Skyscanner reveals that half of Hong Kongers have travelled with their in-laws, and over 3 out of 4 fought during the trip.
Traveling with your own parents can sometimes be challenging but how many Hong Kongers have tried or planned to travel with their other half’s parents? For many, the prospect of spending time with their in-laws round the clock for a week can be daunting, with many feeling like they can’t be their “true-selves” while trying to make a favorable impression and show respect.
Ridingon the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, the global travel search engineSkyscanner.com.hk has surveyed over 1,000 Hong Kongers to uncover theirexperiences of traveling with their parent-in-law and shared a series of usefultips on how couples can prevent any minefields while travelling with their partner’sparents.
Time for relaxation or time for wars?
Among those who have tried traveling with their in-laws, more than three quarters (76%) of them had argued with their other half or even their in-laws because of the trip. The survey revealed that the top reasons for these fights were the difference in living and eating habits (26%), followed by different itinerary expectations (23%) and the convenience of visiting planned attractions (17%).
What Hong Kongers fought about with their parent-in-law during the trip
| # | Reasons | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Each other’s living and eating habits | 26% |
| 2 | Different expectations for the itinerary (e.g. shopping vs sightseeing) | 23% |
| 3 | Attractions were not convenient enough | 17% |
| 4 | Different expectations on how to spend money | 11% |
| 5 | Not satisified with the accommodation | 9% |
| 6 | Who should pay | 6% |
| 7 | Others | 5% |
| 8 | Not satisfied with the flight experience | 3% |
However, there is some good news: 31% of respondents thought theirrelationship with their partner actually improved after the trip, and themajority (61%) said there was not long-term impact on their relationship.
Have you ever travelled with your parent-in-law?
Incontrast to the stereotype, a quarter (25%) of respondents have not travelledwith their mother-in-law but would be interested in doing so. Over half (56%)have travelled with their in-laws and just 17% have never tried and don’t planto in the future.
Thereasons for travelling with in-laws are the same as with any holiday, with 38%of respondents seeking relaxation, 23% food experiences and 13% cityexploration.
How did you plan the trip?
In terms of trip planning, a vast majority of respondents opted for self-guided tours (91%) over package tours provided by travel agents, in order to have a flexible schedule for everyone. When asked about their top considerations when it comes to planning trips with their mother-in-law, Hong Kongers cared most about the itinerary (27%), the destination’s transportation system (23%) and the comfort level of their accommodation (19%).
What Hong Kongers care about when planning a trip with their other half’s parents
| # | Consideration | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Itinerary | 27% |
| 2 | The convenience of the transportation network of the destination | 23% |
| 3 | Comfort level of the accommodation | 19% |
| 4 | Travel cost | 11% |
| 5 | The distance of the destination | 11% |
| 6 | Comfort level of the flight experience | 9% |
Tips for surviving travelwith your mother-in-law
Although it might be challenging to travel with parent-in-law, it canalso be a good chance to build a closer relationship with a partner’s family.
Couples can consider taking shorter trips with in-laws if they are notconfident about the success of the trip or worry about taking care of an elder.Skyscanner also recommends starting the trip planning process early, so travelerscan plan everything appropriately and set the right expectations. This will giveHong Kongers time to understand the travel style of their in-laws, which canvary greatly from younger generations.
Couples can also select adestination that they have visited before but which is new to their in-laws. Thiscan make it much easier to plan the itinerary without in-depth research.Skyscanner also recommends travelling to destinations with a similar culture toHong Kong such as Taiwan, Singapore or Malaysia, making it easier for in-lawsto adapt to local cultures and helping to prevent any tensions associated withhaving to change living or eating styles.
Last but not least, travelerscan take inspiration from the Skyscanner 2019 Fly Smart Index, which lists out someof the most loved Asian destinations among Hong Kongers, and is segmented intoFull-Service Airlines (FSA) and Low-Cost Carriers (LCC).
Most important of all – is for couples to share their feelings with their partner after the trip, and to remember that ultimately all parties involved want the same thing – to enjoy a fun trip with their loved ones.
