While many across the UK would love a summer break, 2025 is proving a financial issue for holidaymakers…
Labour have boasted that the wage increase has made people ‘better off’, that’s great if it were true – but as the cost of everything else goes up, to pay for those increases – no one is better off. Travel is one area that many are cutting back on this year. More than half (53 percent) of UK parents believe that the best way to make family memories is through travel, while 71 percent feel exploring the world gives kids confidence later in life.
But while a lucky 39 percent are travelling more with their children, post pandemic – as many as 35 percent said hopping on a plane this year was just a pipe dream. Yet, the survey reveals as many as six in ten (62 percent) of parents have a dream list of adventures, they would love to experience with their offspring.
According to the 2,000 mums and dads surveyed, if money were no object, the experience they would most LOVE to share with their kids, was seeing the bright lights of Times Square after dark. This was followed by tucking into a pizza in Naples (32 percent), travelling on the Orient Express (30 percent) and seeing the Northern Lights in Reykjavik (27 percent).
Other family adventures to make the definitive list of forty, were experiencing the thrills at Disneyland Paris (25 percent) discovering the ancient Roman world of Pompeii (24 percent), swimming in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (22 percent) and spotting wild animals on safari in South Africa (21 percent).
Parents would also love to take their kids to enjoy deep dish pizza in Chicago (19 percent), trek along Hadrian’s Wall (18 percent), celebrate the day of the dead in Mexico (17 percent), explore the lost city of Petra in Jordan (17 percent), and see an original Van Gogh painting in Amsterdam (15 percent).
The research, commissioned by Boundless, also found that almost eight in ten (78 percent) mum and dads believe travel helps to broaden children’s horizons and encourages them learn about different cultures (77 percent).
Darren Milton at Boundless:
“It is clear UK families love to travel – it has the power to educate, inspire and bring people closer together. Sadly, it’s not surprising to see that a third of families are travelling less now because of the cost.
“We’re proud to help our members make the most of their time off by offering great value days out, travel deals and inspiration for holidays in the UK and abroad. Whether it’s a staycation or ticking off a bucket list adventure overseas, we’re here to help create lasting family memories without breaking the bank.”
96 percent hope that family holidays will inspire their children to take their own kids away when they grow up. Two thirds (63 percent) would love to explore and travel in the UK more.
THE ULTIMATE FAMILY TRAVEL ADVENTURES
- See Times Square at night, New York – 44%
- Eat pizza in Naples, Italy – 32%
- Take a trip on the Orient Express – 30%
- See the Northern Lights in Reykjavik – 27%
- Climb to the top of the Empire State Building in New York – 25%
- Enjoy the rides at Disneyland Paris – 25%
- Visit Pompeii – 24%
- Swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives – 23%
- Explore the Valley of the Kings in Egypt – 23%
- Swim the Great Barrier Reef in Australia – 22%
- Go on safari in South Africa – 21%
- See Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 20%
- Eat deep dish pizza in Chicago – 19%
- Go whale watching in Iceland – 19%
- See the Colosseum in Rome – 19%
- Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico – 17%
- Go island hopping in Greece – 17%
- See the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome – 17%
- Get a selfie under the Eiffel Tower in Paris – 17%
- Explore the Grand Canyon in Arizona – 17%
- Drive Route 66 across America – 17%
- Eat Pastel de Nata in Lisbon, Portugal – 17%
- Visit the Lost City of Petra in Jordan – 17%
- Visit Lapland and go on a husky sleigh ride – 16%
- See an original Van Gogh at the Museum in Amsterdam – 15%
- Visit the Parthenon in Athens – 14%
- See the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, Paris – 14%
- Take surfing lessons in Newquay, Cornwall – 14%
- Take a picture ‘holding up’ the Leaning Tower of Pisa – 14%
- Eat street food in Bangkok, Thailand – 14%
