An estimated 88 million Americans plan to take family vacations this year, and millennials are embracing these getaways more than any other generation!

    According to research from AAA Travel, 44 percent of millennials are planning a family getaway this year, compared with 39 percent of Generation Xers and 32 percent of baby boomers.

    “Just like generations before them, millennials see a family vacation as one of the best ways to create memories and reconnect with loved ones,” said Carol DiOrio, vice president of travel for AAA Western and Central New York.

    Hot family travel trends this year also include trips abroad – planned by 35 percent of families planning to travel, with the most popular destinations based on travel bookings including Cancun, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Montego Bay, Jamaica. For families staying stateside, nearly two-thirds of those planning vacations will travel by car despite the highest gas prices seen since 2014. 

Additional AAA family travel highlights for 2018:

• Families are taking more trips per year. One in four (27 percent) traveling families is planning to take three or more family vacations over the next year, 12 percent more than in 2016.
• Family travelers are looking for new experiences. Three-quarters (73 percent) of families that are planning a vacation this year want to go somewhere they have not previously visited.
• Families are seeking R&R. Families are choosing destinations with attractions such as beaches and mountains (61 percent), opportunities for sightseeing (59 percent) and relaxation (56 percent).

To help families even further, AAA’s inspectors have identified some of their favorite family-friendly hotels for 2018. To learn more and begin planning a trip, visit AAA.com/TravelTips.