From Wicked Wi-Fi to Forbidden Food | What Kids Crave on Vacay
This summer, we set out to canvas the world’s children on exactly what they want from their family getaway. Over 22,500 post-holiday reviews were collected from children across the globe, and the findings* reveal the most important factors to keep little adventurers of all ages happy, from incredibly fast Wi-Fi to bouncy beds and special treat suppers. Read on for a deep dive into what ticks the boxes when it comes to a fab holiday for the kids...
SOCIAL MEDIA KUDOS
A strong Wi-Fi connection (89%) and eye-catching social media scenery (44%) are key factors in a holiday for 12-15 year olds, showing the importance of reporting back to friends at home during family travels. Brazil is revealed as the top spot for 12-15 year olds to get the best shot this summer, with rooftop apartments and epic beachside hotels overlooking views such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. Creating kudos on Instagram, Snapchat and Weibo is serious business and something that cannot be dismissed for Generation Z.
COOL SOCIAL MEDIA SHOTS
| 12-15 YEAR OLDS | % |
Brazil | 93% |
Russia | 90% |
Greece | 88% |
Croatia | 87% |
Netherlands | 87% |
A LAZY BREAKFAST
Nearly half (42%) of 12-15 year olds and over a quarter (26%) of 5-11 year olds look for accommodation which gives them the opportunity to have a lie in before breakfast. Of the 5-11 year olds, a huge 77% noted that Poland is great for a late breakfast, whereas Croatia was rated highly by older children. To ease the stress, self-catering is a great option for guaranteeing children don’t miss the most important meal of the day, providing flexibility for you to enjoy fresh bread rolls and scrambled eggs at any point.
SERVING A LATE BREAKFAST
| 5-11 YEAR OLDS | % | 12-15 YEAR OLDS | % |
Poland | 77% | Croatia | 75% |
Croatia | 76% | Greece | 73% |
Thailand | 75% | Austria | 69% |
Ireland | 73% | Italy | 65% |
Mexico | 73% | Germany | 65% |
EATING FORBIDDEN FOOD
From the 5 to 11 year olds that travelled this summer, a third (32%) agreed that the most important thing on a family trip is eating food that isn’t usually allowed at home, proving that holidays are an exciting way to taste food from different cultures and tuck into tasty treats. Japan was a clear favourite, with a huge 84% of 5-11 year old children enjoying the food on their travels there. With a rise in popularity of colourful sushi and dim sum dishes, plus the delicious Ningyo-yaki dessert, it seems children are experimenting with their taste buds more than ever!
EATING FORBIDDEN FOOD
| 5-11 YEAR OLDS | % |
Japan | 84% |
Taiwan | 80% |
Thailand | 78% |
Australia | 77% |
Argentina | 76% |
STAYING UP PAST BEDTIME
This summer, evening activities were highly regarded by nearly half (46%) of 5-11 year olds and a quarter (27%) of 12-15 year olds. With a range of hotels offering kids clubs, babysitters and evening shows, entertaining your children has never been easier to organise. Rich in diversity and with a range of activities on your doorstep, including ice-skating, cycling, wildlife sighting and fishing, over three quarters (78%) of children aged 5-11 noted Canada as a great destination this summer for evening activities and staying out late.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
| 5-11 YEAR OLDS | % | 12-15 YEAR OLDS | % |
Canada | 78% | Russia | 76% |
France | 75% | Australia | 56% |
Great Britain | 70% | Brazil | 56% |
Portugal | 69% | United States | 53% |
United States | 69% | Croatia | 52% |
LET’S GO TO THE BEACH
Sun, sea and sand – the perfect option for keeping little ones busy on holiday. From making sand castles to paddling in the sea, staying near the beach is deemed the second most important thing for 5–11 year olds, and the fourth for 12-15 year olds. With a number of islands boasting idyllic beaches, fun water sports and epic snorkelling, Greece is a clear favourite for beach-based retreats, for all ages.
STAYING NEAR THE BEACH
| 5-11 YEAR OLDS | % | 12-15 YEAR OLDS | % |
Greece | 90% | Greece | 70% |
Croatia | 89% | Croatia | 70% |
Portugal | 81% | Mexico | 53% |
Spain | 77% | Portugal | 52% |
Mexico | 77% | Spain | 50% |
A WHOLE LOT OF HISTORY
Staying in a piece of history is possible now, thanks to Booking.com’s diverse bank of properties. From 16th century castles to large lighthouses, it’s clear to see why Great Britain was deemed the most historical holiday spot by 76% of 12-15 year olds and 33% of 5-11 year olds. Closely followed by other European countries including Ireland, the Netherlands and Italy, it shows that studying can carry on even when’s school’s out.
HISTORICAL DESTINATIONS
5-11 YEAR OLDS | % | 12-15 YEAR OLDS | % |
Great Britain | 33% | Great Britain | 77% |
Ireland | 31% | Netherlands | 71% |
Italy | 24% | Mexico | 71% |
Russia | 24% | Italy | 68% |
| Poland | 23% | Portugal | 67% |
BIGGER BEDROOMS… AND BOUNCIER BEDS
Taiwan and Malaysia pip Thailand to the (bed)post for children’s bedroom sizes, with 84% of children aged 5-11 this summer recommending the small island off China. However, Brazil beats Asia in the battle of the bouncy beds, something that a fifth (22%) of children aged 5-11 see as an important factor for a family holiday, ensuring energetic jumping is followed by a comfortable night’s sleep.
5-11 YEAR OLDS
BOUNCY BEDS | % | BIGGER BEDROOMS | % |
Brazil | 81% | Taiwan | 84% |
Taiwan | 79% | Malaysia | 72% |
Thailand | 69% | Thailand | 70% |
Malaysia | 67% | Japan | 67% |
Japan | 61% | Mexico | 62% |
* Research conducted by Booking.com with 22,564 respondents aged 5 to 15 from 31 markets. Respondents had to be aged between 5 to 15 and stayed at least one night in a Booking.com property to complete a review with their parent’s permission. Only booker nationalities which had over 100 respondents, and only destination countries which had over 100 visitors were included in the results. Data was collected between June 3 to August 29 2016.