More Parents Are Traveling With Kids by Travelogger

Nov|04|2006

More Parents Are Traveling With Kids

Posted by Zahir as Air Travel, News, Trends

In my last trip abroad I noticed that there just seemed to be more children everywhere. In the plane, in the airport, and even in our hotel (the Four Seasons, Singapore), the lobby seemed to be full of little ones, running around the beautifully decorated rooms, and the staff actually seemed amused by their antics.
When I was growing up in the 70’s, children were more of the “seen and not heard” nature, not preferred guests at some of the world’s best hotels. I remember travelling around Europe at age 10. My sister and I were lucky if the hotel had a kiddie pool, forget about special kids menus or ‘welcome gifts’ with personalised giant cookies. My how things have changed.
So it wasn’t a surprise when I found this recent piece of news on the internet:

” Affluent parents share a passion for travel and are passing it on to their children at an earlier age than ever before, according to the Third Annual American Express Platinum Luxury Survey.

More than two in three affluent parents (68%) say they planned three vacations with their children in 2006 with a total expenditure of US$10,067 - more than double the average annual expenditure by affluent parents for vacations taken without children (US$4,524).

The survey, which included 1,170 respondents with an average of two children and an average household income of US$472,000, also revealed that children are being given a view of the world at an earlier age than their parents.

According to respondents, 68% of children age 17 or under have travelled internationally, compared with parents, who, on average, said they made their first international trip at age 19.”

Almost a third (32%) of parents also report their children have travelled in first or business class. Travel followed only physical fitness as a top hobby or interest about which affluent parents were most passionate. When looking at spending patterns among all top “passions” cited by respondents, travel actually topped the list at an average of US$13,304 per year. ”

[tags]Travel with kids,travel with children,parents,kids,holidays[/tags]