Grandparents are increasingly paying for family holidays – but it’s about more than just money
New research reveals grandparents are funding family holidays, but parents say making memories matters most.
New research suggests that grandparents are increasingly the reason families can afford to go away.
A study by travel insurance company AllClear suggests that many UK parents receive financial help from their parents to go on holiday — with more than half (54%) of the grandparents footing the bill completely.
This seems to reflect the impact of the rising cost of living on family life. But interestingly, the 750 parents that AllClear surveyed in July 2025 say that money isn’t the main reason they’re bringing grandparents along. Instead, it’s the promise of quality family time, and extra hands to help with the children.
Grandparents are paying for holidays when parents can’t
According to the research, UK parents expect grandparents to contribute an average of 35% towards the overall costs of a multi-generational holiday.
But for many families, that contribution is much higher. Nearly a third of parents (30%) say they would expect grandparents to cover more than half of the cost, and one in 20 (5%) say they would expect them to pay for the whole trip.
Four in 10 parents (40%) said they would actively ask grandparents for financial help if they couldn’t otherwise afford a holiday — but they might not need to, as 55% say that grandparents would offer to pay without them asking.
Why do parents want grandparents to join them on holiday?
While finances are an undeniable factor, most parents are choosing to bring grandparents on holiday for emotional reasons.
Childcare support is part of the picture – 55% of parents said they had even paid for grandparents to join them on holiday so they could help with childcare. But only 15% of the parents AllClear surveyed said this was their main reason for bringing grandparents on holiday.
Instead, 60% of parents ranked “enjoying quality time together as a family” as their top motivation. Meanwhile, 43% said it was about giving children lasting memories of their grandparents and 38% felt it made the trip feel more special or meaningful.
Letitia Smith, head of communications at AllClear, says: “As parents increasingly feel the financial squeeze, more grandparents are stepping in to fund family getaways. But this isn’t just about necessity; parents are expressing a desire for all generations of their family to spend more time together.
Everyone benefits from multi-generational trips
Parents are also quick to acknowledge the wider benefits of holidaying with grandparents. Two-thirds said they felt more relaxed on trips when grandparents were there.
With almost three-quarters of the parents wishing that all the generations of their families spent more time together, multi-generational holidays are a great way to do this.
“While sharing finances is one motivation for multiple generations holidaying together, our research shows that going away with grandparents is largely about strengthening family bonds, encouraging the grandparents to get abroad, and creating lasting memories for everyone,” Letitia says.
For families planning such a trip, practicalities are important too: “If you’re planning a multi-generational holiday this year, it’s worth looking into specialist travel insurance for over-70s, to ensure everyone has comprehensive cover and can enjoy the trip with peace of mind,” she says.