For many European families, the summer holiday is a delicate balancing act: keeping adults relaxed while ensuring children are entertained, all without breaking the bank or the peace. Greg Rutherford, the British long jump gold medallist from the London 2012 Olympics, believes he has found the secret: hand the planning reins to the kids.
Rutherford, who also won bronze at Rio 2016 and medals at the Commonwealth Games, European Championships, and World Championships, retired from elite sport in 2018 due to injuries. Since then, he and his fiancée Susie Verrill have expanded their family to three children. Now, the athlete is championing a new discipline: involving children in holiday decisions.
“Pre-children we’d have traipsed round cities for hours; lots of historical sites, museums, probably been a little more risky or gone somewhere and just switched off for days on end,” Rutherford told Euronews Travel. “Nowadays, which actually is so much more fun, we’ve got a great balance. We team relaxing with pockets of activities or sightseeing. We mix staying put with seeking out local hidden gems.”
In May, the family tested this approach on a Barcelona break with Marriott Bonvoy, staying at Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa. Rutherford posted on social media: “Sometimes the best holidays happen when you hand over the reins,” adding that his sons and daughter took the lead on choosing activities and dining spots. The hotel’s kids’ menu and spa access for children were particular hits.
Research commissioned by Marriott Bonvoy backs up the idea. The study found that 63% of children dream of free rein at the breakfast buffet, 58% want unlimited ice cream during lunch, and 53% crave staying up late. A large pool with water slides was a priority for 57%. Conversely, 30% of kids said they dislike tidying their room on holiday, 39% dread boredom, and 35% resent being forced into adult-oriented activities.
“Freedom and control is something I think you often feel you don’t have as a child so having more of it on holiday, and ice cream on tap, must make such a huge difference to making the holiday a happy one,” Rutherford said.
Andrew Watson, Chief Commercial Officer of EMEA at Marriott International, commented: “Kids told us they don’t want complicated itineraries, they want freedom, fun and quality time spent with their families. That’s why family holidays are about more than just rooms and amenities; it’s about creating places where everyone can relax, play and make memories together.”
Rutherford’s own family remains active even on holiday. “We’re not a family who just sit still for a week, we love knowing there’s bikes to hire, local hikes, water sports, maybe a hotel gym or classes,” he said. He admits he is “pretty terrible” at switching off, but tries to fit workouts in while the kids are at school or during work trips. “In terms of rest and relaxation that’s crammed into the final hour, me and Susie get together each evening before bed otherwise we save that for holidays.”
The Marriott Bonvoy study also revealed that 72% of adults are curious or excited about letting their child plan the next holiday, while 66% of parents say their top priority abroad is quality family time. For Rutherford, the approach has already yielded memorable moments, including climbing Camelback Mountain in Arizona, where he proposed to Verrill.
For families across Europe, the message is clear: sometimes the best holiday is one where the kids take the lead. As Rutherford puts it, “It all makes total sense.”
