Adults Only: Canadian Parents Say Ideal Holiday Includes Open Bar and Separate Room for the Kids

New consumer survey shows Canadians have 'adult friendly' checklist when planning a family vacation

TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2014 /CNW/ - When it comes to booking a family vacation, it appears Canadian parents are more inclined to book a trip that better serves their interests over that of their kids. In a recent study commissioned by digital coupon destination RetailMeNot.ca, Canadians are more likely to plan a vacation with their family if it is at a discounted price (49 per cent) and if there is an open bar (27 per cent).

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Additionally, 31 per cent of parents surveyed want a hotel or resort that offers adult-only activities and 17 per cent want accommodations to include a separate room for the children. That's not to say that parents are ignoring the needs of their kids altogether; 26 per cent of respondents say the hotel or resort must also offer special activities for the kids to keep them occupied.

While it has been a cold and snowy winter for much of Canada, 79 per cent of Canadians surveyed said that they are not planning to go away this March compared to 46 per cent of Americans, who are arguably having a warmer winter. Indeed, only 21 per cent of Canadians surveyed say they will travel to escape winter. Instead, they are opting to stay home during their time off. Thirty-six per cent of Canadians surveyed reported that a "staycation" in their hometown is less affordable than it used to be. Time to fill up the fridge, Mom? Twenty-two per cent of Canadian parents surveyed found that when their kids are home during their March break, household spending tends to increase.

"A trip or activities for the whole family during March Break can be costly and time-consuming to plan," says Angela Self, co-founder of Smart Cookies. "But doing your research ahead of time to hunt for discounts will help you find the best deals for either getting away or planning a fun staycation."

The RetailMeNot.ca survey also reveals that of all Canadians who travel, over half (65 per cent) book their vacation online, compared to 75 per cent of their tech-savvy neighbours south of the border. However, the majority of respondents from Atlantic Canada (52 per cent) prefer not to book online. Reasons for traveling also differ. Of the most popular reasons Canadians travel, stress relief topped the list (45 per cent), followed by more time with the family (34 per cent) and to experience other cultures (34 per cent).

"With so many Canadians using the Internet every day, it's very surprising that one in three don't book their trips online," says Angela. "Online resources and savings tools are excellent ways to save you time and money."

Other survey findings include:

• Budget-conscious: Of those Canadians who plan to travel this March, only 28 per cent say they don't have a specific budget in mind, significantly less than the 46 per cent of Americans who are planning vacations with a fixed dollar amount;
• Travel Deals: Ontarians are the most frugal Canadian travelers, with 55 per cent saying they will only go on a vacation if they can get a discount;
• Surprise Fees: 56 per cent of Canadians say that hidden travel costs – including transportation fees, souvenirs, news bathing suits, etc. – eat into their budget;
• Comparing Rates: When booking travel online, 51 per cent of Canadians use cost-comparison sites to find deals

RetailMeNot.ca regularly conducts consumer behaviour surveys to examine the buying habits of Canadians.

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Twitter: @retailmenotca

About the U.S. survey:

The survey was conducted between January 15 and January 22, 2014, among 1,007 U.S. residents ages 18 and over, using an email invitation and an online report. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a report result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample. The margin of error for any subgroups will be slightly higher.

About the Canadian survey:

An online survey was conducted February 12 and February 13, 2014, among 1,007 randomly selected Canadian resident adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to education, age, gender and region (and in Quebec, language) to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About RetailMeNot, Inc.

RetailMeNot, Inc. (www.retailmenot.com/corp/) operates the world's largest digital coupon marketplace. The company enables deal-seeking consumers across the globe to find hundreds of thousands of digital coupons from retailers and brands. RetailMeNot, Inc. experienced more than 500 million visits to its websites in the last 12 months. The RetailMeNot, Inc. portfolio includes www.RetailMeNot.com, the largest digital coupon marketplace in the United States; www.RetailMeNot.ca in Canada; www.VoucherCodes.co.uk, the largest digital coupon marketplace in the United Kingdom; www.Deals.com in Germany; www.Actiepagina.nl, a leading digital coupon site in the Netherlands; Bons-de-Reduction.com and www.Ma-Reduc.com, leading digital coupon sites in France; www.Poulpeo.com, a leading digital coupon site with cash back in France; and www.Deals2Buy.com, a leading discount offer site in North America. RetailMeNot, Inc. went public in July 2013 and is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol "SALE." Investors interested in learning more about the company can visit: http://investor.retailmenot.com/.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Rachael Collier
Citizen Optimum
416 306 6641 office
416 995 1432 mobile
[email protected]

Christy Rabil
RetailMeNot, Inc.
512 777 2897 office
646 554 8873 mobile
[email protected]

SOURCE: RetailMeNot, Inc.

http://www.retailmenot.ca

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