GO FOR PIZZA IN NAPLES, SURF IN HAWAII, ENJOY STREET FOOD IN BANGKOK, SEE AN ORIGINAL VAN GOGH IN AMSTERDAM AND MARVEL AT THE COLOSSEUM IN ROME – THE DREAM TRAVEL BUCKET LIST FOR BRITISH FAMILIES REVEALED
Researchers polled 2,000 mums and dads to discover, if money were no object, the experiences they would most LOVE to share with their kids – with seeing the bright lights of Times Square after dark, bagging the top spot.
Almost half of British parents (44 per cent) named visiting the iconic Manhattan destination as a dream trip to do with their family. This was followed by tucking into a pizza in Naples (32 per cent), travelling on the Orient Express (30 per cent) and seeing the Northern Lights in Reykjavik (27 per cent).
Other family adventures to make the definitive list of forty, were experiencing the thrills at Disneyland Paris (25 per cent) discovering the ancient Roman world of Pompeii (24 per cent), swimming in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (22 per cent) and spotting wild animals on safari in South Africa (21 per cent).
Parents would also love to take their little ones to enjoy deep dish pizza in Chicago (19 per cent), trek along Hadrian’s Wall (18 per cent), celebrate the day of the dead in Mexico (17 per cent), explore the lost city of Petra in Jordan (17 per cent), and see an original Van Gogh painting in Amsterdam (15 per cent).
The research, commissioned by Boundless, also found that almost eight in ten (78 per cent) mum and dads believe travel helps to broaden children’s horizons and encourages them learn about different cultures (77 per cent).
71 per cent go a step further and say that exploring the world together helps give children more confidence in later life.
39 per cent are travelling more with their children now compared to three years ago, so much so that two thirds (64 per cent) say their children travel more than they did when they were their age.
In contrast, a third (35 per cent) are travelling less because of the cost (64 per cent), while two thirds (66 per cent) wish they could travel more with their children, and 64 per cent are currently working their way through a family ‘bucket list’.
Darren Milton at Boundless, said: “It is clear UK families love to travel – it has the power to educate, inspire and bring people closer together. Sadly, it’s not surprising to see that a third of families are travelling less now because of the cost.
“We’re proud to help our members make the most of their time off by offering great value days out, travel deals and inspiration for holidays in the UK and abroad. Whether it’s a staycation or ticking off a bucket list adventure overseas, we’re here to help create lasting family memories without breaking the bank.”
More than half (53 per cent) of the parents surveyed think that the best way to make family memories is through travel, with one in two (50 per cent) admitting that lots of their favourite childhood memories are from family holidays.
96 per cent hope that family holidays will inspire their children to take their own kids away when they grow up.
Two thirds (63 per cent) would love to explore and travel in the UK more.
THE ULTIMATE FAMILY TRAVEL ADVENTURES, ACCORDING TO BRITISH PARENTS*
- See Times Square at night, New York – 44%
- Eat margherita pizza in Naples, Italy – 32%
- Travel on the Orient Express – 30%
- See the Northern Lights in Reykjavik – 27%
- Go up the Empire State Building in New York – 25%
- Go on rides at Disneyland Paris – 25%
- Visit Pompeii – 24%
- Swim in the crystal-clear lagoons of the Maldives – 23%
- Explore the Valley of the Kings in Egypt – 23%
- Swim the Great Barrier Reef in Australia – 22%
- Go on safari in South Africa – 21%
- See Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 20%
- Eat deep dish pizza in Chicago – 19%
- Go whale watching in Iceland – 19%
- See Edinburgh from the top of Arthur’s Seat – 19%
- See the Colosseum in Rome – 19%
- Trek along Hadrian’s Wall – 18%
- Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico – 17%
- Island hop in Greece – 17%
- See the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Rome – 17%
- Get a selfie under the Eiffel Tower in Paris – 17%
- Explore the Grand Canyon in Arizona – 17%
- Drive Route 66 across America – 17%
- Eat Pastel de Nata in Lisbon, Portugal – 17%
- Visit the Lost City of Petra in Jordan – 17%
- Visit Lapland and go on a husky sleigh ride – 16%
- See an original Van Gogh at the Museum in Amsterdam – 15%
- Visit the Parthenon in Athens – 14%
- See the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, Paris – 14%
- Take surfing lessons in Newquay, Cornwall – 14%
- Take a picture ‘holding up’ the Leaning Tower of Pisa – 14%
- Eat street food in Bangkok, Thailand – 14%
- Stroll down the Hollywood Walk of Fame – 13%
- Tour the Lord of the Rings set in New Zealand – 13%
- Snorkelling in Egypt – 13%
- Visit the White House in Washington DC – 13%
- Learn to surf in Hawaii – 12%
- Watch ‘Old Faithful’ blow in Yellowstone National Park, USA – 12%
- Take a gondola ride in Venice – 11%
- Visit the Taj Mahal in India – 11%
The Surprising Psychology of Travel Challenges: Why Getting Lost Can Help You Grow
