Nowadays the average age for a child’s first foreign trip is four(1) – compared to in their parents’ day, when it was eight
33% of young travellers went abroad before they were two
Research(1) by Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money reveals that 59% of parents in the UK say that their children, under 18 years old, have travelled abroad more than they did at the same age, making them the jet-set generation. One third (33%) of children who travelled abroad had done so before their second birthday and 89% had made the trip before they were ten.
Interestingly, Sainsbury’s Bank said it saw a 10% increase in the number of its family travel insurance policies taken out between 2014 and 2015(2).
The research(1) indicates that the average age for a first trip abroad nowadays is four, in their parents’ day, it was eight. It also reveals a generational gap among parents too; younger parents (aged 18-34) were, on average, six years old and parents aged 35-54 said they were nine.
Simon Taylor, Head of Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money said: “Our research shows that parents are taking their children away from a very young age which inevitably creates the need for even more forward planning. Shopping around for travel insurance and currency are two holiday essentials that with a little planning could save you money.”
Financial writer and mum of two, Melanie Wright offers the following tips for travelling with young children:
If you’re going on a long journey, travel at night when there’s more chance of getting the kids off to sleep. You won’t have to think of things to keep them entertained and flights can be cheaper if you choose to travel at night rather than during the day.
Buy your currency in advance: the last thing you’ll want to have to do is queue up with children at the airport/ferry terminal bureau de change to order your travel money. It’ll be one less thing to worry about – and exchange rates and commission charges will usually be much better too.
Pack an ‘activity bag’ for the children to keep them occupied (and quiet) while travelling. Ration them to one thing, such as a puzzle or colouring book or pack of cards, for each hour of the journey.
Food can be fiendishly expensive if you buy it at the airport or on the plane, so make a picnic to take with you. Remember you won’t be able to take liquids through security, so buy these once you’re in departures.
Take your own headphones for the plane. Some airlines impose a charge for headphones, so pack your own so the kids can use them on the journey there and back without you having to pay extra.
Keep luggage to a minimum. You’ll often be charged for each item of baggage that you want to store in the hold, so get your children to pack their stuff in a small bag each that qualifies as hand luggage and can be stowed in the cabin.
Charge your iPad/ tablet for the journey. Travelling is a good time to be more relaxed about kids spending time on gadgets. It’ll keep them occupied, and stop them nagging you to buy them things at the airport/ station/ ferry terminal.
Tell your children that you will only give them spending money for the holiday if they behave well on the journey there.
Among young globe-trotters, most (57%) have travelled with their parents and 28% with their school. 26% have travelled abroad with other family members. Nearly one in ten (9%) has taken a long haul flight and 7% have travelled as an unaccompanied minor.
Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money offers Nectar cardholders an even better rate at its instore bureaux and online, and 0% commission on foreign currency and competitive exchange rates(3). There are over 50 currencies available to order. Open seven days a week and with convenient parking, customers can also purchase a travel money card. Sainsbury’s Bank’s Multi-currency Cash PassportTM MasterCard®(4) can be used like a debit card whilst abroad, giving customers a safe and secure way of carrying their spending money.
Sainsbury’s Bank is also offering customers up to 40% off their Travel Insurance online when they buy Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money and collect instore by 6th September 2016(5). Customers should use the promotional code they receive when they collect their Travel Money when they apply for their Travel Insurance online. If they’d prefer to get a quote over the phone, call us on 0330 100 7706, although the discount is only valid when they apply online. Our lines are open 8am – 8pm Mon-Fri, 8am – 7pm Sat and 9am – 5pm Sun(6).
Customers can also order currency online or by telephone on 0845 301 2724 and collect from a travel money bureau, or receive free home delivery for orders of £500 or more(3).
For information on Sainsbury’s Bank’s products visit www.sainsburysbank.co.uk or call 08085 40 50 60.
This press release is information for journalists only and is not intended to be a promotion to be acted upon by consumers. Rates and information correct at date of issue.
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Notes to editors:
Sainsbury’s Bank commissioned Opinium Research to survey 2,016 nationally representative UK adults aged 18+ between 27th and 31st May 2016. Opinium Research is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
Source: Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance data. Data covers policies that include one child (aged up to 17) and one adult (aged 35+). Data includes all destinations and single and annual policies.
Rates may vary depending on whether you order over the phone, instore or online. A £1.99 administration fee applies to all online orders under £100 collected instore. Delivery charge of £5 applies on minimum orders of £100 – £499.99 and free delivery on orders of £500 or more. By phone – call 0845 301 2724 for home delivery on orders over £100. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except Christmas Day). Better rates for Nectar card holders are calculated by reducing our retail margins on single purchase transactions of Euros & US Dollars bought instore and on all foreign currencies available online or by phone. A Nectar card must be presented at the time of purchase. The Nectar loyalty programme is operated independently of Sainsbury’s Bank by Aimia Coalition Loyalty UK Ltd; and the collection and use of points is governed by the Nectar Collector Rules, set out in the registration pack and available at www.nectar.com Sainsbury’s Bank reserves the right to alter, cancel or withdraw this offer without prior notice.
See sainsburysbank.cashpassport.com for more information, including fees and limits.
1. Offer only applies to Travel Money purchased instore, online or by phone and collected at a Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Bureau between 27/04/2016 and 06/09/2016 (“Promotional Period”). Excludes buy back and money transfer transactions. 2. Customers will receive a promotional code when they collect their order at a Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money Bureau within the “Promotional Period”. Phone and online orders will also receive a promotional code in their confirmation email. 3. The promotional code can be used to get a 40% discount on Travel Insurance purchases made online by 30/09/2016. The promotional code must be entered at the time of purchase. 4. The discount is not available over the phone and does not apply to any part of the premium the policyholder pays to cover any pre-existing medical conditions. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply to all insurance policies. Copies of the full policy wording and complaint procedure are available at sainsburysbank.co.uk/travel. 5. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or coupon. 6. Sainsbury’s Bank reserves the right to alter, cancel or withdraw the promotion without prior notice.
Telephone calls may be recorded for security purposes and monitored under our quality control procedures. Calls will be charged at 2 pence per minute plus your normal access charge. Lines open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except Christmas Day).
Sainsbury’s Bank:
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Sainsbury’s was the first major British supermarket to open a bank, commencing trading in February 1997. Benefiting from a fantastic, trusted brand that enables us to combine the shopping experience with personal finance, Sainsbury’s Bank provides a range of quality products including insurances, credit cards, savings and loans. Our proposition is to make shopping more rewarding by offering customers great products at fair prices, while consistently rewarding shoppers for their loyalty and being easy to do business with at all times. Our products consistently top best buy tables and regularly win awards for quality, price and service.
Sainsbury’s Bank plc. Registered Office, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no 3279730) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register no. 184514). Sainsbury’s Bank plc is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Sainsbury’s Bank Multi-currency Cash Passport™ is issued by R. Raphael & Sons plc, pursuant to license by MasterCard International Inc. MasterCard® is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated. R. Raphael & Sons plc is a UK bank authorised by the Prudential Regulatory Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulatory Authority (registration number 161302) and is permitted to issue e-money. Head office and registered office at 19-21 Shaftesbury Ave, London, W1D 7ED, company registration number 01288938.
Travel Insurance is administered by Cigna Insurance Services (Europe) Limited and underwritten by Cigna Europe Insurance Company S.A-N.V. Cigna Insurance Services (Europe) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Cigna Europe Insurance Company S.A.-N.V. is supervised in Belgium by the National Bank of Belgium and the Financial Services and Markets Authority, and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority.