What makes the perfect family holiday? Olympic champ Greg Rutherford says let the kids help plan it

Family holidays are all about striking a balance. How can a term-time getaway be exciting, and as stress free as possible, for adults, teens and tots? If there’s anyone who can speak to maintaining equilibrium it would be Greg Rutherford.

A long jump gold medallist for Team GB on “Super Saturday” at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Rutherford also won bronze at Rio 2016 as well as medals at the Commonwealth Games, European Championships, Diamond League and World Championships.

In 2018, the Olympian announced his retirement, saying to The Guardian that due to injuries at the time, he could barely sit on the floor to play with his two children. Since then, his family with fianceé Susie Verrill has grown to two sons and a daughter.

While the ‘Rutherford Leap’ now remains part of his legacy, he has pivoted to a new discipline: championing children's involvement in what to do and where to go during the holidays.

Teaming up with Marriott Bonvoy, the hotel and travel loyalty branch of Marriott International, Rutherford’s latest leap involves campaigns around how involved kids are in family holiday planning.

“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,” he told Euronews Travel, reflecting on how travel habits have changed since starting a family.

“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.

“Our youngest has just turned five, so she can get stuck into the majority of things now and it’s so much having our children choose some of what we get up to.”

Ice cream for lunch and later bedtimes?

In May, Rutherford, Verrill and their three “mini holiday makers" ventured on a Barcelona break with Marriott Bonvoy, staying at Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa.

“Sometimes the best holidays happen when you hand over the reins,” he said in a social media post, adding that his sons and daughter took the lead on deciding activities and dining spots, with the hotel’s kids’ menu proving to be a hit.

The hotel also offers spa access for children, ensuring rest and relaxation isn’t just for mum and dad.

But what else matters most to youngsters while abroad?

Research by Marriott Bonvoy found that when it comes to holidays, kids know exactly what they want, and luckily for parents, their priorities are pretty simple.

"Kids told us they don’t want complicated itineraries, they want freedom, fun and quality time spent with their families,” said Andrew Watson, Chief Commercial Officer of EMEA at Marriott International.

“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. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next holiday this year, why not get the kids to plan it?”

The study found that for 63% of kids, their dream holiday included free rein at the breakfast buffet, followed by heaps of ice cream during lunch according to 58% of respondents and, the cherry on top, staying up late according to 53%.

“It all makes total sense,” Rutherford said. “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.”

While a large pool with water slides was a key priority for 57% of the children surveyed, they were also vocal about not wanting to have to do chores such as tidying their room (30%), being bored (39%), or made to take part in activities that are only interesting for adults (35%).

Once an athlete, always an athlete

Has retirement from elite sport meant Rutherford is no longer active? Au contraire...

“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, adding that even while travelling, him and his family prioritise health, fitness and good nutrition.

On the other hand, juggling staying healthy with relaxation can admittedly be challenging as a father of three. Rutherford told Euronews Travel he’s “pretty terrible” at switching off.

“I try to utilise my time when I’m working away or even while the kids are at school, to work out," he said. "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.”

While Marriott Bonvoy found that 30% of adults have at some stage let their child plan a holiday, they also found 72% of respondents were curious or excited about letting their child take the lead next time. The study also revealed that 66% of parents say their top priority when abroad was quality time as a family.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the Grand Canyon state holds fond memories for Rutherford. He said: “Climbing Camelback Mountain in Arizona was very special, it’s also where I proposed to Susie.”

Eating freshly caught fish on a boat in Türkiye is also a standout moment, as he reminisced about the crystal clear waters and the local family who hosted him.

He added that in his experience, the most successful holidays are the ones where everyone has something to look forward to each day, saying that they would never travel if they thought someone wouldn’t be able to enjoy the majority of the trip.

“It doesn’t have to be anything big or exciting, but if everyone can come away saying ‘oh I really enjoyed doing that!’ or ‘I loved eating that’ as we wind down in the evening, then we know we’ve done well.”

With Marriott Bonvoy’s latest findings pointing to more parents embracing children's involvement, Rutherford’s advice is simple: let them get stuck in.

“Don’t be afraid to get your kids involved in some of the planning,” he said. “We were pleasantly surprised by how they wanted to spend the day and it made the holiday even better knowing they felt a little bit more in control.”