How Travel Plans Differ Among People With Kids Vs. People Without

Parents are gearing up for more travel in 2024, with 64% expecting to take more trips compared to 2023. Among those without kids, 59% share in this anticipation, so it’s clear there’s a solid overall enthusiasm for travel, regardless of whether kids are involved in the plans.

Summer is the preferred travel time for non-parents, with June being the most favored month. A notable 45% of non-parents plan to take at least one trip in June, followed by 44% in July and 37% in August.

For parents, July takes the top spot, with 58% planning at least one trip, closely followed by June at 54%. December also sees a surge in family travel compared to much of the rest of the year, with 46% of parents planning trips. These findings make sense considering the timing of summer and holiday breaks from school.

Regarding booking, both parents (53%) and non-parents (51%) prefer to plan their trips at least one to three months in advance. However, and perhaps unsurprisingly to those with kids, non-parents are more spontaneous, with 25% booking at the last minute compared to 18% of those with children.

Barriers Preventing Increased Travel in 2024

The rising cost of travel tops the list of barriers for both parents and non-parents looking to travel more, at 48% and 53%, respectively. The good news is that there are ways to help offset the cost of travel, such as earning and redeeming rewards from one of the best travel credit cards for families or best cards for couples.

Juggling family schedules is the second biggest hurdle for parents, with 35% citing it as an obstacle to traveling more. This likely comes as no surprise to anyone with kids, given there’s always an activity or event to attend regardless of the season.

Lastly, financial constraints and taking time off work were noted as the remaining most common challenges facing both groups. 28% of parents and 30% of non-parents cite more significant spending priorities affecting their travel plans, and it’s easy to understand why other expenses might take priority. Additionally, 27% of parents and 24% of non-parents noted taking time off work as a common challenge to traveling more, which also tracks given the average PTO in the U.S. is 10 days.