Planning that big summer vacation or family holiday? Skip the internet research and call the kids instead. A survey conducted by HomeAway, a vacation rental company, and FamilyFun magazine found that when it comes to travel planning, kids have immense power. Eighty-seven percent of parents surveyed in the U.S. said their children participate in planning vacations, and 13 percent said their kids actually make the final decision.
Among the key findings of the survey:
Experiences matter more than material things.
43 percent of responding children said they would prefer to go on vacation than receive a physical gift for their next birthday (38 percent).
46 percent of children said that seeing a new place or trying new things is their favorite part of vacation.
Peer pressure convinces when it comes to vacations… in a good way.
The number one influence on kids is their friends (37 percent), surpassing celebrities, Instagram, TV, and movies. From palm trees to poolside retreats, kids and parents share the same vision of vacation.
Given the choice, 36 percent of parents and about the same percentage of kids (38 percent) would choose to stay in a vacation rental over any other type of accommodation. This makes sense because more than half (63 percent) of adults said having enough beds for everyone is a priority, and kids ranked having their own room as the number 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 the highest-rated vacation amenity by kids
77 percent of parents said a pool is important to them. Similarly, a pool was the highest-rated vacation amenity by kids (36 percent). Kids want to expand their family tree… but
Kids want to expand their family tree… but Fido reigns supreme.
Almost one-third of kids would include their pet (32 percent), their cousins (32 percent), or their grandparents (29 percent) in their ideal family vacation. More than half (54 percent) would also like to invite friends.
“People always ask adults for their opinions, but what’s really cool about including kids in the survey is that we found creating memories is just as important to them as it is to parents,” said Melanie Fish, family travel expert at HomeAway. “Young people value experiences more than ‘things,’ and families are planning vacations together.”
“Vacations are where new family legends are born, and when kids are involved in the planning from the start, you lay the groundwork for memories that will last a lifetime,” said Elizabeth Shaw, editor-in-chief of FamilyFun.