Published 7th Nov. 2025
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Travel has many benefits, from immersing yourself in another culture to escaping the burdens of daily life, all while allowing you to learn and evolve. Many travellers are now looking to extend these positive impacts to their entire clan, with multi-generational travel emerging as an increasingly popular way to see the world. This takes the concept of a traditional holiday and broadens horizons so that every generation of your family is included. If you’re thinking of giving a ‘3G’ (three generational) trip a try, this guide is your perfect starting point. From understanding exactly what makes this kind of holiday worthwhile, to tips and statistical titbits to guarantee you do yours right, this is your springboard for the ultimate travel experience with the entire family…
Multi-generational travel is any kind of holiday where at least three or more generations are present. For example, if parents of young children also travel with one pair of their little ones’ grandparents, it would be considered a multi-generational holiday.
This kind of trip was very popular at the turn of the century, but became less so as the millennium surged on. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a stronger appetite for travel with the whole family, as people look to spend more time bonding with their loved ones after several years not being able to travel together.
Image by Carol Sachs.
People don’t just take multi-generational holidays for the sake of it. There are plenty of reasons why more people are now thinking about this kind of trip. Here are some of the best to consider:
- Family bonding. First and foremost, travelling as a whole family unit gives everyone the chance to grow closer, and tightens ties immeasurably. Life can get busy; it’s not always practical or even possible to spend as much time with our loved ones as we’d like. A dedicated trip away blocks out time for this much-needed bonding session, making sure that the little ones and the grandparents get the time needed to grow closer.
- Experiential learning opportunities. Education doesn’t stop in the classroom. Holidays are an amazing opportunity for children to engage with and learn more about different cultures, languages and customs. Having three generations of traveller on your trip only heightens this, as it provides a more rounded set of perspectives. This gives families the chance to grow and learn from each other as part of any core travel experience.
- A heightened sense of heritage. If you’re a family with a mixture of cultural heritages, a holiday with the grandparents could give children the chance to learn more about their roots. That’s especially true if you’re exploring areas with deep ties to your lineage. Grandparents, or even parents, can provide hands-on immersive lessons about the customs and culture you’re exploring. Children will have the chance to tap into the history of their family’s homeland.
- Nostalgia and lifetime memories. Holidays are all about making memories. Forging those with the entire family serves to make them that little bit more special. Some of us only get a fleeting amount of time with our grandparents. A holiday together guarantees that core memories will be formed with these key figures in a child’s life. It’s also a brilliant chance for grandparents and parents to create new memories in adulthood.
- Splitting the costs. In a more practical sense, group holidays often tend to be a little more affordable. Some destinations offer deals on larger parties, or the eldest generation may even offer to cover more of the trip (or vice versa).
- Some downtime for parents. While bringing the grandparents along shouldn’t be viewed as ‘free childcare’, it’s definitely true that an extra pair of parental figures on a trip helps to lighten the proverbial load a little. Grandma and grandpa may even offer to babysit one evening to give the parents a much-needed romantic date night.
Image by Pauline Chardin.
So, just how popular is this kind of travel becoming? Let’s dive into some telling statistics, to fully understand just how transformative this kind of trip is becoming.
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35% of all holidays taken last year were booked with multi-generational travel in mind. That means more than one in three holidays which were taken saw three generations making lasting memories together. This theme of prioritising shared experiences and enjoying the luxury of time spent as a group, highlights how important these types of holiday are becoming.
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Of those who’ve had the privilege to travel in this way, a very healthy chunk would choose to do so again. 74% of people said they’d repeat the concept again in the future, with 67% saying they’d make this a priority when planning time away. That’s not too surprising when you consider that 76% of those who’d been on a multi-generational trip in the past also said these kinds of stays were the ultimate way to make lasting memories as a family.
Image by Faustine Poidevin-Gros.
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But it’s not all about those warm and fuzzy memories. Parents also admitted that holidays were simply a lot easier with an extra generation of parental figures around. 72% of respondents in the same survey found this, with 59% going on to say that having the grandparents around was a huge reliever of overall stress levels.
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Such is the appreciation of having the grandparents there, that 49% of parents were willing to cover the total cost of bringing their senior generation along. The feeling of appreciation was clearly mutual, with 50% of grandparents also saying they were willing to pay for all expenses and costs on any trip. That’s a lot of people who are keen to spend time together, no matter what the cost.
Image by Claire Guarry.
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Given the immense benefits of a multi-generational holiday, it’s perhaps no surprise that this has now emerged as the second most popular type of travel in 2025. In the US and Canada alone, this kind of trip has seen a huge jump of 39% to 66% across the past year.
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This love for multi-generational adventure has strongly been felt by the parents of today. A whopping 97% of all those surveyed by easyJet said that they had full intentions of tagging along with their grown-up children on holiday, even after they fly the nest. That said, it’s yet to be determined how the children feel about these plans…
Image by Harry Boeki.
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The same survey went on to showcase that in 80% of all cases where a family planned to go away together, the holiday itself was tailored to the needs of the whole clan. That’s lovely to hear, but it does make you wonder about the other 20% of holidays where not everyone was listened to in the planning stage – did the children run the show?
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At this point, most of us know that we’ve all been shuffled off into specific ‘generations’. With that in mind, it’s the younger generations (such as Gen Z and Millennials) who are most keen to travel with the whole family. 58% of parents in these categories were responsive to the idea of a multi-generational trip, while just 31% of Gen X and Baby Boomers (the grandparents and potentially great grandparents of Gen Z) were on board.
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These younger gens were also more willing to listen to the needs and wants of their children when it came to holiday planning. The same demographics said that in 68% of cases, they would listen to and take on board the desires of their little ones when plotting out a holiday. Gen Z and Baby Boomers said that their children’s opinions only factored in on 56% of occasions.
Image by Helena Schaetzle/LAIF-REA.
Are you convinced that a multi-generational holiday is right for your family? If you’re ready to commit to time away with all of your nearest and dearest, it’s best to approach it right. Here are some of the most important things you need to know to make sure your adventure is as amazing as it should be.
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Part of finding the right kind of trip is making sure that the destination you’ve got your sights on is going to work for everyone in your party. This is a huge barrier for a lot of people wanting to travel, with as many as two thirds of UK families with accessibility requirements believing they face too many challenges as part of a summer holiday to be able to properly enjoy it.
As such, it pays to do a bit of research into where you’re headed. Look for destinations which have a high level of accessibility, with a proven track record for accommodating the needs of every kind of traveller.
What’s more, getting enough sleep when you travel is also a major factor for enjoying your time away. This is another element which can be that little bit harder when travelling with particularly young children. Think about picking quieter areas to stay in, as well as accommodation which has been designed with children in mind.
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Safety is another pivotal factor to keep in mind when planning a trip with your whole family. While it’s always smart to keep the concept of protecting yourself at the top of your mind, that desire is usually ramped up a notch when your loved ones are travelling with you.
A recent study found that the UAE was the safest country in the world to visit, followed closely by Oman, Armenia, Japan and Singapore. It’s important to take in what these kinds of studies say, but also do your own homework. Look for specific cities or regions where crime rates are low, or road accidents fewer.
Image by Andrane de Barry.
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For some, the idea of planning out every finite detail of a holiday is half the fun. For others, it’s hard to think of anything worse. The admin of planning a trip is only going to be heightened when travelling with the family in tow. With that in mind, it might be smart to turn to a tour operator instead.
Tour operators (like ourselves) provide expert guidance with detailed local knowledge. They’ll save you time, make your trip more affordable and take the stress out of unforeseen circumstances like flight changes or cancellations. They often handle the nitty-gritty for you, meaning you and the family can enjoy your holiday, stress-free.
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If you’re thinking about heading somewhere a little more remote, consider what kind of impact that might have on travelling around when you get there. Not every town or village has the same transport network that the big cities have. This might be especially important to keep in mind if you have older or younger members of your group who struggle with public transport or longer, more uncomfortable journeys. You’ll also need to read up on the car seat rules if you’re travelling with younger children.
Image by Martin Bruno.
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Sometimes planning a multi-generational trip is as simple as booking a few hotel rooms, finding your transport, and jotting down a few ‘must-see’ spots at your end destination. But that isn’t always the case. If you’re travelling with particularly young members of the household, or anyone in your party has accessibility or specialist requirements, finding a holiday which works for everyone might be challenging.
If that’s the case, it’s smart to turn to tried and tested travel specialists (hint: that’s us) who have spent years working with individuals and groups to create tailor-made holidays that create lifelong memories. Reach out and speak to an expert and get your plan of action rolling.
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It’s always important to take out insurance when you travel. While you’ll hopefully never need it, having a policy in place can bring immense peace of mind. These aren’t always super cheap, especially if you’re paying for multiple people. Bundling your policy into one group level of coverage might save money, while keeping everyone protected.
Image by Chloe Simon.
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Prioritising time together is a huge aspect of multi-generational travel. While there’s no harm in allowing these moments to happen naturally, it’s also a good idea to have one or two specifically planned out. These don’t have to be anything complex. Something as simple as a day trip to a nearby tourist hotspot, or some kind of class, can bring everyone closer together.
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You don’t have to spend the whole holiday hanging out together as one large group. Make it optional to break off into smaller breakout groups for day trips. This will give members of all generations the chance to have more intimate chats and experiences. This kind of bonding has been proven to have a positive mental impact on children. The University of Oxford found that children with high levels of grandparental involvement had fewer emotional and behavioural problems as they aged.
Image by Olivier Romano.
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Let’s be realistic: children can be very fussy eaters. That’s especially true on a holiday, where there might be fewer options that you know they’ll like. Likewise, the more members of the family who’re travelling, the higher the chances that someone will have a specific dietary requirement.
With that in mind, it’s a clever idea to have your dinners booked, or at the very least planned, before you travel. This gives everyone the chance to pick a dish or a cuisine that they know they’ll enjoy. Or, in the case of very young children, it gives parents the chance to try and find something they think their little ones might be okay with.
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With all this prep talk in mind, it’s important to remember that some of the best adventures that can happen on a holiday are ones you stumble into. Having a rough agenda is always smart, but don’t get upset if your plans deviate from it at all. Live in the moment, and try to embrace things as they happen.
Are you ready to go on a multi-generational holiday? This rewarding kind of adventure brings families closer and forges memories which will last a lifetime, so make sure to keep this kind of trip at the top of your priority list when it comes to planning your next getaway.
Image by Pie Aerts.
Header image by Faustine Poidevin-Gros.
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
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