Seven in 10 families have taken a ‘multi-generational holiday’ – by travelling with their relatives, it has emerged.

The trend of busy families pooling their resources to spend quality time together away from the rigours of every day life emerged in a study carried out among 1,000 parents and 1,000 grandparents.

According to the report 52 per cent have jetted off to sunnier foreign climes with their nearest and dearest.

And while the situation is a win-win for everyone involved - nan and granddad are the ones to benefit most with one in four admitting they enjoyed the break far more than the would have done if they went solo.

A spokesperson for Virgin Holidays, which commissioned the study, said: “Multi-generational travel is on the rise, with time-poor families looking to maximise the experiences they have together.

''We first saw the trend emerge a few years ago and this year we are seeing more families than ever looking to travel in large groups.”

The study found the main perceived benefit of taking an inter-generational holiday is that everyone gets to be together.

It also emerged one third of parents like having extra people around to help mind the kids.

And overall another one in three think it is a more cost-effective way to travel, splitting the cost across parents and grandparents.

Around half of grandparents even went as far as to declare they thought their grandkids would find it ‘cool’ to take a trip with the 'oldies'.

Nearly half of those surveyed believe parents rule the roost on a multi-generational holiday, and are most likely to shoulder the majority of the decision-making and responsibility.

But the biggest challenge is finding activities which everyone, young and old, are guaranteed to enjoy.

Two thirds think a beach holiday is the best way to go to keep everyone happy and entertained, and 28 per cent said they would book a tour of a famous landmark during their trip.

Forty seven per cent of those surveyed would be most likely to take a multi-generational holiday somewhere hot and sunny.

Once they arrive, half would like to stay in a villa so the whole family has enough room, while just over one third would settle for a hotel.

Sixty three per cent of parents surveyed, conducted by OnePoll.com, said they wished they had more time in their lives when the whole extended family could get together.

It also emerged 58 per cent of grandparents want more time to see their grown up children - and grandchildren, according to the OnePoll study. 

A spokesman for Virgin Holidays, who have hand-picked their ten most popular options for multi-generational holidays, said:

“Far from being a more stressful or stuffy option, modern families are seizing the opportunity to travel together to maximise their quality time and make the most of their holidays.

“Booking a trip together can have the benefits of spreading the cost, and pooled funds can mean access to a further-flung destination, more luxurious holiday accommodation and more exciting or off-the-beaten-path activities.”