Family summer travel can look different around the world. We spoke to six families to learn where they’re going this year, what they’re spending and how they made their plans.
As school holidays approach across the Northern Hemisphere, millions of families are preparing for what is often their biggest trip of the year.
But the summer holiday can look quite different depending on where you’re from. It might mean camping within a tank of petrol, returning to a family summer house, visiting ancestral hometowns, escaping to the coast or using the long break to explore a new part of your own country.
Lots goes into the choices. Geography, budgets, paid leave and cultural norms all shape how families travel. And though outdoor activities and creating memories are often universal elements, this year, wider issues – from fuel costs and exchange rates to major events such as the 2026 Fifa World Cup – are also filtering into those decisions.
We spoke to six families in the UK, US, Mexico, Japan, Sweden and Italy about their summer holiday plans this year. Here’s where they’re heading, what they’re spending – and why.
