Three Kid-friendly Travel Trends to Consider for Your Next Vacation

In a post-COVID world, the possibilities for family-friendly adventures are unprecedented. With an increasing number of families putting travel at the top of their priority lists, let’s dive into the trends and predictions that may make your next trip.

Micro-education on Vacation

This will be the year where family travel and worldschooling intersect. Worldschooling, where families ditch conventional school in favor of travel-based experiential learning, might not be in the cards for everyone. But the principles of this approach will be applied broadly to family travel in 2024 and beyond. 

Julie Frieder, Angela Heisten and Annika Paradise, co-authors of Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-Term Family Travel and Worldschooling, hone in on the value of integrating education into family travel. “We know that young brains are heavily impacted by the experiences they have,” they note. “So why not share with them the art, architecture, history, food, culture and texture of societies besides the one in which they were raised?” 

This year, families will incorporate the worldschooling philosophy into their vacations through micro-educational experiences. Parents will create their own mini curriculum for trips, reading books about the destination and local culture with their kids before the vacation and learning through museums and local workshops while traveling. 

To build these learning opportunities into the travel experience, the Wonder Year co-authors recommend posing a few questions during the planning process, such as, “Do you have family goals, like exploring your heritage or maximizing your time in nature?” or “Where is your comfort zone, and what experiences might reasonably push the edge for your family?”

Families can leverage the growing library of resources online—including worldschooling Facebook groups and blogs written by worldschooling families like Anna Everywhere, Where’s Sharon and World Travel Family—to customize educational experiences that will broaden the entire family’s understanding of a place.

Multigenerational Family Trips

The best thing to bring when traveling with kids? The grandparents. Beyond providing help with child care (a boon when traveling with young children), more parents will opt to bring the grandparents along on vacation to create long-lasting bonds that transcend generations. 

A recent study from the Family Travel Association and New York University discovered that more than 50% of parents surveyed said they are planning to travel with grandparents and children. With this uptick in multigenerational travel, we’ll likely see families choosing relaxing destinations (think beaches and resorts) over big-city trips in 2024.

Safaris are another type of multigenerational trip that will get a popularity boost this year, and Anton Gillis, CEO of Kruger Gate Hotel in South Africa, has already noticed an influx of families booking them. “Parents, little ones, elders and teens should find that a chance to unwind in nature, disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and marvel at breathtaking Kruger Park sightings—particularly The Big Five [buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, rhino]—is enjoyed by all,” he says.

Instead of taking trips that are heavy on logistical planning or involve multiple stops, multigenerational families will focus on destinations where they can stay put and go deep with local experiences that bring them together—like game drives, cooking classes, walking tours, dance lessons or simply relaxing by the pool.

Second Cities a Big Hit

With over-tourism affecting major travel destinations, families will elect to visit the “second cities” of the world for trips that have fewer crowds and more positive impact. The Fodor’s 2024 No List highlights popular destinations that have been damaged by tourism impact, and major European cities like Athens and Venice are on the list of locales that should be reconsidered. 

Instead, Thessaloniki is great for families visiting Greece, as is Verona in Italy. Travel writer Rick Steves refers to second cities as “back doors” and describes them as “undiscovered corners and untrampled towns that, for various reasons, missed the modern parade.”

Second cities can provide an outstanding cultural experience without the consequences and inconveniences associated with visiting a major tourist destination. After all, waiting in long lines, fighting for restaurant reservations and braving crowds with kids in tow aren’t exactly fun moments of a family trip. By selecting a second city instead of a main hub, families may have to make more of an effort to get there, but the experience at the destination will be more relaxed and help them maximize their precious time together.

Sustainability and Responsibility
Driving Decisions

Eco-friendly lodging—whether vacation rentals, camping accommodations or hotels with sustainable practices—will gain favor among families this year. According to Booking.com’s 2024 Travel Predictions, 53% of global travelers are looking for accommodations with “wow-factor sustainability innovation.” Parents will use the intentional choice of lodging to educate children on the benefits of traveling in a manner that supports the environment around them. 

The slow-travel trend will also pick up traction with families. According to Pinterest Predicts 2024, the search term “slow living” has increased significantly this year. The platform predicts that Gen Z and millennials will retreat to “laid-back locales that offer the opposite of a jam-packed itinerary.” 

One bonus? A slower, more mindful approach to travel might make the planning process a bit more manageable for busy parents. 

Paradise is a global adventure brand for travelers. Ventura Blvd’s parent company, The Golden State Company, has an ownership interest in Paradise. For more, visit findyourparadise.co.