Much to the chagrin of educators, administrators, and local school boards worldwide, younger parents agree that their child doesn’t need to be in their classroom for every day of the school year. In fact, the vast majority say there’s [at least] one reason they are willing to pull their kids away from their studies. And no, it’s not illness … or weather … or gun control. (Although those must sometimes be factors too.)
American Express Travel just released their 2025 Global Travel Trends report, and they found that more than 72 percent of Millennial and Gen Z parents (born between 1981 and 2012) are willing to take their kids out of school “to travel as a family during the off-season.” As in, they are not limiting their vacation plans to summer breaks or long holiday weekends.
Whether or not kids should be allowed to ditch their desks for worldly adventures is an oft-debated topic. And, again, one that must be majorly-frustrating for educators. But it seems that Millennial and Gen Z parents don’t mind their kids missing class to travel — especially if it means that travel will be cheaper. (Thank you, off-season prices!)
Plus, it might not only be finances that these parents are thinking of, but other family members’ schedules. In the survey of more than 8 thousand global participants — all of whom make at least $50 thousand per year and tend to travel at least once a year — more than 80 percent of respondents said they “prefer destinations that are family-centric and have activities for all ages.”
Per Amex, multi-generation vacations (Pack your bags, Grandma and Grandpa!) are “more popular than ever.” Nearly 90 percent of Gen Z and Millennial parents said they plan vacations with extended family because they want “quality time” with the whole family. Meanwhile, just 24 percent said they did so to have “help with childcare.” Extra hands are always appreciated when little ones are running around, but it’s nice to hear that young parents’ priority is being together rather than nailing down a babysitter.
Yet another interesting finding is that 68 percent of Gen Z and Millennial parents involved in the survey said their children “typically help inform aspects of trips.” That’s opposed to the just 56 percent of Gen X and Baby Boomer parents (b. 1946 – 1980) who said the same. It’s unclear why there is such a disparity, but perhaps those younger parents grew up not being included in the decision-making and didn’t want the same to be true for their kids.
And now this begs the question, are those kids who “help inform aspects” of the vacation choosing the travel dates too? Perhaps it’s not the parents, but the students who are pushing those off-season prices that just so happen to coincide with that big exam. *Wink wink*
Trying to make summer travel less stressful? Check out these take-along toys kids will love.
