10 September 2009

Poll shows parents choose vacations over school

Quick question: what’s more important? (A) Going on vacation or (B) Taking the kids out of school to travel?
 

Two-thirds of those in a Skyscanner Poll voted for the trip and said they would take their children out of school if they could get a cheap vacation. Less than one third would not.
 

"The results show the lengths parents are prepared to go to take their family on holiday," the site says.
 

David Parsons, a father of two from Edinburgh said:
 

"With travel so much more expensive during school holidays, term time is the only time we can afford a trip. I don’t think it has any detrimental effect on my children’s education, they can easily catch up on what they’ve missed when they get back."
 

One fifth of air passengers are willing to fly from an airport that is up to 50 miles from their home, and fly to an airport that is up to 50 miles from their final destination if it means a cheaper flight, the poll found.
 

Barry Smith, Skyscanner co-founder and director said:
 

"The additional financial pressure caused by the economic downturn may be another reason that more parents are prepared to consider taking the family on holiday during school term time."
 

By David Wilkening

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• Term Vacations? Win-Win
  
  

  Choosing term-time vacation is a win-win situation for not only are prices lower but the under utilised facilities are better for both visitors and vendors. It's called 'load balancing' in some industries. Now all we have to do is persuade some Western countries to make schooling a year round enterprise where students can take vacations at any time during the year.

  By J Hewson, Tuesday, September 15, 2009