Why Americans Are Spending More on Experiences They Can Share With Their Parents

Americans aren’t just paying for vacations anymore—they’re increasingly using travel and milestone experiences as a way to spend meaningful time across generations.

1. Family Reunions Are Becoming Travel Events

AAA and Bread Financial found that 30% of Americans planning milestone trips in 2026 expect those trips to involve family reunions. With families increasingly spread across different cities, the vacation can become the place where everyone actually gets together.

2. Three Generations Are Traveling Together

Multigenerational travel is no longer a niche idea. A 2025 U.S. Family Travel Survey found that 71% of grandparents had taken a trip involving three or more generations, while 57% planned another one.

3. Parents Are Often Paying

Hilton’s 2026 travel research found that 44% of parents traveling with adult children pay for the entire trip. In the U.S., only 9% of adult children reported paying for most or all of these trips.

4. Milestones Are Becoming Reasons to Travel

Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and weddings are turning into group trips. AAA found 76% of Americans who planned travel in 2026 expected to build at least one trip around a major milestone, with birthdays and family reunions among the most popular reasons.

5. Older Americans Are Still Prioritizing Travel

Nearly two-thirds of Americans age 50 and older planned to travel in 2026, according to AARP. Family and multigenerational trips remain among their most common travel choices, suggesting the spending isn’t simply about sightseeing—it’s about shared time.

6. The Experience Can Matter More Than the Destination

The interesting shift is that the trip itself can become the family occasion. Instead of buying separate gifts or waiting for everyone to visit independently, families are increasingly putting money toward something everyone can remember together.