With the summer in full blast in much of equatorial Asia and already looming over the rest of the northern hemisphere, everyone is keen on planning trips, especially families in need of serious R&R.

But this summer proving to be a difficult time for family travel, especially in the face of travel restrictions, rising costs for both airfare and accommodations, and extreme heat levels being driven up by the super El Niño phenomenon that is expected to sweep throughout the world by the end of the first half of this year.

Nevertheless, intrepid travellers and their families are doing what they can to ensure that their seasonal escape will still be fun and meaningful, even if it means making key budgetary adjustments such as contemplating locations closer to home.

We break down some key trends that are already coming into play for family travel this season and how both industry professionals and travellers can cope.

Family travel on the rise

One important thing to consider is the fact that family travel is on an upswing, with 88 percent of global travel advisors surveyed putting the category in their top five.

This gives credence to one of the major findings in the Family Travel Association (FTA)’s October 2025 report which showed that up to 92 percent of parents planned to travel with their children in the coming year.

Also, 57 percent of parents are considering multigenerational trips with extended family, bringing the whole crowd to experience a particularly desirable destination.

Rising costs have not been a deterrent for many families keen on travelling together, as the shared experience is seen to outweigh cost even among the most budget-conscious travellers.

According to TTC Tour Brands’ vice-president of strategic accounts Josh Hepp: “People want to experience something together, whether it’s a gondola school in Rome or cooking class in Costa Rica. They’re building things together.” 

Key trends for family travel for summer 2026

Keeping all these in mind, travel agents and advisors ought to look into the following trends which stand to shift the game throughout the next several months:

Coolcations to beat the heat With temperatures (and tempers) set to soar and blaze, many families are heading to the extreme north to Scandinavia where the summer heat is less brutal, the midnight sun phenomenon is in full effect, and individual nations are all set to offer authentic and immersive cultural experiences;

Costs drive people closer to home Especially in Asia, many would-be-travellers are setting their sights on destinations closer to home, particularly those that can be reached by road or offer daytime experiences for a fraction of the cost of an overnighter. For those thinking of going overseas, it is more cost-effective but just as fulfilling to consider destinations that are just two to four hours away by plane; and

Away from the maddening crowd Most families, especially those with young children, will opt for less crowded destinations; more adventurous ones with older children would also do well to consider areas off the beaten track. Exceptions, of course, could be made by sports-minded families as they make their way to North America for the FIFA World Cup.