Key findings:
- 66% of working empty nesters took two or more short breaks in the past 12 months.
- 59% prefer beach vacations, making them the most popular type of leisure trip.
- 60% stayed in a hotel or motel on a leisure trip in the past 12 months.
- 53% who traveled abroad in the last 12 months did not take out travel insurance on their last trip.
With children having left home and potentially greater flexibility over how they spend their time, working people in the US who are empty nesters (46 years old or older without children living at home and is working on the job market) can be an interesting audience for travel brands. YouGov Profiles data looks at how this group travels, the trips they prefer and what matters when they make travel decisions.
Travel insight #1: 66% of working empty nesters took multiple short breaks in the past year
Travel is not necessarily limited to one big annual vacation for working empty nesters. Among those who took a short break in the past 12 months, two-thirds (66%) took at least two: 31% took two; 17% took three and 18% took four or more. One in three (34%) only took one short break.
Travel insight #2: Beach vacations come out on top, preferred by 59% of working empty nesters
Beach vacations are the most popular type of leisure trip among working empty nester travelers (59%). Half prefer sightseeing or tourist trips (50%), while an equal share pick lakes, mountains or countryside vacations (50%). City breaks appeal to 35%, while 39% prefer culture and history trips.
Once on vacation, relaxing and sightseeing are joint top activities (66% each), closely followed by dining out (65%). Outdoor activities (43%), shopping (41%) and cultural experiences (39%) also attract sizable shares.
Travel insight #3: Road trips dominate: 67% traveled by car and 60% stayed in hotels
Two-thirds of working empty nesters (67%) traveled by their own car on a leisure trip in the past 12 months, while 60% stayed in a hotel or motel.
Air travel also plays a role, with 37% having traveled by air. Around three in ten used online rideshare services such as Uber (29%) or rented a car (28%), while 21% stayed in a short-term or vacation rental.
Travel insight #4: Cleanliness matters most when choosing a hotel, cited by 81%
When working empty nester travelers choose a hotel, cleanliness tops the list of considerations, selected by 81%. Price follows at 76%, while 64% consider the hotel's location, such as whether it is close to attractions or a city center.
Other factors have slightly less influence: 38% consider friendly staff, 37% facilities and 36% the hotel's star rating. Around a quarter (24%) consider whether the property belongs to a chain or brand they trust.
For hotel brands, the data suggests that getting the fundamentals right – particularly cleanliness, value and convenience – matters for this audience.
Travel insight #5: 59% traveled with a partner – but working empty nester trips aren't just for couples
Spouses or partners are the most common travel companions, with 59% of working empty nesters having taken a leisure trip with theirs in the past 12 months. But they are not exclusively traveling as couples.
Around a quarter traveled with their children (24%), while 19% traveled with other family members and the same share went with friends. Around 16% traveled alone.
Travel insight #6: Travel insurance remains uncommon, with 53% going without on their last trip
More than half of working empty nesters who traveled abroad in the last 12 months (53%) say they did not take out any travel insurance on their last trip. Around 26% chose cancellation insurance, followed by travel health insurance (14%) and accident insurance (12%).
The figures suggest travel insurance is far from universal among this group, despite their participation across different types of leisure travel.
The data points to an audience that travels relatively frequently and has varied interests. From short breaks and road trips to beaches, sightseeing and cultural experiences, working empty nesters participate across different parts of the travel market. For travel brands, that creates opportunities to reach them with different products and experiences rather than treating them solely as a couples or luxury-travel segment.
Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data through rolling surveys, rather than a single limited questionnaire. Figures are drawn from responses collected between September 2025 and August 2026, using a 52-week dataset updated weekly. Data is nationally representative of adults (18+) in the U.S. and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race.
Image: Getty Images
