Four family travel trends for 2015

EWING, NEW JERSEY, 19 December 2014: Family Vacation Critic, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, has announced the top family travel trends to watch in 2015, based on new programmes and amenities focused specifically on families.
“A really promising trend we’re seeing, industry-wide, is an increased focus on families throughout the travel experience,” said, editor of Family Vacation Critic Lissa Poirot. “The entire process – from getting there to exploring and immersing yourselves in the destination – is becoming easier for families.”
“Travel brands are building their products around what matters most to families: convenience, options and memorable experiences.”
The top family travel trends for 2015 include:
inside no 6The rise of the family suite. Leading hotel brands, including Club Med and Karisma Hotels & Resorts, are adding multi-room family suites to their accommodation offerings.
The trend also extends to cruise lines; Holland America recently announced that it will be adding family suites — sleeping up to five guests — on its new ship, Koningsdam, scheduled to launch in early 2016.
More kid-friendly programmes for families to enjoy together on cruise ships. Over the last few years, cruise lines have focused even more on upgrading on-board kids’ clubs and activities, and now they are focusing on creating kid-friendly programming for the entire family to experience together. Carnival has launched Dr. Seuss-themed experiences and Princess has introduced new kids’ programming as part of its partnership with the Discovery Channel – including Animal Planet and Science Channel shore excursions.
Immersive travel becomes more inclusive of families. Experiential travel doesn’t have to be limited to kid-free travellers, and resorts and outfitters are creating even more opportunities for families looking for immersive travel options. Families can treasure hunt in the Rocky Mountains as part of Destination Hotels & Resorts’ new “Destination Family Escapes,” explore Inca ruins in Machu Picchu with G Adventures’ new “Teen Adventures,” or take a local cooking class in Ecuador as part of Adventures by Disney’s 2015 itinerary offerings.
Transportation providers make ‘getting there’ easier for families. This year, UberFAMILY was introduced – providing car seats in select Uber vehicles, and RyanAir launched its ‘Family Extra’ programme with discounted seating for children, in-flight bottle warming and discounted travel insurance for kids.
Thomson Airways has also announced plans to introduce ‘family booths,’ seating four to six in a row, as well as in-flight kids’ clubs as early as next summer.
For more information on planning a family vacation, visit www.familyvacationcritic.com.
Family Vacation Critic® is an online travel resource for families that offers reviews of family hotels, resort and destinations. The site features vacation ideas, family travel tips and an online forum for family travellers.
inside no 6.1Family Vacation Critic is published by The Independent Traveller Inc, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor Inc.
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sourced:ttrweekly.com