Giant pool inflatables, breakfast buffets... and ice

Release time：2024-06-03 19:33:15 Source：Earthly Encounters news portal

Quality time with the kids is the best thing about a family holiday for over half of British parents. 

That's according to a survey that quizzed parents on the elements that make up a perfect family holiday, producing a ranking with 24 entries.  

Of the 2,000 parents polled in the survey, which was commissioned by TUI as it celebrate 20 years of Holiday Villages, 55 per cent placed quality time first. 

Being on the beach (43 per cent) and going to waterparks (43 per cent) came joint second, while breakfast buffets (41 per cent) and finding kid-friendly food options (41 per cent) ranked joint third. 

Parents were split on their fourth-favourite family holiday element, with making sandcastles, finding good ice cream, having a wide choice of restaurants and access to adventure playgrounds all receiving 37 per cent of votes.

In a survey by TUI, 55 per cent of British parents claimed that their favourite thing about a family holiday is spending quality time with their kids 

The research saw 34 per cent of Brits place an all-inclusive resort (fifth) as their favourite family holiday ingredient, while 33 per cent placed having a pool with a shallow end first (sixth) and 27 per cent had jumping in the sea as their top choice. 

Meanwhile, making holiday friends (25 per cent, joint eighth) and buying giant pool inflatables (25 per cent, joint eighth) were at the top of other parents' lists. 

Having different-sized rooms to meet the family's needs (21 per cent, joint ninth) and attending holiday discos (21 per cent, joint ninth) were equally important to British parents, as were sundowner cocktails, swimming races and older kids staying up late, which all came joint 10th with 19 per cent of votes. 

An all-day kids club (18 per cent, joint 11th), ice-cold beers at lunchtime (18 per cent, joint 11th) and plenty of shade (17 per cent, 12th) were also key holiday ingredients for some. 

Uploading family pictures to Instagram (13th) was a priority for 16 per cent of parents, while 15 per cent agreed you can't beat a daily siesta (14th).

In the research, 46 per cent of parents said they take their children on more family holidays than they ever went on as youngsters. 

THE PERFECT FAMILY HOLIDAY, ACCORDING TO PARENTS  

 1. Quality time - 55 per cent

2= Being on the beach - 43 per cent

2= Waterparks - 43 per cent

3= Breakfast buffets - 41 per cent

3= Kid-friendly food options - 41 per cent

4= Adventure playgrounds - 37 per cent

4= A choice of restaurants - 37 per cent

4= Making sandcastles - 37 per cent

4= Good ice cream - 37 per cent 

5. All-inclusive resort - 34 per cent

6. A pool with a shallow end - 33 per cent

7. Jumping in the sea  - 27 per cent

8= Making holiday friends - 25 per cent 

8= Giant pool inflatables - 25 per cent 

9= Different-sized rooms to meet the family's needs - 21 per cent

9= Discos - 21 per cent 

10= Older kids staying up late - 19 per cent

10= Sundowner cocktails - 19 per cent 

10= Swimming races - 19 per cent 

11= An all-day kids club - 18 per cent

11= Ice-cold beers at lunchtime - 18 per cent

12. Plenty of shade - 17 per cent

13. Uploading family photos to Instagram - 16 per cent 

14. A daily siesta - 15 per cent 

Source: TUI

According to the survey, 44 per cent of British parents struggle to find their perfect family holiday within their budget 

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Over half (55 per cent) said that the idea of a good family holiday has completely transformed over the past 20 years, with two-thirds (67 per cent) admitting that they still hold fond memories of their childhood holidays. 

The survey found Brits spend an average of 27 days researching, organising and booking a family holiday. 

Despite 42 per cent of parents agreeing that it's easier to research and book a family trip now than when they were children, 44 per cent confessed that they struggle to find the right holiday within their budget.

According to British parents, the top international holiday destinations this year are Turkey (35 per cent), Cyprus (31 per cent), Majorca (28 per cent), the South of France (24 per cent) and Costa Del Sol (23 per cent).  

A TUI Holiday Village spokesperson said: 'Holidays have changed significantly over the past 20 years but one thing is clear, spending time together as a family without the pressures of everyday life is the most important thing.

'This year we celebrate 20 years of Holiday Village, that's two decades of creating memorable holidays where the whole family can be entertained. 

'While holiday styles may have changed over the years, this research demonstrates that the formula for a perfect family holiday remains the same: a great range of all-inclusive dining options, exciting activities for the kids to enjoy, like our signature high ropes courses, and entertainment options from day to night.'

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