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Link to video: easyJet holidays launches 'Dad's Club'

54 per cent of British teenagers agree that dads embarrass them on family holidays - by telling bad jokes, snoring by the pool and cringeworthy dancing. 

A study of 1,000 British teenagers found fathers leave them red-faced by wearing socks with sandals, complaining loudly, causing frisbee accidents and constantly taking photos. 

Other ways they inflict holiday embarrassment include wearing age-inappropriate clothing, being greedy at the buffet, using selfie sticks and getting up early to bag sun loungers. 

The study was commissioned by easyJet Holidays, who have today launched the world's first in-hotel 'Dad’s Club' in the Spanish hotspot of Benalmádena, in partnership with comedian Omid Djalili.

Opening on the 24th and 25th of August at Holiday World Polynesia on the Costa del Sol, the unique club hopes to provide some cringe-free respite for teens, as well as a safe space for gaffe-prone dads to connect with their kind without being judged.

An hilarious promo video starring Omid Djalili showcases the various activities on offer at the ‘school of cool’. With complimentary dad dancing lessons, frisbee and air guitar tuition as well as a joke workshop. 

Comedian Omid Djalili and self-confessed embarrassing parent, said: “It’s a rite of passage for us Dads to embarrass our kids. It comes with the job. So I’m very proud to have teamed up with easyJet Holidays to unveil a new club JUST for Dads. A safe space to learn how to throw a frisbee, dance without pulling a muscle and crafting brilliant jokes for the 21st century.”

Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of teens admit to trying get out of a holiday to avoid these cringe-worthy moments. 43 per cent can’t remember a holiday without a humiliating moment caused by their father.  

But when polling the dads themselves, 53 per cent claimed they think they are ‘cool’ on holiday. Although 34 per cent admit to purposely humiliating their kids – and 49 per cent believe it's their duty to do this.

Sarah Ockwell-Smith, a parenting expert, who is working with the brand said: “Holidays are a perfect time to reconnect with teens, but sometimes all the extra time spent together can cause friction. Not to mention the excitement and freedom of holiday-mode causing some pretty cringey (according to the kids) behaviour, which can lead to embarrassment. Disco dancing, air guitar and socks and sandals? Definite trigger points." 

International beach holidays (51 per cent) top the list of vacation types where ‘dadbarrassment’ is most likely to occur, followed by staycations (29 per cent) and city breaks (22 per cent).

However, fathers have responded well to Dad’s Club concept with 44 per cent saying they’d like to attend.

Matt Callaghan, Customer Director at easyJet Holidays said: “Evidently, embarrassment is a part of the holiday package when Dad's around. We offer some incredible resorts for the whole family, but now we’re upping our offer for Dads. At Dad’s Club our customers will get a unique opportunity to hone their cool skills while making new friends and memories to last a lifetime. But remember, cringe-worthy or not, we love our Dads to bits.” 

THE TOP 20 DAD CRINGE LIST

Telling bad jokes

Dad dancing

Comparing prices to everything back home 

Complaining loudly

Trying to make friends with the locals

Loud conversations with strangers

Trying to join in with teen slang and getting it wrong

Falling asleep by the pool and snoring

Using pet nicknames in front of strangers

Being greedy at the buffet

Telling embarrassing anecdotes

Constantly taking photos

Wearing socks with sandals

Wearing his team’s football shirt

Wearing inappropriate clothes for their age

Failing to be understood while speaking the local language

Getting up early to reserve sun loungers

Showing off in the pool – e.g. cannonballs

Attempting TikTok memes/dances

Wearing tiny swimming trunks

 

Dads staying at the resort can book their place, free of charge from www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/dadsclub.

 

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For more information, please contact the easyJet Holidays press office on easyjetholidays@taylorherring.com / 020 8206 5151

 

Notes to editors:

Research conducted by OnePoll in June 2023 of 1,000 UK residents

 

About easyJet Holidays: 

easyJet Holidays is the UK’s fastest growing tour operator, having carried 1.3 million people in first fully operational year. It offers great-value beach, city and lakes holidays to over 5000 hotels, in more than 100 destinations across Europe, directly through its website and through over 5000 travel agent partners. The ATOL-protected holidays can be secured with a deposit of just £60 per person, including flights, hotel, 23kg luggage and transfers on beach holidays. easyJet Holidays is a member of ABTA, and all packages are covered by its Ultimate Flexibility, offering low deposits, freedom to change a booking, a refund guarantee, and best price guarantee.  

Winners of the Sustainable Future Award at the Globe Travel Awards 2022, easyJet holidays has a sustainability strategy focusing on three key pillars – create better holiday choices which is about making sustainable travel affordable and accessible to everyone; keep our holidays special which is maximising the benefits and minimising the negative impacts of travel and tourism, and transform travel for everyone which means embedding sustainability into business decisions and behaviours and driving meaningful change in the industry. Through ongoing collaboration with the Travel Foundation, the University of Oxford, and as a member of the GSTC, easyJet holidays is focused on building its research, partnerships and certifications, and taking action to make a positive impact on the people and places that make its destinations so special.  

easyJet Holidays has a remarkable team based in Luton, and has been named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2023 – being called out as one of the most loved employers and highly commended as a great place to work for LGBTQIA+ employees, as well as being named one of the Best Workplaces in Travel 2022.