With the holiday season already in full swing, whether your favorite holiday pastime is sitting back with hot cocoa, listening to your favorite Christmas album or getting some gift shopping done, we can all agree that these things are more memorable when done with the people we care about. That’s why HomeAway surveyed more than a thousand people, including kids, what their holiday plans are.
It should come as little surprise that 95% of parents surveyed indicated that it is important to spend Christmas with family. After all, when we think of Christmas, we usually think of wrapping paper being excitedly ripped off boxes, while relatives enjoy a Christmas cookie nearby. What may surprise some, however, is that seven out of ten children also indicated that their ideal Christmas is spent with just their family. Now that is a heartwarming statistic!
Since family is such a high priority for everyone around the holidays, many find themselves traveling to be near relatives. One in four families will be away for Christmas, and that can create some anxiety for children. Almost half of kids surveyed worried that Santa will not be able to find them come Christmas due to their travels. While plenty of children may stress over Santa locating them, many were still blissfully optimistic when it comes to the magic of Christmas. The majority of kids (60%) believe that Santa’s sleigh is guided by magic. On another (albeit hilarious) note, a small number of kids (8%) said that Santa relies on his phone’s GPS to find them.
To help alleviate some of kids’ adorable concerns, HomeAway created RerouteSanta.com. On the site, parents and kids can let the North Pole know exactly where they are going to be so that Santa won’t get lost come Christmas Eve. All that’s left to do is put out the milk and cookies and wait!
While kids’ worries over holiday travel are pretty cute, their parents’ concerns are not. Seeing family over Christmas is great, but when staying with relatives, comfort is not a given. Over one-third of parents say they have slept on the floor, while only slightly fewer parents indicate they have shared a room with children. Others note that they have slept on a couch, or even in a car, in the worst circumstances.
Some holiday travelers wisely opted for more space and comfort by renting a vacation home instead of cramming in with grandma and gramps. These travelers did so because of the value and certain amenities a whole home provides, like a full kitchen for cooking that Christmas ham, or the option to bring their beloved Fido along.
So, parents and kids, remember to Reroute Santa before your travels and make sure your family has enough room to ensure a less stressful and more spirited holiday.