What You Need to Know About Family Travel

Goway is and always has been a family company. Generations of families have helped build Goway for over five decades, from the family of our Founder and President, Bruce Hodge, to our everyday staff. We know that travelling the world is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences, and doing it with your family makes it even more so.

Family travel is currently one of the hottest travel trends, but planning the perfect family getaway can sometimes be tricky. That's where we come in. Goway's 55 years of experience in planning tailor-made group travel and our Goway GroupsOnly team—North America's largest dedicated group travel division—make planning group travel easy, no matter how big or unique your family is.

Here is what you need to know about family travel to plan the perfect family getaway.

Why Is Family Travel Trending & How Is it Evolving?

More and more people are recognizing the unique benefits of family travel. In fact, a 2025 survey from the Family Travel Association (FTA) found that 92% of parents surveyed plan to travel with their family in the next year, the highest level since 2018.

One of the most significant drivers behind the increased interest in family travel is the recognition of the real-world education and personal connections offered by family trips. A majority of parents polled agreed that travelling has helped their children see the world from a broader perspective (71%), become more confident (58%), become more engaged learners (53%), and, most importantly, bring them closer together as a family (85%).

Another driver behind the surge in family travel is multi- and skip-generational travel. Multi-generational travel involves children, parents, and grandparents, while skip-generational travel involves children and their grandparents. Multi-generational travel is the more popular choice, with 71% of grandparents surveyed having taken a multi-generational trip in the past three years, compared to 28% having taken a skip-generational trip. Grandparents, like parents, are also motivated by the educational and bonding opportunities of family travel, with a majority of grandparents polled agreeing that it's a great way to bond as a family (75%) and that it helps their grandchildren become more adventurous (55%) and flexible (53%).

The survey also highlighted the increasing role children are playing in the planning of family trips, also known as "kidfluence.". Most parents polled (74%) reported that their children love to travel and are becoming more involved in trip planning, with many of their travel ideas coming from social media, YouTube, and other digital platforms.

Where are the Top Family Travel Destinations?

So much of planning a successful and unforgettable family trip revolves around choosing a destination—or destinations—that everyone in your family will enjoy. That's why choosing a destination with a variety of experiences and accommodations is crucial. Lucky for us, we have a whole world to choose from.

You can find excellent family travel destinations on every continent, but let's begin in Africa. It's a continent full of some of the world's oldest history, most delicious food, and most iconic landmarks. It also has something to offer every kind of traveller, regardless of their age. For example, my family recently took a trip to South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. My parents had been to Africa before, but it was the first time for my brothers and me. Each of us was looking forward to something different. None of us was disappointed.

We saw the Big Five on game drives in South Africa, visited the infamous Robben Island with a former political prisoner of apartheid named Monde, shared stories over a boma dinner in Botswana, and bungee jumped over Victoria Falls. Every moment of this trip was special, and sharing it with my family made it even more so.

South Africa and Botswana have plenty more to offer families beyond my personal experiences. Both countries offer excellent choices of family-friendly safari lodges in iconic destinations such as the Kapama Game Reserve, Sabi Sabi, the Okavango Delta, and Chobe. Additionally, they both offer a variety of land- and water-based active experiences, such as hiking, swimming, and rafting, as well as rejuvenating wellness experiences, often immersed in incredible natural settings.

Suppose you're among the majority of those surveyed in the previously mentioned 2025 FTA survey who plan on taking a beach vacation in the upcoming year. In that case, you're in luck, because your options are nearly endless.

Countries like Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Fiji, and Thailand are not only home to some of the world's most beautiful beaches, but they also offer rich cultural, natural and wellness experiences. Imagine pairing a Barossa Valley wine tour with an Outback Aboriginal experience and Bondi Beach getaway; learning to Samba after a day at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana Beach; relaxing in volcano-fed hot springs in Arenal before searching for nesting sea turtles in Manuel Antonio; feasting on a traditional lobo after a day in the Fijian sun; or indulging in a culinary tour of Bangkok before venturing to the sunny beaches of Koh Samui. Transforming classic beach holidays into educational family vacations with immersive cultural exchanges is one of the best ways to get the most out of your family trips.

Planning family trips around specific, big-ticket events or shared hobbies is another great way to ensure your trip is engaging for everyone involved. Destinations like London are home to tours like the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour, which takes you behind the scenes of one of the most successful franchises of all time in a timeless city full of world-class museums and restaurants. Similarly, families can experience the electric atmosphere of a local baseball game in Japan and a tour of Tokyo's DisneySea and Universal Studios. Or suppose your family loves being active outdoors. Off-the-beaten-path destinations like LAAX in Switzerland let you turn your shared love of skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking into lifelong memories.

There are plenty of other incredible destinations that offer equally extraordinary family experiences. These include Italy, Morocco, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and French Polynesia, among many others. No matter where your family wishes to explore, Goway can help get you there, so be sure to check out our featured family trips.

Affordable Family Travel

Affordability is always among the top concerns for families when planning a family trip. Working with Goway's family of Destination Specialists and dedicated customer support team is a great way to address affordability concerns, as we have over 55 years of planning tailor-made travel and are well-equipped to help you find the most affordable options for flights, accommodations, and experiences.

Travelling domestically or within North America is another great way to address these concerns without sacrificing the quality of your trip. Both Canada and the U.S. boast world-class cities like New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as well as breathtaking natural beauty in places like the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, and the coastal beauty from Oregon to British Columbia. Nearby Mexico also packs everything a family trip could ask for, with Mexico City and the Yucatan Peninsula offering endless culinary, beach, and historical Maya experiences.

Hawai'i is another top destination for families seeking an iconic yet flexible vacation. All four islands we serve—O'ahu, Maui, the Big Island of Hawai’i, and Kaua'i—are ideal for family trips, whether you're planning a tailor-made itinerary, a private-guided adventure, or a road trip. O'ahu, in particular, is a favourite for families thanks to its mix of history, fun, and natural beauty. Explore Pearl Harbor's historic sites, enjoy interactive family experiences at Kualoa Ranch, savour meals from Waikiki restaurants to Kahuku Food Trucks on the North Shore, and relax on spectacular beaches framed by breathtaking scenery.