The U.S. Travel Association recently released a new survey, “Family Vacations Create Lasting Memories” by Harris Interactive, which found that most adults say their most vivid childhood memories are of family vacations.
Children who were part of the survey said they enjoy vacation time with parents and grandparents. The U.S. Travel survey also appears to reinforce the rise in family and multi-generational travel.
The survey explored the vacation habits of American families and how memories from family vacations are values, captured and shared. Harris Interactive conducted the online survey in December 2012 on behalf of the U.S. Travel Association.
People intuitively recognize that a vacation helps them rejuvenate, re-energize and recharge so that they regain the creativity and motivation, and they also appreciate how travel experiences foster togetherness and build family bonds.
With this in mind, Sundance Vacations, headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, promotes family travel by offering affordable vacation packages for families of any size. Sundance offers a wide variety of options when it comes to vacation destinations for families.
Key findings of the “Family Vacations Create Lasting Memories” survey are as follows:
1) Family vacation memories last a lifetime. Most adults surveyed (62%) said their earliest memories were of family vacations taken when they were between the age of five and 10 and they remember childhood trips more clearly than school events or birthday celebrations.
2) Like their parents, children cherish family vacation memories. The youth surveyed strongly agreed they get to see and do things on vacation that they’ll remember for a long time (64%) and that vacations bring their families closer together (53%).
3) Parents underestimate the value of including grandparents on family vacations. Children who traveled with their extended family reported they get to spend quality time with their grandparents (78%), they feel closer to them (60%) and they like to remember stories about what they did with their grandparents (65%).
“We assumed there would be a connection between memories and vacations, but it was surprising to learn that some of people’s most vivid memories are of family vacations that happened when they were as young as five,” said Regina Corso of Harris Interactive, who conducted the poll of more than 2,500 adults and 1,100 children ages eight to 18.
The survey also revealed the following:
* Parents participating in the survey reported they plan family vacations in order to provide their children with experiences they will remember for years to come.
* Three in every four (76%) parents believe that family vacations are worth the time and money because they “give my child experiences they will remember years down the road.”
* Similarly, 75 percent of parents indicated the cost of and time are justified because the memories created as a result of family vacations are “priceless.”
* Parents with children under the age of 18 are far more likely to model vacations after those they took during their own childhoods than adults without children (46% vs. 28%).
* More than half of the parents surveyed reported that “I have fond memories of vacations that I took as a child and I want to create similar experiencs for my family.”
The survey also reveals important lessons when it comes to planning a family vacation, inlcluding:
1) When on vacation, engage in activities as a family. While parents and children don’t often spend quality time together at home, more than half of the children surveyed said vacations are a time to make up for that – and that they also get to spend quality time with their parents.
2) Consider including your children’s grandparents. Contrary to conventional wisdom, children are enthusiastic about traveling with their grandparents. More than half of the children questioned reported feeling closer to their grandparents after a family vacation together.
3) Do something adventurous or try something new. For kids, a meaningful vacation is one where they get to do interesting things and that’s more important than where they stay or where they go. More than two-thirds of the children surveyed believe that a family vacation is an opportunity to try activities they cannot do at home.
Needless to say, it can cost a lot to do things together as a family. Just one night at the movies can add up to a serious chunk of change for four tickets, four sodas and three popcorns. But parents and kids alike agree that investing in family vacations yields unbeatable results.
“At Sundance Vacations we offer affordable, discount travel packages to help ease the sting of the cost associated with family vacations. At Sundance, we wholeheartedly believe we offer the best and most affordable vacation deals for families of all sizes,” said Tina Dowd, co-founder of Sundance Vacations. “We’re all for enhancing family bonds and creating lasting memories that are associated with family vacations.”
For a complete listing of vacation destinations offered by Sundance, visit: www.sundancevacationsnews.com.
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