Tom Holland and Zendaya have had an exceptionally demanding year, with international travel and major film promotions keeping them constantly on the move. After spending months travelling across countries to promote The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the newlyweds were reportedly too exhausted to enjoy a luxury holiday they had planned in Japan. Instead, Tom made an unexpected decision and offered the trip to his parents, Dominic Holland and his wife, allowing them to enjoy the getaway in their place.
The amusing family story was shared by Dominic Holland, Tom’s father, who recently spoke about the experience while appearing at the Queen’s Park Book Festival in London. According to Dominic, Tom and Zendaya had spent a considerable amount of time travelling internationally as they promoted their upcoming and recently released projects. The demanding schedule eventually left the actor feeling that another long-haul journey was simply more than he could manage.
Tom and Zendaya have been among Hollywood’s most closely watched couples, but their professional commitments have also kept them extremely busy. Their schedules became particularly intense as they travelled around the world for promotional events connected with their films. For actors involved in large-scale productions, film promotion can involve premieres, interviews, press conferences, photo calls and fan events across several countries, often within a short period.
Dominic explained that Tom had been working especially hard while promoting both The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Recalling his son’s demanding schedule, he said, “So, you know that Tom had a few films out recently. He had The Odyssey out then he had Spider-Man. And he’s been tired, he’s been working unbelievably hard,” Dominic told the Daily Mail.
The scale of their travelling schedule appears to have been significant. Dominic said Tom and Zendaya had travelled around the globe multiple times during their promotional commitments. He estimated that the couple had completed roughly 20 long-haul flights, with many of those journeys lasting around 10 hours. For anyone regularly crossing time zones, such a schedule can be physically draining, particularly when it is combined with filming, public appearances and the constant demands of publicity work.
After months of travelling, the idea of another international trip apparently did not sound relaxing to Tom. Dominic recalled that his son spoke to him about the Japan holiday just three days after the London premiere. What was originally supposed to be a break for Tom and Zendaya quickly turned into an opportunity for his parents.
Tom reportedly told his father, “He said, ‘Dad, we’ve got this holiday to Japan’ and I said, ‘That’ll be nice Tom, you’ll enjoy it.’ And he said, ‘Dad it’s too far and I’m too tired. What I thought I’d do dad is that I’d send you and mum instead.'”
For Dominic and his wife, the change of plans proved to be quite a fortunate surprise. Rather than cancel the expensive holiday altogether, Tom effectively handed the trip over to his parents. Dominic described the experience as a luxurious one, complete with first-class travel and an upscale hotel.
Speaking about the unexpected getaway, Dominic said, “Being Tom Holland’s dad is… well, it was lovely going to Japan. It was first class travel, posh hotel,” he said.
The story became even more entertaining because Dominic could not resist imagining how different the reception might have been at the hotels and restaurants. After all, the arrangements had reportedly been made with Tom Holland in mind, meaning staff may have been expecting one of Britain’s best-known young actors. Instead, they were greeted by his father.
Dominic turned the situation into a joke, saying, “All these restaurants and hotels are expecting Tom Holland and in the strata of disappointment they are expecting Tom Holland and they get Dominic,” he said.
His self-deprecating humour continued as he joked about the famously polite nature of Japanese hospitality. Dominic suggested that even though everyone remained courteous, there may have been a brief moment of surprise when it became clear that the expected Hollywood star was not arriving.
“The Japanese are very polite and servile people but even they went hmmm,” he joked.
The comments offer a lighter glimpse into what life can look like behind the glamour of Hollywood. While international premieres and luxury travel may sound exciting, constant flying and promotional appearances can also become exhausting. For Tom and Zendaya, who have both maintained demanding careers while attracting intense public attention, taking time away from work may have been more valuable than adding another destination to an already packed itinerary.
Dominic also used the occasion to poke fun at his own career. The comedian and writer has authored several books, but he joked about arriving at the festival without any of them. His comment added another layer to the relaxed and humorous account of his unexpected Japanese holiday.
“I’ve written 10 books and got exactly zero with me tonight which sums up my career,” he said.
The Japan holiday story comes at a time when public interest in Tom Holland and Zendaya remains particularly high. Their relationship has attracted attention since they began dating, and speculation surrounding their private life has continued even as both stars have attempted to keep much of their personal lives away from the spotlight.
