by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 7:10 AM ET, Wed September 10, 2025
Canadian baby boomers are opting to spend now rather than pass down to their children later.
A new survey from Flight Centre, conducted by YouGov, shows 27% of boomers say they’re willing to dip into their retirement savings to pay for a holiday.
Six percent would even use money that would otherwise be part of their children’s or grandchildren’s inheritance.
Just 1% say they rely on younger family members to foot the bill.
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Overall, 73% of Canadians have already travelled—or want to travel—with multiple generations of their family, and 79% say reconnecting with loved ones is a travel priority.
“Boomers aren’t quietly fading into retirement; they’re redefining what legacy means,” said Ashley Harold, travel expert at Flight Centre Canada.
“For many, the real inheritance isn’t stocks or property. It’s a sunrise on a beach in Costa Rica, a grandchild’s wide-eyed wonder in Thailand, or laughter shared across three generations on a Mediterranean cruise. That’s not just a vacation—that’s connection.”
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Millennials appear to embrace the trend.
Eight in 10 (80%) say they would consider travelling with multiple generations, the highest rate of any age group. Cost-sharing is one factor—25% of millennials say they travel with others to cut expenses. With many in their child-rearing years, they also benefit from built-in childcare on family trips. And as a generation, they are more likely to prioritize experiences over material heirlooms.
Flight Centre reports that families now represent nearly one in five of its bookings in Canada, with the average family booking value up 7% year over year.
September has become one of the busiest times for multi-generational bookings as parents and grandparents plan ahead for winter getaways, particularly to sun destinations.
“As summer comes to an end, we’re seeing more boomers booking family vacations,” Harold added.
“Multi-gen travel just makes sense—the costs are shared, childcare is built in and there’s something for everyone. And for grandparents, having the kids around keeps them young at heart, too. For Canadian families, that’s the new legacy: not leaving it behind, but living it.”
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