Gen Z vs Millennials: How Their Travel Styles Differ
If Millennials invented authentic travel and digital nomadism, Gen Z invented staycations.
Gen Z and Millennial approaches to travel differ slightly.
Let’s dive into how Gen Z and Millennials travel and what sets them apart.
Motivation for travel: experiences vs. impact
When Millennials are seeking experiences, especially if they are Instagrammable, then Gen Z leans more toward meaningful, impactful journeys. This includes sustainable tourism, volunteering abroad, or supporting local communities.
Gen Zs want their travels to align with their values, and they actively seek eco-friendly accommodations and carbon-neutral travel options.
Both Gen Z and Millennials prioritise authentic experiences over traditional sightseeing.
This includes approaches such as planning entire trips around visiting specific restaurants or attending food festivals, highlighting a deep appreciation for culinary adventures.
Budget and spending habits: budget-friendly vs. luxury travel
Economic considerations influence choices across generations, with Gen Z travellers typically seeking more affordable options, possibly due to their lower earnings. Gen Z prioritise budget-friendly travel, leveraging student discounts, travel hacks, and public transportation. However, they are willing to spend on unique experiences or causes they care about, such as eco-tours or cultural workshops.
Millennials, who can be up to 20 years older than Gen Zs, typically have higher earning power and are more inclined to allocate substantial budgets for trips. Having entered adulthood during or shortly after the 2008 financial crisis, Millennials tend to spend thoughtfully on travel. They value quality over quantity, often saving for larger trips or splurging on memorable experiences like fine dining or luxury tours.
Social media influence: curated aesthetic vs authentic storytelling
Social media plays a significant role in how Millennials travel. Platforms like Instagram heavily influence their choice of destinations, and they’re known for curating picture-perfect posts to share their adventures with their followers.
Gen Z also documents their travels online, their approach is more authentic and less curated. Instead of chasing “Instagrammable” moments, they prioritise sharing real, relatable experiences, often through TikTok or BeReal. They value storytelling over aesthetics, which shapes how they choose and share travel destinations.
Sustainable tourism: a must vs nice-to-have
While Millennials were among the first to embrace sustainable travel, their focus on this area is still evolving. Many Millennials balance eco-friendly options with convenience, occasionally choosing direct flights or comfortable accommodations that may not always align with sustainability goals.
Gen Z actively research eco-friendly travel options, from carbon offset programs to zero-waste accommodations. They are more likely to choose trains over planes, stay at eco-certified hotels, and support local businesses to minimize their travel footprint.
Environmental consciousness is a shared value among younger groups, with many expressing a preference for eco-friendly options and opting for sustainable accommodations.
Travel preferences: city vs beach holidays
While destination preferences might vary between the two generations, both groups tend to search for holidays with wellbeing in mind. For some, this might mean luxury beachside trips and coastal destinations but with the added element of unforgettable experiences.
While in the past, city breaks have typically been about sightseeing, travellers now often combine these with beachside retreats to get the best of both worlds. Options such as Malaga holidays appeal to various age groups due to the mix of lively city vibes and gorgeous sandy beaches.
While Millennials gravitate toward popular destinations with established tourism infrastructures, such as Bali, Paris, or Tokyo, Gen Z is more likely to venture off the beaten path. They seek out under-the-radar destinations, such as lesser-known towns, hidden beaches, or emerging countries. They prefer exploring places that feel authentic and untouched by mass tourism.
Accommodation preferences: Airbnb vs alternative options
Millennials popularised the sharing economy, driving the growth of platforms like Airbnb. They prefer boutique hotels, unique stays, or vacation rentals that offer both comfort and character.
Gen Z prioritises affordability and convenience. Hostels, co-living spaces, and budget-friendly hotels are their go-to options. They’re more willing to trade luxury for cost-effectiveness, focusing instead on experiences and activities outside of their accommodation.
Work and travel balance: digital nomadism vs staycation
As remote work gained traction, Millennials became trailblazers of the digital nomad movement, seamlessly blending work and travel. Many embarked on extended trips while maintaining steady jobs, with hotspots like Bali and Lisbon emerging as hubs for this lifestyle.
Gen Z is now following suit, increasingly drawn to the digital nomad lifestyle. It offers not only the flexibility to work from anywhere but also the opportunity to explore new destinations while staying productive. Unlike Millennials, Gen Z leans toward shorter, more frequent trips, often prolonging their weekends abroad rather than committing to long-term relocations.
Globalisation has also played a key role in making this lifestyle more accessible. Innovative financial tools like Monzo, Revolut, and Wise have revolutionized how people manage money abroad, offering seamless solutions for multiple currencies and international transactions—a game-changer for location-independent workers.
Post-Covid, the shift toward remote work has further fueled Gen Z’s ability to work from anywhere, enabling a generation to redefine the concept of work-life balance by integrating travel into their professional lives.
