A family holiday together does not have to turn into a nightmare, even if the ideas of a successful holiday differ greatly between young people and their parents. However, the prerequisite is that young and old show consideration for each other and leave each other enough space for individual holiday wishes. This is the recommendation of Hamburg leisure researcher Prof Dr Opaschowski based on a representative survey conducted by the BAT Leisure Research Institute.

While young people want to experience as much as possible and have as much variety as possible on holiday, older people primarily want peace, quiet and relaxation. This often leads to tensions and conflicts. As the survey shows, the proportion of 14 to 19-year-olds looking for an adventure holiday is almost three times as high (55 %) as among 40 to 49-year-olds (19 %). Conversely, older people's expectations of holidays are predominantly focused on relaxation (61 %), which for young people is more of a secondary consideration (33 %).

According to the BAT study, while young people want to spend more time with other people (76 %) and less time with their family (14 %), 41 % of 40 to 49-year-olds want to be with their family on holiday.

Prof. Opaschowski comments: „Family holiday disputes are almost inevitable if it is not possible to reconcile ego-oriented holiday wishes with family-oriented ideas.“

According to the motto ‚Travelling together - going on holiday separately‚, the wishes for individual holiday activities as well as shared family experiences can be reconciled.

The Hamburg leisure researcher advises parents who want to travel with children over the age of 14 not to attach so much importance to frequent joint activities, but to be content with informal get-togethers. This will prevent young people from complaining about too much supervision and too little freedom of movement.

A family holiday in 1983 means being understanding. Being together with the family, but not constantly preoccupied with the family.

„Good weather“ most important for a successful holiday

What holidaymakers can influence the least, the weather, is what matters to them the most. According to a representative survey by the BAT Leisure Research Institute, 63 % of Germans consider „good weather“ to be the most important factor in a successful holiday.
„Recover, relax, switch off“ is the main holiday wish for around one in two respondents (52 %), followed by „Do what you like“ (49 %). Socialising is very popular: „Getting together with other people“ ranks ahead of „sleeping in“ (37 %) with 38 %.
The financial aspect seems to be less important to most holidaymakers than one might think: „Being able to afford something“ is the most important thing for only 21 % of those surveyed. „Doing something for education“ is not so popular with the people of poets and thinkers on holiday. Only 10 % opted for this.