Despite dramatically higher travel prices, families are still heading to airports and roads in force this summer.

The cost of airfare, hotels and attractions is higher, but that has not dissuaded most families from traveling — they’re simply traveling differently.

A new survey commissioned by TPG and conducted by YouGov found that 63% of parents with kids under 18 already have a family trip planned for this summer.

Only 6% canceled a vacation outright, while another 5% swapped destinations. Just 27% aren’t traveling at all.

The takeaway? Travel remains a priority despite higher prices. Families say cost is their top consideration, but they’re still taking trips. They’d rather adjust than cancel.

Here are some other interesting findings:

  • Today’s family travelers are becoming more flexible — changing destinations, redeeming rewards and involving kids in vacation planning.
  • 21% plan to use points and miles to help make family travel possible this summer, but only 5% say award availability matters most when choosing destinations.
  • More families changed their destinations than shortened trips or cut back on excursions and activities compared to previous years.
  • These families are making small compromises instead of canceling: tweaking things like trip length or where they stay.
  • Nearly two-thirds rank budget among their top three destination considerations.

For context, an earlier TPG summer survey found that 71% of all travelers planned to travel the same amount or more than last summer.

These findings came even as prices are much higher. In May, airfare was 27% higher than last year, according to federal inflation data.

But there is some good news: prices have begun to fall a bit. While you’ll pay about 14% more than last year, a domestic coach ticket booked between three and five weeks in advance was cheaper than last month. August fares are running about 6% cheaper than the same month last year.

Families Are Chasing Value, Not Luxury

Still, higher prices are affecting some family travel decisions.

One-quarter (25%) of parents with summer travel plans say they are changing their destination to one that is closer or less expensive, making it the most common money-saving strategy.

Nearly as many (24%) are changing how they travel, whether that’s driving instead of flying or booking economy instead of premium cabins. Another 23% are saving on accommodations by booking fewer hotel rooms or staying with relatives.

Many of these families are also shortening trips compared to previous years (20%), traveling during off-peak dates (20%) and trimming activities or excursions once they arrive (19%).

More than one in five families (21%) are using travel rewards points or miles to help make their vacation happen. If you’ve been saving points for a family vacation, this is the kind of year where they can make a big difference.

The amount people are spending is also revealing.

Half are spending $1,001 to $5,000, and 13% are spending $5,001 to $10,000; meanwhile, just 4% are spending more than $10,000.

Cost Matters — But So Do the Kids

Budget may be king, but it’s far from the only thing driving vacation decisions.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) say overall cost is one of the three biggest factors when choosing a destination. Kid-friendly attractions rank second (48%), followed by travel distance and convenience (40%), weather and climate (37%), and simply choosing somewhere that everyone in the family agrees on (32%).

Interestingly, only 5% say award availability with points or miles is a deciding factor.

Most families don’t choose destinations because awards are available — they choose where they want to go first, then figure out how to make the trip affordable. Adding flexibility in both dates and destinations can save quite a bit.

Family Vacations Have Become a Team Effort

Planning a family trip has increasingly become a group decision, with parents bringing kids into the process more than in previous years. The survey data reflects a broader shift: families are approaching summer travel as a collaborative exercise in balancing everyone’s priorities against a tighter budget.