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- 58% of Millennial and Gen Z parents plan trips with multiple generations for quality time.
- 68% of modern parents let their kids help plan vacation activities.
- Older generations are funding and starting “roots travel” trips more often.
- Families want slower trips that focus on connection instead of fast-paced tourism.
- Vacation rentals and flexible places to stay help people of different ages get along.
Family Travel is Getting Bigger: Why Trips with Grandparents and Kids Are More Popular
“Fam travel” — short for family travel with multiple generations — is more than just a nice idea. In 2025, it’s becoming more and more popular as a good way for families to reconnect. They can spend vacations together. These trips are changing what a normal family vacation looks like, from celebrating big events to finding family roots. But is this type of travel really worth it, beyond the nice pictures and sweet stories? 
What the Numbers Say About This Trend
Travel with many generations isn’t just for a few people anymore — it’s becoming very common. The American Express Travel 2025 Global Travel Trends Report says that 58% of Gen Z and Millennial parents are planning trips that include their kids and their parents. The main reason? Feeling good emotionally. A huge 89% of these parents said “quality time” was the biggest reason to travel with their families.
It’s not just about fun. About 24% of people also mentioned that having built-in childcare is really helpful. When grandparents are there, younger parents can relax or have time alone as a couple. This makes the vacation feel like a real break for everyone, no matter their age. This extra help means plans can be flexible, and the work and fun of parenting are shared more.
Travel is About Being Together Again
The world after the pandemic has shown us how much we need to reconnect. After being apart and working remotely for years, people really want to be together in person. So, it makes sense that family travel, especially trips with grandparents and grandkids, has changed. It’s less about rushing to see all the sights and more about taking it slow and being together.
“Checklist” vacations are out. These were trips where you tried to see every famous place but didn’t have time to relax or think. Now, families are planning trips that focus on being together — eating meals together, having free time in the afternoon, playing games, and having long talks by the fire. Wellness travel is also becoming more popular, and it’s similar. It focuses on feeling good emotionally and physically. Family travel fits this idea well. It lets different generations reconnect and feel better together.
Why Younger Generations Want to Be Together
Parents who are Millennials and Gen Z are changing what vacations are like. Older generations might have thought of vacations as a treat for themselves or a way to get away alone. But younger families see travel as part of what they believe in — being real, including everyone, and connecting with each other.
Today’s parents grew up with technology and often feel disconnected. They want real connections and shared memories that feel genuine. Family travel helps with this. Grandparents can tell stories, kids can see their parents being open, and everyone can learn about their family history together. Research shows again and again that experiences — especially those you share with people you love — make you happier for longer than things you own.
How Older Family Members Are Important on Vacations
Older family members are often key people on multi-generational trips, not just people who are coming along. They have wisdom, they are steady, and more and more, they are paying for things. Many of them are retired or almost retired Boomers. They have money and really want to spend time with their families.
Adam Duckworth, who started Travelmation, says that grandparents are doing more than just joining in. “They often ask other family members to come with them,” Duckworth says. They are starting trips and sometimes paying for them. They might also have ideas about where to go or even tell family stories during trips about family roots.
This shows that “roots travel” is becoming more popular. Older family members take their families to places that are important to their history. These could be cities from their childhood, the countries their families came from, or other places that mean something to their family story. These trips make vacations into personal history lessons, which can be more powerful than learning in school.
Kids Help Plan: Everyone Decides Together
Kids aren’t ignored when it’s time to plan vacations anymore. Actually, kids today help create the family trip. A surprising 68% of millennial and Gen Z parents let their kids help plan vacation activities. This isn’t just for fun — it’s smart.
When kids help plan, they are more likely to work together, complain less, and be interested in what’s happening. If a child helps choose to visit the aquarium or pick a hiking trail, they will probably be more excited about it. They won’t feel like they are just following along on a trip that adults planned.
Also, when kids help plan, they feel important and responsible. This helps them learn how to make decisions and talk about things. Families can use apps for travel planning or shared calendars to vote on activities or let different people decide each day. This way, everyone’s ideas are considered.
Meaning is More Important Than Place for Family Travel
While where you go can be important, family travel is becoming more about why you go. Visiting typical tourist spots is becoming less important. Instead, people want experiences that have personal meaning and emotional value.
Many families plan trips around important events in their lives — birthdays, retirements, anniversaries — or as a way to get back together after being apart for years. These trips that mark big moments are a chance to tell stories, think about the past, and bring family members closer. They often happen at times of change in life, like when kids go to college, when people retire, or when families blend together.
This focus on purpose makes travel more emotionally rewarding. It reminds everyone that the trip is valuable not because it looks good on social media but because of the memories made between generations.
Choosing the Right Place for All Ages
One of the most important things for a good multi-generational vacation is picking the right place to go. A fancy resort might be great for parents but boring for teenagers and too much for young kids. Also, really adventurous trips in nature might be too hard for grandparents.
Here are some good choices that work for different generations
- Disney Resorts: These are well-organized with exciting rides, characters to meet, and things that work for all ages.
- Cruises: Cruises are easy because almost everything is included — childcare, food, entertainment, and different trips you can take.
- National Parks: Parks like Yellowstone or Yosemite have beautiful scenery, easy hikes, and places to stay that are comfortable and not too outdoorsy.
- Cities with History: Places like Boston, Krakow, or Kyoto are full of history and good for people who want to learn about their roots. They are great for roots travel.
Try to find places that have a mix of things to do. One day could include a museum, something fun for young kids, and some time to relax for older family members.
Good Things About Multi-Generational Travel
When family travel is done well, it can have many great benefits that last even after the vacation is over
- Stronger family connections: Shared experiences make lasting memories and make people feel like they belong.
- Cheaper because of group deals: Vacation rentals or travel packages can make things cost less per person.
- Help with childcare: Grandparents give parents time to relax and even have time alone.
- Learning between generations: Stories, language, and traditions are passed down in real life.
- Healing and fixing relationships: Sometimes, spending a lot of time together can help heal relationships that have been strained.
These good things affect everyday life, changing how families interact, how they talk to each other, and how close they feel long after the trip is done.
Things to Think About
Like any family situation, family travel has its challenges. But if you know about them ahead of time, you can be ready and avoid problems
- Different energy levels: Activities should work for older people who need to rest and young people who want adventure.
- Money differences: Talk about money before the trip to avoid arguments later.
- Different ways of parenting: When you bring the whole family, you also have to accept different ideas about how kids should behave.
- Too much planned: Trying to make everyone happy can be tiring if you don’t leave room for flexibility.
Setting some basic rules — like saying it’s okay to skip activities or having quiet times — can really make the trip better for everyone.
Roots Travel: A Deeper Connection
Roots travel is a very emotional type of family travel. Families visit places that are connected to their family history. These trips are like bridges between generations — a real-life lesson where stories are told, questions are asked, and family identity becomes stronger.
For example, imagine a family tracing their family history back to Ireland. A trip there becomes more than just a vacation — it’s like a special journey. Grandparents can show their grandchildren the church where they were baptized or the street where they grew up. These moments make family stories real in a way that might otherwise be forgotten.
Roots travel is also interesting for younger travelers. When kids experience their family history in person — see the flags, taste the food, hear the music — it creates a personal connection and pride that’s hard to get any other way.
Tips for Planning a Good Family Trip
Family travel can be very rewarding, but it only works if you plan well. Here are some proven tips for making things go smoothly
- Decide what you want to get out of the trip early on: Do you want to relax, have adventures, learn something, or celebrate something?
- Give everyone planning jobs: Don’t let one person do all the work of planning. Share the tasks.
- Create a shared document: Use things like Google Docs or Trello to keep everyone informed.
- Use budgeting apps: Tools like Splitwise or Tricount make it easier to track shared costs.
- Plan for downtime: Make sure everyone has time to be alone — to nap, write in a journal, or take a walk by themselves.
- Choose places to stay that include everyone: Think about villas, cabins, or resort suites that have space and bring people together.
Bonus tip: Talk about what everyone expects before you go. What does “fun” mean to each person? Knowing this can help prevent problems on the trip.
Family Travel is Here to Stay
Experts and people in the travel business agree: Trips with multiple generations are not just a fad. More people are working remotely, school schedules are becoming more flexible, and people are spending more money on experiences. Families have more freedom than ever to plan meaningful trips.
This fits with bigger changes in travel and lifestyle. More people are spending money on quality time instead of things. Kids, parents, and grandparents all get something special from these trips — from bonding to babysitting to feeling more connected to their culture and roots.
Adam Duckworth points out that this is not just about money or logistics — it’s about emotions. “Families are trying to connect in ways they haven’t before,” he says. Travel meets this human need at every stage of life, making family travel more important than ever.
Worth the Connection
Family travel is not the easiest type of vacation. It takes work and thought to coordinate schedules, balance different interests, and manage different energy levels. But the rewards are amazing. It’s an investment in family closeness, emotional well-being, and creating a family legacy for future generations.
So, is it worth it? For most families who finish these vacations feeling closer, more understood, and happier, the answer is definitely yes.
Whether it’s a trip across the country with grandparents or learning about a culture in another country, now might be the perfect time to plan your family travel adventure. One shared stamp in a passport at a time, families are changing what “vacation” really means.
Citations
- American Express Travel. (2025). Global travel trends report.
- Duckworth, A. (2025). Statement cited in coverage of travel trends.
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