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Parents reliving their childhood trips

10th April 2013 Print
Family holiday

Millions of parents are reliving childhood holiday memories – by taking their kids to destinations they visited themselves when they were young, it has emerged. A study found six out of ten parents have taken their children to beaches, resorts or countries they have fond memories of visiting whilst growing up.

Among the most popular countries families head to are France, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Others head to locations closer to home, according to the report.

The study was commissioned by Eurocamp to coincide with their 40th Anniversary, and revealed that, for one third of adults, their fondest memories are actually of traditional family breaks and holidays.

Spokesman Chris Hilton said: ”It’s heart-warming to learn that parents enjoyed their holidays as kids so much that they are hoping to recreate them for their children.

”It’s only natural that parents want to give their children a holiday to remember, and it’s a credit to their own mum and dad who provided them with holidays that they are still treasuring well in to adulthood.

”Having been around for 40 years we regularly hear from customers who holidayed with us as a child.

”The research revealed that most memories parents were wanting to recreate were simple things such as camping, swimming, cycling, fishing and long walks.”

One in five adults polled said they wanted their children to have the same experiences that they did as a child, while 57% said they wanted to try and relive holidays they had 20 or 30 years ago.

So much so that one out of five has even booked exactly the same hotel, campsite or cottage that they stayed in as a kid, and more than a quarter head off to the same resorts.

Nearly half of the adults that took part in the survey admitted they are also trying to relive their childhood by taking the kids on the same holidays.

And more than eight out of ten said it was their aim to take the kids on holidays they will treasure forever.

Two-thirds of the adults polled said they want their children’s childhood years to replicate their own, with 67% said they are trying to teach them the same principles they learnt.

One third said they also take their young kids on similar days out.

Of the parents polled, eight in ten said their children enjoyed family breaks as much as they did, and 53% said it was beneficial for their children to see where they went on holiday as a child.

Parents said 12 was the best age for children to enjoy family holidays with France, Spain and the UK named as the best locations.

Two thirds said family holidays were much more simple affairs years ago as there wasn’t the element of having to ‘out-do’ each other and keep up with the Jones’.

Half said it was because holidays were free from technology and you really had chance to wind down from work without the interruption of emails, texts and phone calls.

Seven out of ten parents said the holidays you go on completely change when kids come on the scene.

Eight in ten parents admitted that kids enjoy trips away, regardless of the destination, and others said your holidays change for the better as you start to see the world through a child’s eyes.

The study also found that 43% of families invite the grandparents along on the annual holiday, and one in five said they do this because the holiday resembles their childhood.

And 58% say it’s the one chance the family have of being together.

But a more honest 30% said they invite their own parents to help with caring for the kids.

Eurocamp spokesman Chris Hilton continued: ”It’s becoming very common place for grandparents to join on a family holiday.

”No doubt it shares the load of childcare but it makes the holiday all the more memorable if the whole family are there.”

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Family holiday