Have Family, Will Travel: Airbnb Finds Families Prefer Traveling to New Destinations Each Year

Perhaps 2017 is the year to move on from the annual trip to the lake house, or at least shake things up a bit with a second family vacation to Kyoto or Bordeaux. According to a recent survey by Airbnb, conducted online by Harris Poll among family travelers (defined as parents of children under 18 who have ever taken a family vacation), over 2 in 5 (43%) say their family prefers to travel to a new destination every year, while 45% say they like a mix of both old and new destinations each year.

Where are they going? We can’t speak for all family travelers but on Airbnb, we’re seeing some new hotspots emerge for family travelers in 2017. From Osaka (Japan) and Malibu (California) to Fortaleza (Brazil) and Valencia (Spain), these are our top trending family destinations based on an increase in guest arrivals*:

1 – Osaka, Japan6 – Princeville, Kauai11 – Miami, Florida

2 – Kyoto, Japan7 – The Big Island, Hawaii12 – Lyon, France

3 – Melbourne, Australia8 – Bordeaux, France13 – Valencia, Spain

4 – Malibu, California9 – Fortaleza, Brazil14 – Edinburgh, Great Britain

5 – Reykjavik, Iceland10 – Honolulu, Hawaii15 – Anaheim, California

*Data based on increases in guest arrivals at family-friendly listings by groups of more than three travelers

The survey revealed more unexpected patterns when it comes to family travelers in 2017 and beyond:

All in the Family

Family vacations are becoming a multi-generational affair, with 34% traveling with the grandparents, and 1 in 5 (20%) typically including friends on family vacations. When it comes to choosing where to stay, half of family travelers (50%) expressed the need for spacious quarters to house multiple guests under one roof. These getaways are perfect for large groups.

​(Source: Airbnb)

Move over, mom!

Dads are getting a say when it comes to travel planning, with 42% saying they typically plan their family vacations such as deciding on the travel destination, as well as activities once there. Here are some places we think dad (and the whole gang) might love.

(Source: Airbnb)

Less Seeing, More Doing

No more lazy days of summer: Nearly 8 in 10 family travelers (79%) believe their children would prefer to engage in activities, such as cooking classes, while on vacation rather than observe them, and more believe culture and educational opportunities (78%) are important when choosing a family vacation destination, compared to having access to WiFi (76%) or well-known dining experiences (67%). Get up, get out, and get moving with these stays seeped in local adventure.

(Source: Airbnb)

Move to Sea

While most family travelers (75%) say their family prefers beach or coastal getaways for a family vacation, nearly 6 in 10 (59%) say their family prefers to visit destinations with landmarks and attractions. Gen X parents (ages 35-44) (71%) say their family prefers to venture to the latter destinations over their millennial parent (ages 18-34) (56%) counterparts. Why not have the best of both worlds in these homes?

WiFi, Pool…Kitchen?

WiFi (64%) and pools/hot tubs (49%) are among the top amenities family travelers look for when deciding on where to stay for a family vacation, and 2 in 5 (40%) also noted they look for homes that includes a kitchen. Host the ultimate cook off or cookout in these swanky kitchens.

…but some things never change!

Despite more pioneering families, some traditions are hard to break. The great American road trip seems to be very much alive, with over 7 in 10 family travelers (72%) saying their next family vacation will be a road trip, and more than half (53%) plan to travel to another state via some type of motor vehicle. Summer break also reigns supreme as the key travel period, with 60% of family travelers indicating summer is when they prefer to take family vacations.

Whether traveling as a trio or a pack, families can always search and book homes as unique as their group.