11 Aug
2026

ABTA shares advice for young travellers taking their first trip without parents

August is the busiest holiday month for 18-24-year-olds travelling abroad, new ABTA research shows

New research1 from ABTA – The Travel Association shows that August is the busiest time of the year for young people going on holiday abroad, with 44% of 18-24-year-olds having booked or considering an overseas holiday during the month, compared with a national average of 31%. For some, this may be their first holiday abroad without parents or family, and ABTA is sharing advice for both young travellers and their parents to help them prepare for a safe and enjoyable trip.

August is more popular than both July (40%) and June (29%) among this age group and remains the standout season for overseas travel, despite young adults no longer being restricted to school holiday periods. For many, it offers the opportunity to travel with friends and make the most of destinations during the peak summer season, making it an ideal month to travel independently for the first time.

Many are also leaving their holiday plans until relatively close to departure, giving less time to make those essential preparations. Among those planning holidays2, almost half (45%) of 18-24-year-olds intend to book within four weeks of travelling.

Whether heading off solo or as part of a group, ABTA is sharing advice for both those travelling and their parents to help young people have holidays that are safe, enjoyable and hassle-free.

Graeme Buck, Director of Communications at ABTA – The Travel Association, said:

"For many young people heading abroad this month, it could be their first holiday without parents or family. It's an exciting milestone, and taking a little time to prepare before travelling can help make it memorable for all the right reasons.

“Checking things like passport validity and travel insurance, as well as exploring how to stay safe and look after themselves and their friends, should be an important part of the holiday prep.

"Booking with an ABTA member can also provide valuable guidance before departure and support should anything unexpected happen while away.”

Holiday Hacks: ABTA’s advice for young travellers this summer

  • Book with an ABTA member for expert advice and support
  • Check your passport and take out appropriate travel insurance making sure it covers any activities that you plan to take part in while away.
  • Tell a parent, family member or trusted friend about your travel plans, including where you’re staying, and keep in touch while away.
  • Look after your friends on nights out by sharing locations using apps such as Find My Friends and downloading offline maps
  • Drink responsibly and be aware of the risks of drink spiking and methanol poisoning.
  • Take care around balconies, swimming pools and the sea, particularly after drinking alcohol.
  • Book excursions and activities through reputable providers and think twice before hiring mopeds or quad bikes.
  • Follow Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice before and during travel.

Read ABTA’s full advice for young travellers here.

 

Notes to editors

1 All figures refer to ABTA’s recent survey carried out by The Nursery Research and Planning (www.the-nursery.net) with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults. The survey took place between 8 May 2026 and 19 May 2026.

2 Between May and September 2026.

 

About ABTA

ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 3,500 travel brands in membership who have a combined annual UK turnover of over £41 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.

Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.

All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com