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Have you inherited your holiday habits?
I inherited my love of travel from my mum, and now I’m expecting a child of my own, one of my aims as a parent will be to pass on my passion...
07:56 02 June 2013
I inherited my love of travel from my mum, and now I’m expecting a child of my own, one of my aims as a parent will be to pass on my passion for discovering new places.
From city breaks in Paris to self-catering Greek adventures, as an adult I’ve been back to many of the places I remember fondly as a child. And research by TravelSupermarket shows that I’m not alone.
In fact, our research found that nearly half of British holidaymakers (48%) have returned to a holiday destination they visited with their family as a child, with 27% of these holidaymakers having been back to that destination at least once in the last two years.
What’s more, 52% of the Brits we asked told us they’d been on a similar type of break to those they experienced on childhood getaways.
But with so many places around the world to discover, why are Brits being drawn back to destinations they’ve visited before?
Hand-me-down holidays
A key reason behind the hand-me-down holiday trend seems to be the uncertain economic climate making us think carefully about every extra penny we spend. And a response from more than half (51%) of Brits who visited the same place as they did as a child was that it was “tried and tested and offered good value for money”.
Other reasons included: “We’ll know we’ll enjoy ourselves” (47%) and “We’d like our children to have the same experiences we did” (39%).
Talking about the fear of making the wrong holiday decision, TravelSupermarket’s travel expert, Bob Atkinson, said: “Our family holidays give us memories that last a lifetime, so it’s little wonder they’re so important to us. We can’t afford to get them wrong, especially as the current economic climate is putting pressure on families to get the best value from their holiday.”
Lucy Norman is one of the many Brits who have inherited their holiday destination and is now passing on her travel trends to her young family. Here’s her story…
“Lido Di Jesolo holds a special place in my heart”
As a child, Lucy Norman used to visit Lido Di Jesolo near Venice with her family. Then, when she was 18, she met the man who would eventually become her husband there. Since their holiday romance, the couple have returned to the resort regularly with their two sons Joseph (10) and William (6) and are planning a trip there this August to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
When they are in Lido Di Jesolo, Lucy and her family have a tried-and-tested routine – they stay in the same hotel (and ask for the same room), bag the same spot on the beach, eat lunch in the same beach cafe then head to their favourite bar for some evening entertainment.
Lucy says she returns to Lido Di Jesolo as, not only does the destination hold a special place in her heart, she knows there’s something there for all of the family and enjoyment is guaranteed. The family have considered trying somewhere new but always worry that they’ll spend money on a trip they won’t enjoy as much.
Tried and tested
As Lucy’s routine demonstrates, it’s not just holiday destinations that we’ve inherited from our parents. Our research also found that the activities we take part in while we’re away are passed down too.
Despite some generational differences – for example, those over 55 are more likely to remember nostalgic activities such as eating an ice-cream fondly (51%) while those aged between 18 and 34 had more varied holiday experiences such as visiting museums (13%) and camping (11%) – 70% of the top 10 activities were the same across all groups.
Top 10 holiday activities
- Having an ice-cream
- Building a sandcastle
- Collecting shells on the beach
- Buying souvenirs
- Playing in the arcade
- Sending a postcard
- Playing games on the beach
- Visiting local points of interest
- Jumping waves in the sea
- Fishing in rock pools.
Great family holiday destinations
Before I’ve even invested in a cot or pushchair, I’m already weighing up the options for my first holiday as a family, and memories of childhood travels are key in this decision.
But whether you’re about to head off on your first overseas break with the kids or want to try somewhere new as a family this year, Bob Atkinson offers this advice: “There are some great destinations for families and some fantastic deals to be had. If you want to stay relatively close to home, considerSpain, Greece or Turkey. But for those willing to travel further afield, places like Florida, Egypt and Sri Lanka can offer affordable prices and great family memories.”
For even more inspiration, take a look at our list of top 10 family holiday destinations in 2013.
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