The New Family Holiday Trend: Taking Your Adult Kids Overseas (Yes, On Purpose)
For years, multi-generational travel meant three generations, one buffet, and someone crying because they are over-tired – and it’s not necessarily the toddlers!
But lately, we’re seeing something new.
Parents are increasingly choosing to take their young adult kids on more immersive overseas adventures. Not just a quick tropical resort escape, or a cruise where everyone is looked after by the ‘wonderful staff’, but big, meaningful, memory-making trips to places like Europe, South America and Africa. Think villa stays, long lunches, train journeys, hiking days, castle visits, wildlife safaris and heated debates over who gets control of the Google Maps.
And interestingly, these trips often aren’t one neat packaged tour. Families are mixing it up – maybe a small group tour for part of the journey, then independent travel for the rest.
Freedom with training wheels. We love to see it.
So . . . Why Now?
A few things seem to be lining up.
Some Gen X parents are receiving inheritances that they don’t need for day-to-day life. Instead of locking it away, they’re choosing to spend some of it on experiences. Shared experiences. ‘Remember that time in Italy when . . .’ experiences.
Others are simply at that life stage where:
• The mortgage isn’t quite as terrifying
• Careers are stable
• And the kids are now excellent travel companions instead of tiny humans who require snacks every 11 minutes
There is also something pretty special about travelling with your kids once they’re adults. The conversations are different. The humour is sharper. And suddenly you’re discussing wine regions instead of lost drink bottles.
The ‘Pointy End of the Plane’ Parenting Policy
One recent story made us laugh.
A mum told us she was flying First Class (a sneaky upgrade from Business Class on one sector) while her young adult son was flying Economy.
Her logic?
She worked her way up to the pointy end. He can too.
He was perfectly happy. He was still getting an extended European holiday, after all. He understood that Business Class was not automatically included in the parenting loyalty program.
Honestly, solid life lesson.
The Relationship Shift Nobody Talks About
Here’s where it gets really interesting.
Many Gen X travellers openly admit their own parents never offered this kind of trip. And if they had? Younger them probably would have chosen to travel with friends instead.
But now?
A lot of young adults genuinely want to travel with their parents these days. There’s more friendship in the relationship. More shared curiosity. More ‘let’s do this together while we can’.
Less bickering.
More shared playlists.
Still some eye-rolling. Let’s be realistic.
These Trips Are About More Than Travel
They’re about:
• Celebrating life stages
• Spending proper time together (not just Christmas lunch and shared memes)
• Travelling while everyone is healthy and able
• Creating stories that get retold for decades
Also, travelling with people who know your coffee order – and your embarrassing childhood stories.
Up Next . . .
Before you get too carried away picturing family dinners in Italy and group photos in front of castles, there is the practical side to think about.
Who pays for what?
Do you travel together the whole time?
How do you balance independence and family time?
In Part 2, we’ll dive into the real-life logistics of travelling with your adult kids . . . the stuff families don’t always think about until they’re already planning.