Baby Boomers Likely to Foot the Bill for Their Kids' Vacations in 2025, According to New Data

30.10.2024 - 16:03 / travelandleisure.com

Booking.com has broken out its crystal ball to share its travel predictions for the year to come. And according to the travel platform, it's going to be a great year for the children of boomers. 

This month, Booking released its Travel Predictions research revealing where travelers will be headed in 2025, what kind of adventures we'll have, and who we are most likely to travel alongside in the year to come. 

«Travel plays a central role in bringing people closer together, with our research showing that Americans are looking to develop deeper connections and a sense of unity through their travels in the year ahead,» Ben Harrell, the managing director, U.S. at Booking.com, shared. «The trends we see emerging for 2025 toss conventional travel aside and make room for more non-traditional experiences that accept and embrace uncertainty. Luckily, the travel industry is an economic engine for the country that can break down barriers, renew relationships, and proffer personal growth.»

One of the biggest trends Booking.com identified for 2025 is boomers looking to take their younger relatives out for big vacations. As the report noted, older relatives are looking to «splash the cash among their families, helping the younger generations through the cost of living crisis by paying for their next vacation.» 

The report added that while the majority — 51 percent — of Americans say their parents had already paid for their vacations or part of their vacations in the past, boomers are even more likely to influence the next family vacation, as 77 percent of those in the boomer demographic said they'd happily pay for their children. An additional 81 percent said they'd pay for their grandchildren when booking their next trip, too. So, according to the report, you can «prepare for more multi-generational trips courtesy of the Bank of Mom & Dad or Bank of Grandma & Grandpa.» 

As for where boomers may be looking to go, Booking.com said 2025 is all about going big with «SKI» trips — just not in the way you think. 

"'SKI' trips will be on the rise — but not on the slopes — as parents and grandparents flip priorities by Spending Kids' Inheritance (SKI) instead of squirreling their savings," Booking noted. It added that 41 percent of American parents said they would rather spend money on a trip of a lifetime in 2025 than leave an inheritance to their children. 

And these expensive getaways will be filled with plenty of thrills, with 37 percent of boomers saying they want to go on trips that involve «adventure.» 

As for other key trends we can all look forward to, Booking.com said that «noctourism,» aka celestial or astrotourism, will be the next frontier, including visits to dark sky preserves and travels to destinations