and exclusive-use travel (with private islands, villas, jets, yachts or similar amenities).
Most Popular Family Destinations
Some of the most popular current family destinations are no surprise. Italy comes in first, followed by Mexico, then Orlando, Hawai’i and Costa Rica round out the top five, while the Dominican Republic, South Africa, England, Canada and France follow. Italy remained in the top spot for nine years and England and France are familiar names on the list, as is Orlando. Families looking for more adventurous experiences are choosing Costa Rica and South Africa. Meanwhile, Canada’s mix of urban destinations and the great outdoors lures families seeking the best of both worlds.
Most Popular Unconventional Destinations
With Gen Z pushing for those unusual destinations, parents branch out to countries not previously picked for family travel. The top unconventional family destination, same as last year, is Iceland, which claims popularity regardless of traveler demographic. Following are the Galapagos Islands, Cuba, Antarctica, Botswana, Mongolia, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Rwanda and Croatia
Read This Next
5 Family-Friendly Museums in Charleston
Destinations / North America
Aug 22, 2024#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Oct 3, 2024The Best Haunted Hotels and Towns for Families
Spooky season is upon us, and that means it’s time to treat the family to some haunted fun. Luckily, there are plenty of hotels and, in some cases, even towns you can visit for some good old-fashioned scares. So, as October gets into full swing, pack your bags, grab the teens and tweens, and head to some of the country’s top spots for scary sightings and fun.
Sponsored Content
Sunflower Accessibility Program Featured at O’Hare and Midway Airports
Travelers with invisible disabilities passing through O’Hare and Midway International Airports can now discreetly signal they need assistance thanks to a new Chicago Department of Aviation partnership that helps create more accessible and inclusive spaces.
Destinations / North America
Oct 3, 2024Feel the Joy of Apple Picking Adventures in New York’s Cayuga County
Add a seasonal touch to family travel this autumn with one of fall’s most cherished traditions: apple picking. In Cayuga County, New York, community and nature take center stage amid crisp air and changing leaves. Head out to apple pick in the many sprawling orchards and other landscapes.
Kids
Oct 3, 20243 Elevated Kids Programs Worth Traveling For
More and more hotels welcome family travelers with exclusive family-friendly programming. Global Wellness Institute highlighted this trend by listing “wellness holidays with kids” as a growing focus, emphasizing child growth through activities promoting fun and wellbeing. Here are three hotels offering fun and educational kids programming worth the family trip:
Sponsored Content
Travel to Madrid with the Family and Find Activities to Keep Everyone Happy!
If life were a city, it’d be Madrid. Sometimes it can be quite the challenge to find a destination just right for the whole family. Different tastes and ages make agreeing on where to go seem impossible. Unless, of course, the destination you have in mind is Madrid. With all of its new immersive museums, musicals, soccer stadiums and monuments like Royal Palace, anyone who suggests coming to the capital is sure to get a unanimous yes!
Slideshow
Oct 3, 20247 Valencia, Spain, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Valencia, Spain, with us.
ShareThis