Planning that big summer or holiday family vacation? Skip the internet research and call the kids instead. A survey conducted by HomeAway, a vacation rentals business and the magazine FamilyFun found that when it comes to trip planning, kids wield tremendous power. Eighty-seven percent of parents surveyed in the US said their kids play a role in vacation planning, and 13 percent said their kids actually make the final decision.
Among the survey’s key findings:
Experiences matter more than material things.
43 percent of kid respondents said they would prefer to go on vacation rather than receive a physical gift for their next birthday (38 percent).
46 percent of kids said seeing a new place or trying new things is their favorite part of vacationing.
Peer pressure persuades when it comes to vacations… in a good way.
The number-one influence on kids is their friends (37 percent), besting celebrities, Instagram, TV, and movies.From palm trees to poolside retreats, kids and parents have the same vacation vision.
From palm trees to poolside retreats, kids and parents have the same vacation vision.
Given the choice, 36 percent of parents and about the same percentage of kids (38 percent) would choose to stay at a vacation rental over any other type of accommodation. That makes sense because more than half (63 percent) of the adults said having enough beds for everyone is a priority, and kids ranked having their own room as their No. 2 priority in vacation stay amenities (18 percent).Both parents and kids ranked a private island,
Both parents and kids ranked a private island, castle, and treehouse as their top three choices among unique places to stay.77 percent of parents said a pool is important to them. Similarly, a pool was kids’ highest-ranking vacation
77 percent of parents said a pool is important to them. Similarly, a pool was kids’ highest-ranking vacation amenity (36 percent).Kids want to branch out along the family tree…but
Kids want to branch out along the family tree…but Fido reigns supreme.
Nearly one-third of kids would include their pet (32 percent), their cousins (32 percent) or their grandparents (29 percent) on their ideal family vacation. Over half (54 percent) would also like to invite friends.
“People always ask adults their opinion, but what’s really cool about including kids in the research is that we found making memories is just as important to them as it is to their parents,” said Melanie Fish, HomeAway’s family travel expert. “Young people value experiences over ‘stuff,’ and families are planning vacations together.”
“Vacations are where new family legends are born, and when kids are involved in the planning from the beginning, you lay the groundwork for memories that will last a lifetime,” said Elizabeth Shaw, FamilyFun’s editor-in-chief.