What it’s like to plan and budget summer travel this year

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.

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."

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

From: Rawtenstall, Lancashire

Where they're going: Barmouth, Wales

Trip length: Five-seven days

Budget: £250 ($341)

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 living further cements the decision to holiday close to home. Being able to simply throw gear in the car and go keeps costs down and allows for more frequent trips. 

While saving money is key, Menzies and Pennington relish the chance to switch off on holiday. "We're both in jobs we enjoy but they take up a lot of energy, so to be able to ignore them for a while is a godsend." But creating memories is the ultimate reward: "I get such a buzz off when Leo is learning about things when we're exploring. When he goes back to school and some other kids might boast about going to Disneyland, he'll just be like 'yeah, but look at my cool shells and rocks'."

Who: Paulina Gallegos 41, Benjamin Castillo 50, Max 16, Benjamin Jr 13, Santiago 10, Sara 8, José Andrés 8

From: Puebla and Tijuana, Mexico

Where they're going: Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Trip length: One week

Budget: $9,100 (£6,748)

After a softer period for domestic tourism in Mexico, the 2026 Fifa World Cup is giving fútbol-loving families a fresh reason to think locally this summer.

For Paulina Gallegos and her family, the plan blends the excitement of at least one match in Mexico and a return to their favourite beach holiday in Loreto, Baja California Sur where they have points with the luxury, all-inclusive optional resort, Villa del Palmar. "We set a travel budget that we adjust each year based on our priorities," says Gallegos. "We book in advance and look for ways to make our spending more efficient, whether through hotel programmes or choosing destinations that offer strong overall value."

Ultimately, the choice is about more than value: Loreto is famous for its beaches and biodiversity. The family is looking forward to spending time in the water, but having been to Loreto before, they plan to revisit other favourite activities like mini golf and a challenging hike the kids want to reconquer.

"We're also planning boat trips to explore nearby beaches," says Gallegos. "At the same time, I do hope to set aside a little time to relax ­– perhaps enjoy the spa. Overall our days tend to start early and stay active, with runs, hikes and time outdoors."

Most of all, Gallegos and her family choose Mexican destinations that allow them to create lasting memories.

"It's important to us that our children stay connected to their country – their roots, traditions, and food," says Gallegos. "We make time for simple moments together, like playing games, everything from dominoes and cards to the kids' current favourite, El Impostor. It's a nice mix of outdoor activities and quality family time."

Who: Kokoro Omura 28, Momiji Omura 28, Koto 7, Miko 3

From: Tokyo, Japan

Where they're going: Yamaguchi and Fukuoka Prefectures, Japan

Trip length: Two-three days

Budget: ¥300,000 (£1,404/ $1914)

In recent years, the weakened yen has prompted an increase in tourism to Japan. At the same time, it has made overseas holidays more expensive for many Japanese families.

Kokoro Omura and his young family are among those that have decided to travel domestically this summer. "Japan has many beautiful natural landscapes and historic sites and we enjoy visiting these kinds of places and active sightseeing," he says.

They are weighing a couple of options. In one plan, they would visit a distant prefecture [state]. "There are 47 prefectures in Japan, and my goal is for my daughter to visit all of them by the time she turns 20," explains Omura. "We wanted to go to a prefecture that we hadn't visited before… so we're [considering] heading to Yamaguchi and Fukuoka."

Located in western Japan, these prefectures are renowned for their wilderness and coastal landscapes, making them an ideal respite from the busy capital of Tokyo.

Summer travel in Japan can be challenging, though, with heat, humidity and peak-season crowds in popular destinations. August also brings Obon, when many Japanese families return to their hometowns to honour departed ancestors. 

While travelling domestically saves the family money in the long run, Omura notes that their travel budget is higher than in past years: "This is because transportation and accommodation costs have risen as our children have grown up."

Although Japanese workers typically get between 10 and 20 days of paid holiday leave per year, Omura says his consulting work gives his family more freedom than most. "We have a lot of flexibility in our schedule and can easily coordinate, so we can make various plans," he says, adding that "an ideal summer vacation for us is where each family member can escape their daily routines and experience unique cultures and scenery".

Who: Jonas Nordlund 54, Eva-Maria Nordlund 51, Elsa 13, Ida 16

From: Stockholm, Sweden

Where they're going: Bohuslän, Sweden and Europe

Trip length: Four weeks

Budget: 100K SEK (£7,971/ $10,862)

Nothing says summer in Sweden like going to a stuga (summer house) in the countryside to reconnect with nature. Stugas are often inherited, and around 50% of Swedish residents have access to a friend's or family member's property.

The Nordlund family own a stuga in Bohuslän on Sweden's idyllic west coast, famed for its seafood and fishing villages. While there, one of their daughters will attend a horse riding camp, and the family will also meet friends, enjoy the water and go on day trips.

While most of their four-week summer holiday will be spent at the stuga, they're also planning a week elsewhere in Europe. "We're thinking of a road trip, possibly Benelux down to France," says Jonas Nordlund. "Maybe, if I can choose, we will [do a] road trip to Austria for some summer skiing at Hintertux, which we did some years ago and loved."

The decision to stay in Europe this year is deliberate, predominantly for cost and geopolitical reasons: "This year, some destinations (like the US) have lost their attractiveness. Given all things going on, we're being a little more careful about how we spend money."

While owning a stuga tempers accommodation costs, running a second house and other travel expenditures like excursions and high petrol prices soon add up. "When we choose a destination, someone in the family comes with a suggestion, then we discuss and decide," says Nordlund. "However, often there are budget limitations involved, so ultimately, the parents have final say." 

By law, Swedish employees have at least five weeks of paid annual leave, excluding public holidays, so the family has ample time to visit both their stuga as well as new destinations.

Who: Elena Ferrario 54, Francesco Baragiola Mordini 55, Tobia 19, Gemma 15, Scarlett (toy poodle) 5

From: Busto Arsizio, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, and Milan, Italy

Where they're going: Sardinia, Pistoia, Rome, Abruzzo, Lake Maggiore and Valle Vigezzo, Italy

Trip length: More than five weeks

Budget: Between €8,000-9,000 (£6,932-£7,799/ $9,446-$10,627)

With a husband who travels for work and a son who plays tennis at a high level, holidays are often the only chance for Elena Ferrario and her family to be together for longer than a few days.

Many Italians get four weeks of paid annual leave and August has traditionally been the country's great holiday month, with businesses slowing down and beaches filling up. The excitement (and prices) build to a frenzied crescendo that peaks on Ferragosto (15 August), a public holiday that signals the height of the summer season. But heatwaves, overtourism and rising costs are prompting some families to take their summer holidays earlier, or even wait until September.

"Every year we choose Sardinia in June because the island is less crowded, the weather isn't sweltering, and the sea temperature is pleasant," says Ferrario. "Then, we'll go to Pistoia [in Tuscany] to visit the Gori Collection at Fattoria Celle. Then, we go to Rome at least once a year. It's also a convenient stop on the way to Abruzzo, an extraordinary region we discovered last year. This destination was chosen by our daughter who stayed there last year and met a great group of friends she wants to see again."

More like this:

• A solution for working parents who want to travel

• How hotels could help solve your summer childcare crunch

• The case for taking the same holiday again and again

The rest of the family's summer will be spent closer to home. They have a summer house on Lake Maggiore, where their son Tobia will join them to compete in the Lesa Cup. "Our house becomes a hub for the tennis players," says Ferrario. "Finally, we'll spend a few days in the mountains in Valle Vigezzo, where my parents have a house. Sport is never missing: a run through the woods at sunset or on the beach at dawn is a must."

For Ferrario, domestic travel is partly practical. With elderly parents, she and her husband can't both be too far away at the same time. But that constraint has also changed the way the family sees Italy.

"We've discovered enchanting places without having to go to the other side of the world," says Ferrario. "It has taught us to appreciate our beautiful country even more." 

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