With pennies tight, many Brits are re-evaluating their holiday plans.  Afraid of missing out on the summer sun but conscious of cash, many young adults will be piggybacking their parents’ holiday plans this year - with over one in 10 (11 per cent) joining a family holiday funded by their parents, according to research from travelsupermarket.com.

Over a quarter (28 per cent) of British adults have previously been on a family holiday where parents have picked up some, or all, of the tab. And whilst the majority (31 per cent) of those young adults holidaying with their parents get treated to the odd meal out or a daily excursion, staggeringly, over a quarter (27 per cent) admits their entire break is funded by the Bank of Mum and Dad.

When comparing the research by age of respondents, it indicates this is a rising trend among the younger generation of British adults. Where just one in six (16 per cent) of over-55s holidayed at their parents’ expense after reaching the age of 18, and just over a quarter (26 per cent) of 35-54 year olds admit to having done so in the past, there is a sharp rise in this tendency among 18-34 year olds. Yet, almost half (42 per cent) of 18-34 year olds admit they have taken advantage of their parents’ offer of a free or subsidised holiday in the past.

Bob Atkinson, travel expert at travelsupermarket.com, said: “We’ve already seen members of the Boomerang Generation return to their family homes for financial reasons, and now we’re seeing a Piggyback Generation take further advantage of their parents’ willingness to spend money on them.

“Thankfully, over half of those whose holidays have been subsidised by their parents said they enjoy spending time with their parents, so at least it’s not all in vain! We wonder whether parents feel the same when it is they who are hit in the pocket by this trend. Or do they just love having their children around them and sharing the wealth they have with them?”

The survey also revealed that people in Northern Ireland are the likeliest group to still have their holidays paid for by their parents (13 per cent), which could explain why more people from this region than any other are planning another break with their parents in the near future (45 per cent).

Best value holiday destinations for 2009 suggested by travelsupermarket.com are:
1. UK
2. Turkey
3. Egypt
4. Tunisia
5. Thailand
6. Iceland
7. Morocco
8. Bulgaria
9. South Africa
10. Canada

Top ten holiday money-saving tips are:
1. Choose your destination carefully
2. Consider cost of living/exchange rates
3. Look at travelling in off-peak times
4. Travel midweek
5. Use alternative UK airports
6. Use a search engine such as travelsupermarket.com
7. Try all-inclusive
8. Self-catering can work too
9. Stay outside the city centre
10. Look out for special offers