Why Multigenerational Travel Is the Biggest Trend of 2026
Multigenerational bookings are up 20% for summer 2026. Here's why families are traveling together more than ever, and which destinations and hotels actually work.
Three Generations, One Booking
Luxury travel brands are reporting a 20% increase in multigenerational bookings for summer 2026. That includes grandparents, parents, and grandchildren traveling together, often for weeks at a time. Classic Vacations, which tracks affluent traveler behavior, flagged it as the clearest trend in their 2026 summer forecast.
This isn't entirely new. Families have always traveled together. What's changed is the scale and the intentionality. People are booking bigger rooms, longer stays, and more purpose-built itineraries designed around mixed ages rather than defaulting to a single adult-focused destination and hoping it works for everyone.
Why It's Happening Now
A few things converged. Post-pandemic, many families reorganized their priorities around time together. Older generations, particularly those who traveled extensively pre-pandemic, are healthy, mobile, and actively seeking experiences. The data on how few shared trips actually happen over a lifetime has also gotten more traction in popular culture. That creates urgency.
There's also a practical economics angle. Sharing travel costs across multiple adults makes expensive destinations more accessible. If three generations split a large villa in Portugal or a multi-room suite at a beach resort, the per-person cost often beats what each household would spend on separate trips.
What Destinations Work Best
The best multigenerational destinations share a few characteristics. Easy access matters more than when you're booking for two adults. Medical facilities nearby matter when you have elderly travelers. Activity diversity matters because a 70-year-old and a 7-year-old have different interests and both need to be happy.
Costa Rica has emerged as a strong option. The combination of wildlife, beaches, mild adventure activities, and excellent private medical facilities makes it work across age ranges. Hotels in the Guanacaste region specifically have invested heavily in multigenerational amenities. Multiple pools, kids clubs, and adult spa facilities often coexist at the same property.
Portugal's Algarve continues to rank among Europe's top multigenerational options. Villa rentals are common, English is widely spoken, the food is accessible, and the beach infrastructure is well-developed. High season hotel prices in the Algarve run $150 to $300 per room. Villa rentals for groups of 8 to 12 can be found at $400 to $800 per night, which works out cheaply per person.
Closer to home, Hawaii remains the gold standard for American families. The combination of no international travel stress, excellent medical access, and genuine activity variety across age groups is hard to match. Oahu is easier to navigate than Maui or the Big Island for first-timers with older travelers. Hotel prices in Waikiki run $250 to $400 per night, but the value per person goes up sharply when several people share larger suites.
What Hotels Need to Have
Not every hotel works for three generations. The practical requirements multiply when you're traveling with a wide age range. A few things to look for before booking.
Connecting rooms or suites with separate sleeping areas. Privacy matters for adults when children are asleep. Single large rooms don't work as well as two rooms with an internal door.
Elevator access throughout. Stairs become a real issue for travelers with mobility limitations. Many older European hotels and boutique properties lack elevator access. This needs to be confirmed before booking, not discovered on arrival.
Multiple dining options at different price points. Not every meal at a resort has to be formal. Poolside snack bars and casual breakfast options reduce meal-related friction considerably.
Kids clubs or structured activities for younger travelers. This matters more than most parents think before they go. Two hours of supervised kids activities each afternoon gives adults time to actually relax.
How to Split Costs
The financial logistics of multigenerational travel can get complicated. A few approaches that actually work in practice. One household takes point on booking and collects from others in advance, reducing on-trip money conversations. Or expenses get split by household rather than by individual, which simplifies the math when households have different numbers of people.
When you book hotels through Best, every booking earns 10% cashback. On a $350-per-night room over seven nights, that's $245 back. If three households are each booking their own rooms for the same trip, three separate bookings means three sets of cashback.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most popular multigenerational travel destination in 2026?
Hawaii leads for US families, followed by Mexico's Riviera Maya and Portugal's Algarve for international trips. All three combine easy logistics, activity variety, and strong hotel infrastructure for mixed age groups.
How do you plan a multigenerational trip that works for everyone?
Build in unstructured time and don't over-schedule. The goal isn't to do everything together every day. Schedule a couple of anchor experiences everyone shares and leave room for smaller groups to break off. Not every meal has to be a group dinner.
Are resorts or villa rentals better for multigenerational trips?
Both work. Resorts provide on-site activities, kids clubs, and dining without logistics. Villas provide more privacy, shared living space, and often better per-person value for larger groups. The choice depends heavily on how self-sufficient the group wants to be.
Photography by Pixabay and Asad Photo Maldives via Pexels, used under free license.
