Parents may want to strengthen the familial bonds on vacation, but kids just want to hit the pool according to a new blue paper on family travel trends by Hilton Worldwide. We polled our mom readers, and while they said that family suites and all-inclusives were the most important aspects of a family-friendly hotel, it’s clear they are thinking from a more practical point of view, proving Hilton’s other point — Moms are the ones acting as the family travel planners. For these trends in the family travel market and more, read on.
1. Agent mom. Mom serves as the family travel agent — researching travel options and seeking advice from trusted sources (including friends and family) before booking a vacation for the clan. While parents want to simply relax and create fond memories while vacationing, kids are mostly interested in swimming and good food.
2. Pools, please. Water activities are the number-one resort touch point for parents and kids, followed by spacious (and potentially adjoining) guestrooms and a variety of dining options.
3. For kids only. Kids’ clubs are a highly valued resort amenity for families because they allow kids to have fun with peers and enjoy group activities while parents can take advantage of some “me” time and feel confident that the kids are in good hands.
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4. All in. There is an increasing interest in all-inclusive resorts, with 92 percent of U.S. parents and 95 percent of U.K. parents at least “somewhat interested” in this resort vacation option.
"We look for hotels with a beach."
— Lori Hoffman, Plainfield, Ill.
"Our family looks for rooms with a refrigerator and a microwave."
— Erin Kirkland, Anchorage, Alaska
What do you look for in a family-friendly resort?
50% Family Suites
40% All-Inclusive
7% Pool
3% Kids’ Club
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Kids just want to have fun in the resort’s pool. // © 2012 Thinkstock |
