Mother-daughter holidays are on the rise as families prioritise quality time together, with multi-generational trips fast becoming one of the UK’s most in-demand travel trends.
Riviera Travel’s latest booking data shows Europe leading the way, with multi-generational groups accounting for a significant share of its top itineraries. The Blue Danube River Cruise sees 32% of bookings from multi-generational travellers, followed by the Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise at 30%, and The Rhine Cruise to Switzerland at 27%. Across these trips, 90% of bookings feature an age gap of between 16 and 40 years, highlighting the growing popularity of holidays taken by adult children and their parents, especially mother-daughter holidays.
Recent analysis of UK Google search behaviour shows interest in multi-generational holidays has surged by more than 140% over the past three years, pointing to rising demand for shared travel experiences across different age groups.
More Than A Holiday
For many families, the appeal lies in more than just the destination. These trips offer rare, uninterrupted time together, allowing families to reconnect away from day-to-day routines and create lasting shared memories.
Tik Tok’s Catherine Keyes recently experienced this on Riviera Travel’s Lake Garda, Venice & Verona tour, travelling with her 24-year-old daughter, Grace, in May. Keyes, who has also been shortlisted in the Canon Rising Star category at the ITV Creator Awards 2026, said the trip gave them the chance to see Italy for the first time together while sharing the experience across two different generations.
Content Creator, Catherine Keyes with her daughter Grace in Venice – Image Credit: Riviera
“We found it particularly wonderful to share so many new experiences together on this trip. With the age difference, we naturally viewed things differently, so it was lovely to chat each evening over dinner about the day and everything we had seen, hearing each other’s highlights and perspectives,” she said.
“The trip was so well organised that we never had to spend time deciding what to do next. We could simply turn up for the coach and enjoy every moment of the day ahead.”
Abigail Skidmore, 28, has enjoyed two Riviera Travel trips alongside her mum and says the holidays have given them meaningful time to reconnect. “Every trip we’ve taken together feels like a snapshot of a different stage of our lives. When we look back at photos, we can almost map out how our relationship has changed over the years,” she said.
“It’s one of the only times you’re not distracted by work or everyday life, you’re just together, properly catching up and sharing those moments.”
A Changing Dynamic
The way families travel together is also evolving. While parents have traditionally taken the lead on planning, younger travellers are increasingly playing a more active role in researching and organising trips.
Skidmore recently planned a surprise birthday trip to New York for her mum, arranging everything from flights to experiences.
“I wanted to make it feel really personal, like something that said thank you for all the trips she’d planned for me growing up,” she said. “Seeing her experience it all was honestly the best part.”
A Shift In How We Travel
The growth of multi-generational holidays reflects a broader change in how people view travel, with greater emphasis placed on connection, shared experiences and making time for family.
Travel continues to play an important role in maintaining relationships, with UK research showing spending time with loved ones remains one of the key motivations for going on holiday.
As busy schedules and modern working patterns make it harder to spend extended time together, holidays are increasingly being used to bring generations together in one place.
Images supplied.
