Research conducted by Club Med has found that families are introducing their children to international travel younger than any generation before them
Families are embracing travel earlier than ever before, with new research from Club Med revealing that four-in-10 children have visited five international destinations before they turn eight.
Parasols before primary
The study, conducted with 2,000 UK parents with children under 18, found that eight-in-10 had taken their child overseas by the age of six, with 82% of those trips occurring before the child had started primary school.
This trend of travelling with young children is becoming the norm, driven by the desire from parents to introduce their children to different cultures and experiences early in their lives.
Among those surveyed, 40% said they wanted their children to experience new places while young, while 34% wanted to begin travelling as early as possible.
The other big deciding factor is the financial side: 33% of parents said they chose to travel before school age to avoid peak-season prices, with 25% saying they travelled early to avoid crowded school holiday periods.
Kid-approved destinations
In terms of destinations reaping the benefits of young family travel, Spain is leading the charge with 57% of respondents choosing it as the most popular destination for family holidays. France follows in second place (50%), with the US (32%) and Italy (29%) following behind.
The research has found there is a shift in how families organise their holidays, with more than half saying they preferred all-inclusive accommodation when travelling with small kids.
Nicolas Bresch, managing director UK, Ireland & the Nordics at Club Med, said, “Children today are growing up as global travellers, often experiencing international holidays at a much younger age than previous generations. Families are increasingly looking for opportunities to discover new cultures together, whether that’s on a sun holiday or a ski escape.”
