Brits swap boozy lads journeys for holidays away with their mums for one motive
British travellers are increasingly chosing to go on holidays with their mums over their pals as research found adults worry they are not spending enough time with their parents
Brits are choosing holidays with their mums (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
Boozy lads trips and chaotic girls getaways have long been a staple of British travel. But new trends show young folks are increasingly choosing a more relaxing travel partner – their mum.
The research from Heathrow Express shows 30% of adults ditched their pals and all-night Jaegerbomb madness for a more laid-back holiday with their mum, parent or carer in the last three years. And the travel boffins found 16% are planning a holiday with their mum in the next year, adding the rise of bonding trips with the one who matters most.
Nearly 60% of respondents said they worry they’re not making enough time for their mum, parent or carer as they get older, fuelling the desire for quality time abroad. Those who do travel with parents believe there are real benefits, with 38% saying it’s a more relaxing experience than going away with friends.
There are also long term advantages including creating lasting memories (37%) strengthening relationships (29%) and helping with reconnection (28%).
Aoife Considine, business lead at Heathrow Express, said: “Travel has a wonderful way of pressing pause on everyday life. When you’re away together, there’s space for conversations you don’t normally have and moments you don’t always make time for at home.
“For many adults, a trip with their mum or parent figure isn’t just another holiday – it’s a chance to reconnect, laugh about old stories and create new ones. Those are the kinds of memories people carry with them long after they’ve returned home.”
As families celebrate Mother’s Day, Heathrow Express is giving travellers 20% off from March 14 to 21 by using the discount code HEXMARCH. Those jetting off over the Mother’s Day weekend itself can also get a complimentary dessert with any main course bought at Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food Market at Heathrow Terminal 5.
Meanwhile, research from last year found the idea of a traditional ‘lads’ holiday’ full of sun, booze and sex has become outdated, according to 65% of men. Moreover, 69% of those polled admit the prospect of an ‘Inbetweeners’-style getaway fills them with absolute dread.
This sentiment is so strong that over half (53%) reveal they often make up excuses to avoid going. A recent survey by First Choice, involving 2,000 Gen Z and Millennial men, found that a staggering 81% feel pressured to act “macho” during such trips.
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