Despite being most likely to admit that they don’t enjoy travelling with children in tow, Asian parents are also the least willing to leave their children behind when they go on holidays, according to new findings by Expedia and research firm Northstar.
Almost all surveyed go on vacation at least once a year with their family, while non-parents tend to only go once a year. Regional differences are striking, the research shows, with those in Asia and southern Europe and Mexico, the most likely to prioritse getting away with family as often as they can.
South Korean travellers led the charts in terms of commitment to family holidays, with 74 per cent of teens vacationing with family more than twice a year, along with 68 per cent of parents and 57 per cent of non-parents. On the other end is Hong Kong, with just 29 per cent of teens, 25 percent of parents, and 21 percent of non-parents taking a family vacation more than once a year.
Notably, the report revealed that Hong Kong (47 per cent) and Taiwan (40 per cent) have the highest proportion of parents who indicated they do not enjoy holidays when travelling with their children. Comparing between regions, the sentiment is strongest in Asia, with an average of 27 per cent per nation agreeing, compared to 17 per cent in Europe.
The markets least likely to choose their children as their favourite travel companions are also in Asia – Malaysia (32 per cent), Taiwan (32 per cent) and Hong Kong (33 per cent).
Yet, parents from these countries are relatively less willing to travel without their children. Only 19 per cent, 23 per cent and 27 per cent from Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong respectively are willing to leave their children behind on their travels.
The markets most reluctant to travel kid-free are Thailand (six per cent) and South Korea (eight per cent), while those most willing are Finland (82 per cent), Mexico (64 per cent) and Spain (56 per cent).
Reconnecting with a partner is the main reason to leave the children behind in Malaysia (67 per cent), Canada (65 per cent), Singapore (61 per cent), Denmark (61 per cent) and the US (61 per cent).
Meanwhile, few parents show interest in traveling with their own parents, although some interest does show up in Asia, led by Thailand (24 per cent), Malaysia (16 per cent) and South Korea (15 per cent).
Still, family travel continues to play a key role especially for Asian travellers. Parents in Asia were much more likely to agree that most of their favourite memories occurred on family vacations, led by parents in Thailand (82 per cent), Malaysia (81 per cent), South Korea (74 per cent) and Taiwan (69 per cent).
Most teens in nearly all countries say that a majority of their favorite memories occurred on family vacations, with the exception of Hong Kong (48 per cent) and Japan (44 per cent).
Budget customers can easily explore Alberobello, with its conical “Trulli’ buildings in southern Italy; pull over and bask in the laidback atmosphere of Monteverde in Costa Rica, surrounded by cloud forest or even take a pit-stop to wander around the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds, England.
Regularly voted as one of the prettiest villages in England, Bourton-on-the-Water is quintessentially British, with its quaint, stone-built buildings and the small bridges which cross the River Windrush. Stretch your legs for a stroll around the village or sample some of the sweet treats in one of the many traditional tea rooms which line the streets. Renting a car means one can easily travel around and discover the surrounding Cotswolds towns and villages, known in England as an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’.
In complete contrast, Budget drivers can journey on the winding road to Monteverde which is perched high up on Costa Rica’s continental divide. The village itself is filled with restaurants and artisan craft shops, but the real beauty lies in the surrounding coffee plantations and cloud forests which is home to an abundance of wildlife, including monkeys and colourful birdlife. Monteverde is only accessible by road, so hiring a car is the best way to access this remote Costa Rican village.
With the windows rolled down, explore the pretty region of Puglia in southern Italy, making a stop in Alberobello. Alberobello is most famous for its unusual white-washed houses with cone-shaped roofs, known as Trulli houses which are made from dry stone. Here, one can easily park the Budget car at Largo Martellotta and go on foot, following the steps to the main square, known as Piazza del Popolo, and be rewarded with fabulous views over the entire quirky village. After exploring the sights, refuel on typical Italian cooking in one of the many authentic trattorias. The cuisine is sure to delight!
