The Family Travel Trends That Are Making Holidays Easier for Parents

Family holidays are supposed to feel like a break, aren’t they? Yet, by the time you’ve compared flights, checked room types, worked out who will eat what, and tried to keep everyone vaguely excited rather than overwhelmed, it can start to feel like another life admin project. The good news is that family travel can go in a much calmer direction, if you just let it!

Fewer moving parts, more breathing space

ABTA’s latest Holiday Habits report found that 65% of people say holidays are the most important time of year, while 80% say they are important for their mental health, which says a lot about why parents are looking for trips that feel easier from the start. Less juggling, fewer surprises, and more actual switching off? Yes please.

One of the biggest shifts is the move towards holidays that reduce the number of decisions parents have to make once they arrive. That doesn’t mean families want every minute planned for them, but it does mean many of us want the basics sorted before anyone asks where lunch is, whether the pool is open, or how much the next round of ice creams will cost. ABTA reports that 25% of respondents stayed on an all-inclusive basis in the past year, and it’s easy to see why. When you’re travelling with children, knowing meals, drinks and key costs are already wrapped up can make the whole thing feel calmer. If you’re weighing up whether an all-inclusive holiday would suit your family, the question is less “do we want everything done for us?” and more “what would we like to stop thinking about for a week?”  

For more gentle preparation beforehand, this is also where a few simple family travel tips can make the run-up feel much less chaotic.

Rest is finally being treated as part of the itinerary

There is also a growing acceptance that a good family holiday does not have to be packed from breakfast to bedtime. In fact, the best ones often have space in them. VisitBritain’s June 2026 tracker found that, for UK holidays and short breaks planned between July and September 2026, the top motivation was “to get away from it all and have a rest” at 44%, followed by “family time or time with my partner” at 40%. That feels very telling. Parents are not just looking for somewhere to go; they are looking for a morning swim, a long lunch, a slow wander after dinner, and no one having to argue over what comes next.

Built-in activities are taking the pressure off parents

Another trend making holidays easier is the rise of built-in entertainment that doesn’t require parents to become full-time activity coordinators. Children often want things to do, but parents also need a break from being the person who finds, books, pays for and supervises every single moment of fun. Holidays with pools, kids’ clubs, simple sports, evening entertainment or easy access to the beach give families more options without making every day feel over-managed. 

The beauty is in the choice. One child might want to be in the water all afternoon, another might want a quiet hour with a book, and the adults might just want to sit down with a coffee while everyone is happy for five whole minutes. The trend is not about doing more for the sake of it. It’s about having enough available that no one feels bored, but not so much that the holiday turns into a timetable. Even small practical things, like knowing what to pack in your beach bag, can help the day flow with fewer little dramas.

Planning is becoming more honest about real family life

Perhaps the most helpful travel trend of all is that families are becoming more honest about what they actually need. Not the picture-perfect version of a holiday, but the real one. ABTA found that package holidays remain the most popular holiday type, with 54% of respondents booking one in the past year and 61% booking their holiday abroad as a package; this was particularly favoured by families, with 78% of those with children under five and 70% of those with children over five booking a package holiday abroad. For families, ABTA also found the top reasons for choosing a package were price and convenience. 

That makes complete sense. Parents are not necessarily trying to remove spontaneity; they are trying to remove the bits that cause stress before the fun even starts. A holiday can still feel personal, relaxed and full of little adventures, while also having the boring-but-essential things taken care of in the background.

This is a collaborative post.