An opportunity for destinations to open up to family travel

As the European Commission has just launched a public consultation of sustainable tourism,  Airbnb today unveiled new data on family travel on the platform. While short-term rentals are becoming increasingly appealing to families every year,  Airbnb calls on destinations to embrace the potential of this type of accommodation to develop more family-friendly tourism strategies.

Last year, a record number of families are choosing Airbnb for stays in Europe¹. The trend is largely driven by a growing number of stays in non urban communities, as more families choose Airbnb to escape tourist hotspots. These rural, mountain or seaside communities feature a wide range of affordable homes that offer the space, privacy and amenities that families need. In fact, in 2024, the majority of guest nights stayed on Airbnb – almost 60% – were outside of cities. Annual guest nights on Airbnb in the EU also grew faster in communities outside of cities compared to inside cities². In rural areas, Airbnb bookings made by families in Europe have increased by more than 200% between 2019 and 2024³.

Taking the stress out of traveling with kids

As every parent knows, traveling as a family with little ones requires careful planning to ensure you have everything you need to keep the youngest guests safe and happy. Thankfully, more than 80%⁴ of homes on Airbnb in Europe are family-friendly, providing the space and amenities families need:

• More space: More than 85% of family-friendly homes on Airbnb in Europe have at least two bedrooms and more than 65% have a garden, backyard or an outdoor space.
• More amenities: Family-friendly listings on Airbnb offer the amenities that families need; more than 50% offer a high chair, 55% a crib, 70% offer free parking, 80% offer a washer, and 30% board games.
• More affordable: Airbnb is a more affordable option for large groups such as parents traveling with children. Families typically save an average of 30% by booking an Airbnb listing instead of an hotel in Europe for stays of up to 7 nights.⁵

Families feel overlooked by cities

A new survey released today by Verian⁶ carried out in six european countries shows almost one in two families of those countries have given-up hope of visiting big cities with their children due to the unique challenges they face, including:

• A lack of family-friendly accommodation: 47% 
• The cost of stays when traveling as a family: 67%
• A lack of amenities or activities for children: 42% 
• Believing that tolerance towards children is declining: 54% 
• Fearing their children will disturb others staying in close proximity: 27%
• Declined bookings in a restaurant, cafe, cultural site or hotel etc.: 23%

The concerns raised by families about the challenges of traveling to big cities follow some big cities placing restrictions on short-term rentals. Data shows that where Airbnb is restricted, hotel occupancy and prices have soared to unachievable highs for many families:

• When restrictions were placed on Airbnb in Amsterdam, the number of short-term rentals fell by 54% and hotel prices increased by 50%. Only 20% of visitors to the city are parents with children⁷.
• When restrictions were placed on Airbnb Barcelona, the number of short-term rentals fell by 24% and hotel prices increased by 35%. Only 15% of visitors to the city are parents with children⁸.

“Airbnb is the go-to accommodation option for families looking for affordable stays with more space, privacy and amenities – especially in non urban communities,” said Juliette Langlais, EMEA Public Policy Director. “Restrictions on short-term rentals in big cities are pricing families out of their dream visits, who can’t afford hotel prices and multiple rooms. We think city stays should be accessible to everyone – including families – and we hope to work with leaders to preserve family-friendly accommodation options.”

“Travel is becoming an increasing challenge for families – especially those with many children – as suitable and affordable accommodation is often lacking, particularly in popular cities. Policymakers need to rethink this issue with a fresh perspective. A truly family-friendly society is one where families are seen, included, and able to experience the world together. Building a family-friendly Europe means ensuring that cities are welcoming, accessible, and affordable for families of all sizes. Airbnb can be a key partner in achieving this by offering flexible and family-friendly options that help make travel possible” said Karoline Iwersen, European Large Families Confederation.