The ultimate holiday hack? Pack the grandparents | News

New research reveals a surprisingly effective way to get more out of family vacations: packing for the grandparents. Dubbed the ‘Granual Leave’ effect, this trend is changing the way families travel together – and benefiting the entire clan.

A new survey by Hilton among 1,000 British grandparents shows that multi-generational travel is on the rise. A quarter (25%) say they go on holiday with their children and grandchildren more than five years ago, while more than two-thirds (69%) have done so in the past year – and everyone is reaping the benefits.

On average, grandparents spend four hours a day entertaining their grandchildren on holiday, giving parents an extra 24* hours of free time with children on an average weeklong trip. Meanwhile, the little ones enjoy almost two and a half hours of extra playtime and bonding with their grandparents every day. This amounts to almost 14 extra hours** of playing time per week.

And it’s not just parents and little ones who benefit from this. Grandparents say it deepens their bond with both their grandchildren (83%) and their adult children (73%), while allowing them to create special memories (59%). They also report personal benefits, from feeling young and alive (34%) to improvements in both their physical (34%) and emotional well-being (33%). Other benefits include deepening family bonds as a whole (59%) and helping everyone get more out of their holiday (47%), making everyone a winner.

Grandparents take their role in adding magic to every trip very seriously – from spoiling their grandchildren (70%) to stepping in to babysit on a date night (66%) and keeping the fun flowing with games and activities (55%). While almost a quarter (23%) say they enjoy being the rebellious grandparent when they are away.

According to Hilton research, 70% of grandparents admit that they are much more relaxed and fun with their grandchildren on holiday than they ever were with their own children. More than three-quarters (77%) even admit that they have bent the rules and taken into account that they would never have flown when their own children were young.

This more permissive style can occasionally cause a difference in approach. Three in ten grandparents (30%) say breaking rules can cause some tension with their adult children, and a quarter (25%) are told they spoil their grandchildren too much. That’s no surprise as more than two-thirds (69%) admit they get pampered on holiday, while four in ten (40%) say this is their favorite time to do so.

To launch the ‘Gran-ual Leave’ initiative, Hilton has teamed up with broadcaster, author and grandfather of seven, Gyles Brandreth, whose grandchildren – aged 10 to 21 – mean he knows a thing or two about multi-generational travel.

Gyles Brandreth said: “For me, a holiday with my children and grandchildren is about maximizing time and creating magical memories together – from laughter at the breakfast buffet to impromptu games in the hotel. And much to the envy of my own children, I find myself relaxing the strict rules with the grandchildren I once held dear to them – and saying ‘yes’ more to embrace the fun, freedom and joy that we grandparents can bring.”

Grandparents’ ways of indulging include letting the little ones stay up past their bedtime (63%), saying “yes” to extra treats (62%), playing more games (56%) and relaxing rules around mealtimes (41%) – all in the name of making magical memories with loved ones.

Traveling with multiple generations is already a familiar experience for many. Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report shows that almost half (48%) of Brits traveled with their grandparents as children, while one in five children (20%) travel exclusively with their grandparent, highlighting the special role grandparents play in family travel.

John Rogers, Senior Vice President, Brand Management, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, said: “Family vacations create lasting memories, and our research shows that grandparents can help everyone get more out of the trip – giving parents extra time to relax and kids more time to play and connect. Hilton simplifies multi-generational travel with attached connecting rooms, a diverse brand portfolio and more than 1,000 hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to suit any travel style or budget.”

With the Hilton Sale starting May 14, guests can get up to 20%* off stays from June 4 to September 7, 2026, book your next stay with Hilton and experience the Gran-ual Leave Effect for themselves.

The top 10 ways grandparents spoil their grandchildren on vacation

Let them stay up past their bedtime (63%)
Say “yes” to extra treats (62%)
Take more photos/videos to capture memories (61%)
Play more games (56%)
Give them extra pocket money (52%)
Encourage them to try new experiences that they wouldn’t normally try at home (47%)
Participate in activities that grandparents wouldn’t normally do at home (47%)
Let them spend longer in the pool (45%)
Relax rules surrounding meals (41%)
Let them make decisions (36%)
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