Anyone for a ‘skip generation’ holiday?
UK-based Saga, which offers various services to over-50s customers, including insurance and holidays, has released the results of a new readers poll suggesting that a major and unremarked travel trend in 2019 is the ‘skip generation’ holiday, a trip where grandparents take their grandchildren, but the parents stay behind
The poll took in responses from 12,308 UK adults aged 50 and over. Twenty per cent of the readers of Saga’s magazine said that they have already taken their grandchildren on a trip of this sort, and a further 11 per cent say that they are considering it.
Citing psychologist Dr Kairen Cullen, Saga said that these types of holidays are proving popular because of the unique benefits they bring to all three generations, even that which is not directly involved. Children can achieve a greater sense of identity and belonging, and an appreciation of the simpler things in life, while grandparents can benefit from a boost to their cognitive powers and from the physical exercise necessary to keep up with younger companions – spending time with grandchildren can even act as an antidepressant.
And of course, parents get to have a well-earned break!
Saga’s research found that four out of five grandparents said that holidaying with their grandchildren was of major benefit in terms of keeping them active, while seven out of 10 said that they found holidaying with their grandchildren improved their relationships.
In a canny move, Saga is promoting this research with a travel insurance offering, making free travel insurance available to its customers’ grandchildren if they are heading off on a skip-gen trip with their grandparents.