#Familytravel

A new 2025 travel-cost survey has turned the usual vacation expectations on their head. Aspen, Colorado, rises to No. 1 as the most expensive U.S. vacation destination for a three-night getaway, beating famously pricey coastal towns and even Hawaii. The ranking lists Aspen, Santa Barbara, Anchorage, Bar Harbor, and Fairbanks as the top five, with Hawaii sitting well down at No. 20. The study drew from multiple travel and cost-of-living sources and simulated a three-night itinerary for two adults, including meals, modest lodging, and average airfare to the nearest gateway. The result is a telling snapshot of how expensive certain American getaways have become, driven by demand, seasonal pricing, and the unique mix of lodging, dining, and activities in each locale.

A surge of recent research suggests that you don’t need a perfectly planned itinerary to snag a great deal on travel. The smartest savings often come to those who are willing to improvise: shift the dates, swap the destination, and adjust how you travel. For Thai readers, this insight lands at a moment when families are juggling school calendars, seasonal holidays, and careful budgeting, making spontaneous getaways not only possible but potentially more affordable than long-planned trips.

A new 2025 safety ranking names Aruba the safest Caribbean destination for tourists this year, offering Thai travelers a worry‑free option for sun, sand, and family holidays during hurricane season. The Caribbean Island Safety Index, compiled by travel analysts, scores islands on travel advisories, tourist safety, healthcare access, and hurricane exposure, placing Aruba at the top with a score of 9.3 out of 10. For Thai families and independent travelers considering long‑haul leisure trips, the index highlights practical safety trade‑offs that should shape destination choice and trip planning.

New York State is having a late‑summer moment as families and culture lovers pivot toward road trips that blend learning with landscapes, according to a new roundup of seven standout attractions spanning museums, state parks and an iconic river crossing. The mix—glassmaking in Corning, presidential history in Hyde Park, the “Grand Canyon of the East” in Castile, a record‑setting skywalk over the Hudson, and arts and science stops from Utica to Binghamton—mirrors national travel patterns for 2025 and offers Thai travelers and Thai‑American families a template for educational tourism in the United States. With gas prices at multi‑year lows and state park visitation at record highs, New York’s driveable destinations look set to cap the season on a high note (AAA, Governor’s Office).

New York State emerges as a premier late-summer destination through seven carefully curated attractions that seamlessly blend intellectual enrichment with natural splendor, offering Thai travelers and Thai-American families a comprehensive template for educational tourism across the United States. The diverse collection—featuring world-renowned glassmaking artistry in Corning, presidential history preservation in Hyde Park, spectacular geological formations dubbed the “Grand Canyon of the East” in Castile, a record-breaking pedestrian skywalk spanning the Hudson River, and distinguished arts and science institutions throughout the region—reflects evolving national travel preferences while demonstrating how strategic cultural investment can transform regional economies through sustainable tourism development.

A new wave of cultural and educational tourism is shaping New York State as a prime late-summer destination for Thai travelers and Thai-American families. Seven distinguished attractions blend intellectual enrichment with natural beauty, offering a practical template for educational road trips across the United States. From Corning’s glass artistry to Hyde Park’s presidential history, Castile’s dramatic geology, the Walkway Over the Hudson, and a network of arts and science institutions, these sites illustrate how cultural investment can fuel sustainable regional economies and engaging learning experiences.

In a surprising twist to the American tourism landscape, the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida has soared to the coveted No. 1 spot among US attractions, according to Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do. Heralded as the nation’s top draw, the Kennedy Space Center edged out the state’s normally dominant beaches and theme parks, adding rocket fuel to Florida’s reputation for unique, world-class destinations. The announcement comes as Tripadvisor, the globe’s largest travel guidance platform, revealed its list based on reviews and ratings collected over the twelve months leading up to March 31, 2025. Other Florida sites making the top ranks include the Stetson Mansion in DeLand at No. 5 and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo at No. 6, reinforcing the state’s diverse appeal to both domestic and international tourists (Miami Herald).

Thai family travel is booming, and parents increasingly turn to social media for quick ideas to keep children calm on the road. The Times recently examined the most-watched Instagram “travel hacks” for kids, separating useful tips from fads. The result underscores a blended approach in Thailand, where traditional parenting wisdom meets global online ideas to ease journeys with young children.

A search for travel hacks for kids on Instagram yields thousands of ideas, from DIY airplane activity boxes to snack organizers and seat-pocket organizers made from shoe organizers. These hacks promise smoother trips and happier children, with fewer tantrums. The Times tested several hacks on real family trips, ranking them by usefulness and ease. Simple ideas like a small surprise toy or labeled snack bags proved helpful, while bulky activity boards or heavy gadget attachments added stress.

As family travel continues to surge in popularity across Thailand, many parents are turning to social media for creative solutions to keep children happy and calm on the road. A recent feature by The Times explored the most-watched Instagram “travel hacks” for kids, testing which actually work and which are simply digital fads. This experiment, which has sparked online debate, highlights a growing trend: Modern families are blending traditional Thai parenting wisdom with global online tips to ease travel with young children.

Group family getaways are on the rise in Thailand, seen not as a burden but as a meaningful way to strengthen bonds. More families view multi-family trips as opportunities to share experiences, support one another, and reconnect in a fast-paced world.

Thai families juggling work, screens, and daily obligations are embracing joint holidays for authentic reconnection. The trend echoes traditional Thai values of togetherness and intergenerational care, with households seeking moments that nourish relationships and create lasting memories.

Group family vacations, once considered logistically daunting and emotionally fraught, are enjoying a renewed wave of popularity and positive reappraisal, according to recent reports and expert commentary. This growing trend, observed both in global travel circles and among Thai families, is more than a matter of convenience or shared expenses—it’s a profound reflection of changing family dynamics, social needs, and a pursuit of deeper connections in an increasingly fragmented world.

Amid the global resurgence of travel, a new trend is captivating both visitors and Thais alike: nostalgia tourism, which sees travelers gravitating toward places, experiences, and traditions that evoke cherished memories and offer emotional comfort. Recent research and industry reports reveal that this phenomenon is not merely a passing fad but a powerful movement reshaping tourism in 2025 throughout Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region—rekindling interest in historic districts, family-run eateries, traditional festivals, and “retro” vacation spots that promise the warmth of the familiar in a rapidly changing world.

Nostalgia tourism is taking center stage in Thailand as travelers seek familiar places, memories, and traditions that offer emotional comfort. New industry insights show this trend isn’t a fleeting fad but a lasting shift that shapes travel in 2025 across the Asia-Pacific, reviving historic districts, family-run eateries, traditional festivals, and retro getaways that feel like home in a fast-changing world.

The travel industry is at a turning point. After pandemic disruptions and a rapid digital shift, many people crave meaningful experiences that foster belonging and a sense of place. A 2025 study by a leading hospitality group found that more than half of traveling families are recalibrating to revisit destinations from their own childhoods to share memories with the next generation. Complementary surveys by industry researchers show a strong appetite for nostalgia-driven outdoor getaways, such as family camping trips and road excursions, as an antidote to digital fatigue.