Summer travel used to mean that classy yearly getaway to a fancy resort in Mallorca with your family. But Gen Z has taken things in a different direction; now it’s all about chasing spots you’ve seen on TikTok or heading to wherever your favorite influencer just visited.
Whether you’re a grumpy traditionalist who thinks the younger crowd has ruined travel forever, or a proud Gen Zer leading the charge, traveling during summer is changing, whether we like it or not. And here’s how Gen Z is shaking things up.
Gen Z Behavior + Travel Tech
Unless you’re a Gen Zer yourself, it can be hard to wrap your head around the way they travel. Sure, plenty of people love to point fingers and say they’re doing it all wrong, but what they forget is that this generation was reared during a massive tech boom. Flip phones became iPhones overnight, and guidebooks gave way to Instagram Reels and TikTok travel hacks. It’s no wonder their approach seems sort of alien to older people.
Pretty much all of Gen Z’s travel planning happens online. Gone are the days when you’d rock up to a hostel last-minute and hope there’s room at the inn. Now everything is done through apps like Booking.com and Hostelworld. The same goes for flight; there’s no more queuing at travel offices. The process is done digitally, with tools like Kiwi helping them score cheaper deals from their phones.
Don’t just take my word for it; the numbers speak for themselves.
Preferred Destinations Among Gen Z
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai’s relaxed atmosphere, mixed with a hint of adventure, is exactly the kind of combo that pulls Gen Z in. According to Air Asia, it’s one of Thailand’s top domestic getaway spots, especially among Gen Z, with 30% of travelers picking it as their go-to. With so many eco-stay options and natural beauty, the younger generation is choosing hikes over hangovers and trading Khao San Road for Chiang Mai’s slow pace of life.
Nestled among steep mountains, dotted with stunning hilltop temples, and packed with a perfect mix of traditional and modern vibes, Chiang Mai really gives you the best of both worlds. Add in the fact that you can chill in quaint cafés like Fohide all day, sipping top-tier northern Thai coffee, then potter off for a Thai massage, and it’s easy to see why Gen Z is loving the place.
Udaipur, India
When most people think of India’s Rajasthan region, Jaipur usually steals the spotlight. But the pink city may move over because there’s a new favorite in town among Gen Z; it’s Udaipur. According to the Times of India, this former Mewar Kingdom capital is catching major attention from the younger crowd, thanks to its buzzing café culture and quirky street markets like the Bada Bazaar. Add in a lineup of swanky hotels like the Leela Palace, where you can catch some traditional Rajasthani dance performances, and you’ve a solid little summer getaway sorted.
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
On Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Playa del Carmen has become a hot spot for Gen Z, particularly Americans who are only a short flight away. This part of Mexico has an abundance of all-inclusive hotels, a trend that has been on the rise with this age group for a while. Not to mention the gorgeous coastline and simple day trips to picturesque islands like Cozumel, it just ticks all the boxes.
5th Avenue is where you’ll find everything from boutiques to big brands. A quick walk up Xpu-Ha Beach will have you feeling like you’re in a dream, with palm trees towering overhead and that fresh sea breeze hitting you in the face. The vibrant street art scattered throughout town is also a feast for the eyes, making it a pleasing backdrop for those Insta-worthy shots.
Madeira, Portugal
Lisbon and Porto are old news with Gen Z; now the focus is on Madeira, a tiny volcanic island sitting in the Atlantic. Ask anyone 15 years ago where Madeira was on a map, and they probably couldn’t tell you, except maybe that it’s where Cristiano Ronaldo is from. However, with the rise of social media, this remote location has become a hotspot for younger travelers due to its sky-high trails, such as the Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo hikes, natural swimming pools like the one in Porto Moniz, and fantastic wine tastings.
Nature is undoubtedly Madeira’s finest feature, from the insane views at Paul da Serra to the spectacular Valley of the Nuns. You could spend weeks, even months, here taking to the trails, so a bit of selectivity is key if you’re planning on lacing up your boots. Ribeiro Frio to the Portela Pass is an easy one for beginners that brings you through some beautiful forests in the Ribeiro Frio Valley. Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo hike, on the other hand, is much more challenging. It takes you out onto a tiny ridge with a little walkway that’s not for the faint-hearted, but boy, the vistas will leave you speechless.
Hagiang Loop, Vietnam
Chat with any Gen Z about their travels around Southeast Asia, and they’ll tell you they’ve either done or plan to do the Ha Giang Loop. The highlight of many young backpackers’ trips, this 3-4 day, 370 km motorbike ride brings you across the northern Vietnamese highlands through dramatic passes and canyons, brushing against the border with China. As darkness falls, groups will stop at small local homestays in remote mountain settlements to stay overnight, digging into scrumptious Vietnamese bites and getting tipsy on ‘happy water’ (a traditional corn wine).
Getting there and organizing things takes a bit of work, but it’s totally worth it. First, you’ll need to take a 6-hour bus ride from Hanoi to the town of Ha Giang, and from there, find a company to take you on board, with prices starting from VND 3.5 million (€118.77). If you want to ride the motorbike yourself, it’s a little cheaper; otherwise, you can pay the extra few quid and hire a driver to bring you while you sit on the back.
Digital Nomad Life
Post-pandemic, a lot of people, myself included, had that lightbulb moment: ‘Wait, I can actually work from anywhere… as long as I’ve got a half-decent laptop and decent Wi-Fi.‘ And just like that, we saw a surge of remote workers and digital nomads popping up all over the globe, hunched up in every second café, two coffees deep, eyes glued to their screens like their lives depended on it. That’s not to say digital nomads weren’t a thing before in the likes of Bali, but the pandemic really changed many people’s outlook on life.
Social media makes the digital nomad lifestyle look glamorous. 55% of young Americans say they follow someone who posts digital nomad content, and 76% say that being able to work from anywhere in the world is basically the new American Dream. Honestly, who can blame them? Gen Z is being served this incredibly alluring way of life, with influencers lounging on beaches, with a cocktail in one hand and a laptop in the other. When you see that kind of thing, yeah, it definitely sounds like ultimate freedom.
There are a bunch of reasons people choose the digital nomad path. Some are out to see as much of the world as possible, while others are looking to live somewhere that’s way more affordable than their home country. Then you’ve got the ones chasing a different lifestyle, ditching the 9-to-5 grind in favor of something that feels a little more meaningful. Whatever the reason, there’s no denying it, it’s a pretty appealing way to spend your years.
Sustainability Matters to Gen Z
Sustainability is a big deal for Gen Z when it comes to travel. They’re one of the main age groups that will be living with the consequences of climate change. So it hits differently when they scroll through social media and see headlines about record-breaking heatwaves. That kind of stuff actually influences how they travel, and there are stats to back it up.
According to an article by Telus breaking down Booking.com’s Destination Gen Z project, it turns out 56% of young travelers would rather stay in sustainable accommodations over ones that aren’t built with the environment in mind. On top of that, around 60% say they actively try to find eco-friendly transport options as soon as they land.
So, what’s driving Gen Zers to make these conscious decisions? Well, over half say it’s because they care about the environment. But on the other hand, 31.5% say they don’t really see the point in making changes at all. The fact that more than 50% say the environment is quite positive and very revealing.
Gen Z’s Top Apps for Traveling During Summer
With all this chatter about how Gen Z is booking their trips online, next, we’re going to look at the apps they are using to make it happen. Yeah, TikTok and Instagram are excellent for travel inspiration, but they don’t exactly let you book a flight or hotel, at least not yet.
These are just some of the savvy apps that Gen Z is utilising for their summer travels.
- Kiwi: One of the world’s leading online travel agencies that hunts down the best prices for flights, hotels, and car rentals using clever travel hacks to make sure you never miss out on a deal.
- Booking.com: Large online accommodation booking platform primarily focusing on hotels and offers flights and car rentals.
- Uber: Major ridesharing platform that connects travelers with locally vetted drivers to take them from A to B for a cheaper price than taxis.
- Revolut: Trendy online banking app that helps travelers dodge high conversion fees and allows you to send money to more than 160 nations.
- GetYourGuide: An app that lets travelers book tours to popular attractions, local cultural experiences, and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Gen Z Travel Trends 2025 – Where Are They Going the Most?
Cheap flights, last-minute booking apps, and the ability to jet off and be anywhere in under 24 hours have made spontaneous travel easier than ever for Gen Z. Yet, certain patterns are emerging regarding where these individuals are heading.
Newsweek recently spoke with the CEO of Contiki, and he had some interesting things to say. What he’s been noticing with their tour company is that Gen Z is avoiding the typical tourist destinations and trying something new by visiting lesser-known places.
They also sat down with a number of other tour company owners, who went on to list some of the locations where they saw a huge influx of Gen Z travelers. Some of the places that were mentioned included Mexico’s colorful city of Oaxaca, the tropical Indonesian island of Sumba, and the north African beauty of Morocco.
Will You Follow the Gen Z Travel Trends This Summer?
Gen Z’s way of traveling might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but their style is catching on and is here to stay. With tech evolving at lightning speed, especially with artificial intelligence in the mix, you can bet the next wave of travelers will take things even further.