How families in different countries spend and plan their summer travel

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.

The US extended family escape

Who: Josh Colombo 47, Blanka Molnar 41, Olivia 3

From: Sugar Land, Texas, US

Where they're going: Budapest, Hungary, and Turkey

Trip length: Six weeks in Budapest and one week in Turkey

Budget: $6,000 (£4,446)

In the United States, paid time off varies widely by employer and length of service, but 11-15 days is the average, plus national holidays. However, holistic therapist Blanka Molnar is self-employed so she can travel more flexibly.

This year, Molnar and her daughter are spending seven weeks overseas, with her husband, Josh, joining when his time off from his role as a project manager allows. Their itinerary is split between staying with friends in Turkey and visiting Molnar's ancestral city in Hungary.

"Travelling in general is important to my husband and me," says Molnar. "That's how we met. My daughter is still very young so I try to spend as much time as possible with her. Looking back at our photos, I soak up all those precious moments." 

The family travel budget of $6,000 for seven weeks of European travel has been carefully considered. Molnar explains that staying with family and friends keeps costs low, as transatlantic flights eat up much of the budget at $1,200 per person. "For our upcoming Turkey trip, the airplane ticket [cost] $200/person (from Hungary), and we will not pay for accommodation because my friend has a holiday home there. I'll probably buy food from the supermarket and cook."

She and her family enjoy blending outdoor adventures and cultural enrichment. While in Budapest, Molnar plans to reconnect with family, enjoy the thermal baths and visit the city's castles. In Antalya and Belen, they look forward to enjoying the beach.

"We prefer to be active even on vacations," says Molnar. "With a toddler, you cannot really rest and just chill by the pool all day."

The UK budget camping getaway

Who: Jason Menzies 37, Sarah Pennington 32, Leo 6

From: Rawtenstall, Lancashire

Where they're going: Barmouth, Wales

Trip length: Five-seven days

For Jason Menzies, Sarah Pennington and their son Leo, summer means getting into nature. This year, they'll be taking their caravan to Barmouth in North Wales, popular for its sandy beach, family-friendly campsites and proximity to Eryri Snowdonia National Park.

"We've never gone abroad as a family; it's just so prohibitively expensive," says Menzies. "Camping means we can explore more of the UK, and we can just go for a handful of nights. We try to keep within a radius of a full tank of diesel so the drive usually ends up being the most expensive thing."

Nostalgia played a strong role in their choice. "We chose Barmouth because it was somewhere Sarah went when she was young, and remembers it being beautiful," says Menzies. "The sea, the beach, ice cream and arcades – all the things Leo loves on a good afternoon out now." 

The family had initially considered visiting Scotland but didn't think Leo and their dogs were up for the long drive. "Three hours is the limit!" He adds: "In the UK, typically, full-time work grants you 28 days off per year. Childcare during the school holidays also makes a dent, so we've really got to make them count." 

The high cost of........

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