Many baby boomers are rethinking the traditional idea that a successful life ends with leaving the largest possible inheritance to their families. Instead, many are choosing to spend more of their wealth on shared experiences — especially family travel with children and grandchildren — while they’re still alive.
Many boomers spent decades saving, paying off mortgages, and building retirement accounts. Now that they’re retired, they’re prioritizing experiences they often postponed during their working years. Travel is often at the top of the list. The baby boomers inheritance conversation even has a nickname: the so-called “SKI” trend, short for “Spending Kids’ Inheritance,” which frames the shift in a somewhat unfair, unflattering way.
Though many younger Americans hope for a future inheritance, baby boomers have a different endgame. Boomers already helped family members with education, housing, or doled out funds for other cost-of-living needs. Driven by a shift in values and economic realities, this generation has an increasing desire to enjoy the fruits of their labor while they can, not just for themselves but with those they love most.
In fact, a 2025–2026 Travel and Tour World study showed that, in lieu of leaving wealth behind, 46% of travelers (49% of baby boomers and 40% of the silent generation) are opting to invest in unforgettable family vacations.
Multi-generational mega trips, an emerging trend
Multigenerational travel is an emerging trend, creating ultimate ways to bond and enjoy memories together, offering a priceless legacy of unforgettable experiences. Retirees are increasingly funding vacations, reunions, or multigenerational travel because they get to participate in the experience and strengthen family relationships. Family travel becomes part of the legacy they want to shape.
This is a mindset my husband and I have personally believed in for years. Our family trips to Hawaii, Costa Rica, Thailand, Mexico, Europe, and more have given us all those ‘memories to last a lifetime.’ And that’s not just a cliché; it is absolutely true. When you return from a trip and talk about it years afterward, you say, “That was a great vacation!”
The inheritance tradeoff: memories vs. money
The baby boomers inheritance shift doesn’t mean boomers are spending recklessly or abandoning their families. For many, it’s a shift from “leave the biggest estate possible” to “use money to create meaningful experiences and provide help when it matters most.” The challenge is balancing that goal with the reality of rising healthcare costs and uncertain longevity, but with good, solid planning, it can be done.
Family travel as a better return on investment
According to Kristy Mosolino, co-owner of Wishes Travel in Birmingham, Alabama, boomers see funding family vacations as a better return on their financial investment. She says, “I’ve had more than one client tell me they want to see their investment in travel experiences in the faces of their families. The here and now is important, and they want those treasured moments and memories to carry with them while they are still alive.”
The skip-gen trend is also becoming popular
Mosolino says she has seen another trend emerge: the skip-gen vacation. Skip-gen travel, short for skip-generational travel, is when grandparents take trips with their grandchildren without the parents.
Skip-gen travel is becoming popular, as many grandparents see these trips as a way to build a unique relationship with their grandchildren, away from everyday routines and distractions. This is especially important when children and grandchildren live in different cities or states. Vacations have become a way to spend concentrated time together.
I have a friend whose family originated from Italy. Each year, she takes her two teenage granddaughters on a vacation to a different region of the country. She says she can pass down stories and photos about her parents and grandparents but letting the girls actually walk in their footsteps is priceless.
Regarding skip-gen trips, Mosolino says, “These types of trips are great for special occasions such as celebrating a graduation or other life achievement. Many of my clients take each of their grandchildren on a trip of their choice. This can include cruises, national parks, a heritage trip, a safari, or other international adventure. Parents can enjoy a break without childcare or other family responsibilities, while grandparents enjoy their special time with the kids.”
She adds, “Depending on the size of the family and their travel preferences, multi-gen trips can be challenging. With competing schedules, work commitments, or other responsibilities, it’s sometimes hard to get everyone on the same page. Yes, it can be done, but it takes some work and flexibility. However, when clients come back from these family trips, they describe it as the best trip ever.”
Italian novelist and poet Cesare Pavese once said, “We don’t remember days. We remember moments.”
Money doesn’t last forever, but memories last a lifetime.
Common questions about new trends in family travel
What is skip-gen travel?
Skip-gen (short for skip-generational) travel is when grandparents take trips with their grandchildren without the parents along. It’s become a popular way for grandparents to build a unique, one-on-one relationship with their grandchildren, especially when families live in different cities or states.
What is a multi-gen trip?
A multi-generational, or multi-gen, trip brings several generations of a family together to travel: grandparents, parents, and grandchildren sharing the same vacation. These trips let families bond, create lasting memories, and give grandparents the chance to see the impact of their gift in real time.
Why are baby boomers spending their inheritance on travel?
Many baby boomers would rather share experiences with their families now than leave a larger inheritance later. Having already helped with education, housing, and other needs, they’re choosing to fund vacations they can enjoy alongside their children and grandchildren, seeing the impact of their money in real time, while making memories together.
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