With the cost of family holidays continuing to climb, more British families are discovering that travelling together across generations can be both a financial lifeline and a memory-making win. Multigenerational holidays, where grandparents join parents and children on trips away, are rapidly growing in popularity. They offer shared costs, built-in childcare and the chance to reconnect. For many cash-strapped parents, the ‘Bank of Grandma and Grandad’ is not only making holidays possible, but transforming them into richer, more meaningful experiences for the whole family.
Cash-strapped millennial and Gen X parents, are increasingly turning to the Bank of Grandma and Grandad, when it comes to trips away and holidays, according to new research.
In fact, eight in ten (82%) of parents say they will consider a multigenerational holiday in 2026 in a bid to save money – with staycations firmly back on the table this summer, as four in ten (39%) think the UK is the best, and cheapest, place for a holiday with all ages.
And according to the findings, more than half (51%) of modern parents regularly go away with their parents, so much so that eight in ten admit it would be tougher to have a break if it wasn’t for the financial help of their, or their partner’s, parents.
As many as 46% say their children get along better with their grandparents than they do with them.
It’s no surprise, then, that a whopping 96% agree multigenerational trips are a great way to create lifelong memories and strengthen family bonds.
74% say that having the grandparents with them means they have a free childcare option, according to the report by Parkdean Resorts.
Andy Edge, Chief Marketing Officer at Parkdean Resorts, which commissioned the study, said: “The research shows that even though parents may be holidaying with the grandparents out of necessity, multigenerational holidays are becoming a popular choice for families up and down the country.
“Our 65 holiday parks are located in the UK’s most popular holiday destinations and offer endless fun and action-packed activities for the whole family, so that children, parents, and grandparents alike can make lifelong happy memories without breaking the bank.”
The research also revealed a charming wish list of the nostalgic holiday activities that are loved by all ages. Topping the list was the great British classic, fairground rides (45%), followed by enjoying fish and chips by the sea (36%), the smell of freshly cooked chips (36%) and the quintessentially British cream tea (31%).
Other classic staycation activities that bring a smile to Brits no matter their age include candyfloss (30%), playing the 2p game at the arcades (27%), games of mini golf (24%), building sandcastles on the beach (22%), and riding a steam train (21%).
But there are some more unusual things that make our holidays our own, like hearing the children say ‘are we nearly there yet’ hundreds of times (42%), fighting the seagulls off as they try and steal your chips (28%), your ice cream melting faster than you can eat it (25%), and getting sand in your shorts (21%).
Three-quarters (74%) agree that the cost of going on holiday is more expensive now than it has ever been, with Brits saving up for an average of nine months to pay for a typical week-long family break in the UK.
However, two thirds (65%) think it’s the little things that happen on a holiday that make it enjoyable and memorable, rather than the big, expensive things.
And when it comes to generational differences, 86% of grandparents think that the family holidays their grandchildren go on are more exciting than the ones they went on at the same age, with more than half (53%) admitting they used to get bored on family holidays when they were young.
It’s no surprise that 68% would have liked holidays to have been more exciting when they were younger.
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