Copycat Holidays

A generation of parents are spreading their wings and jetting off to far flung climes - to visit the same places as their globe-trotting kids.

Researchers have found that one in ten over 50s has been inspired to travel to a destination they hadn't previously considered after their children recommended it to them.

Now, instead of the traditional trips to Spain, the Canaries and Portugal, over 50s are planning visits to Australia, Canada and even backpacking hotspot Thailand after hearing about the experiences of their young relatives who have been there.

One in ten also said they have been encouraged to travel further afield by younger relatives, with 37 per cent now going on holidays they never dreamed of going on when they were young.

And while 64 per cent of those say it's because they have more money, almost one in twenty put it down to listening to stories from their children or grandchildren after returning from a gap year.

A spokesman for Thomas Cook, which carried out the study, said: ''Getting older no longer means relaxing and taking it easy as it seems the older generation is more adventurous than ever.

''Parents and grandparents are now listening to experiences of their children or grandchildren after returning from their holidays and dream of doing the same thing.

''But rather than sitting back and soaking up the stories through their young relatives, over 50s are now booking similar trips themselves so they have their own adventurous tales to tell.

''We've seen a rise in the number of over 50s booking trips to far-flung destinations once their children have left home and an increase in long duration holidays, with some booking 21 and 42 night packages.

''It seems that travelling the world is no longer reserved for school leavers or college students.

Researchers also found that 44 per cent of over 50s are jealous of the travelling that younger people are able to do nowadays, with 55 per cent planning to travel the world once their children have flown the nest.

Almost one in ten even admitted to booking a holiday to a particular destination to appear younger or more adventurous than they really are.

The study of 5,000 people, including almost 1,000 over 50s found 40 per cent of over 50s opted for an adventure-filled break, doing every excursion and activity they can squeeze into their trip.

A spokesman for Thomas Cook added: ''Since we offered the first round the world trip 140 years ago this year, we have made the idea of going away to locations not previously thought of and for a long period of time a lot cheaper for customers, which goes some way to explaining why we're seeing this trend occurring."

Top 20 destinations over 50s would like to visit

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. New Zealand
4. USA
5. Caribbean
6. Italy
7. Seychelles
8. Ireland
9. Florida
10. Maldives
11. Mauritius
12. Portugal
13. Greece
14. Egypt
15. Brazil
16. Cyprus
17. Crete
18. India
19. Thailand
20. France