While some people are buying houses, funding their kids' schooling and after-school activities, and investing in retirement, others are using their hard-earned money to travel around the world. Instead of a sedentary, cushy lifestyle, many young people are choosing to roam the world and collect experiences instead of material things.
In 2025, 35% of Americans said they plan to travel more the next year. Gen Z and Zillennials are in the lead: 55% of the former and 42% of the latter plan to increase their travel in the next 12 months. Since cheap flights, Airbnb, and couchsurfing became available as these generations were coming of age, traveling isn't seen as a luxury anymore. Affordable travel all the way!
Nevertheless, the rate of international travel is somewhat decreasing in 2026. Deloitte reports that people are adopting a more conservative approach to traveling this year. Mainly, people won't be traveling as far, will choose cheaper accommodation alternatives, and will shorten the length of their stay.
The culprit of that is financial pessimism. Increasingly, people are feeling economic uncertainty, so, naturally, people prioritize basic everyday expenses and are saving up for the uncertain future more. Interestingly, higher-income earning Americans are spending less and choosing to go on fewer trips. Compared to 2024, 5% more rich Americans claimed they feel worse off financially. That's reflected in other holiday-related expenses, as hotel, rental, cruise, and flight bookings have all decreased by a few percent.
One type of travel that Gen Z is resurrecting is cruises. For many of Gen X, cruises are an old people kind of vacation. But not for the Zoomers and Millennials: they've made cruises cool again. According to Forbes, 27% of young people identify themselves as cruisers. In comparison, only 18% of Baby Boomers say the same. So, it seems that cruises are the new cool!
What's so appealing about cruises to younger generations? It's the everything-included, no-hassle type of travel that attracts people. There's free Wi-Fi, dinners, and you can visit many places during one trip. According to Jan Swartz, executive vice president of Strategic Operations at Carnival Corp., "these younger travelers are attracted to the great value cruises offer compared to land-based vacations."
"Cruises provide all-inclusive experiences – from fun-filled, action-packed family vacations to relaxing, indulgence-filled getaways – at an outrageous value that resonates well with younger guests looking to make their vacation dollars go further."
Young folks don't want to just lie on a beach and sip wine in the evening with their Neapolitan pizza. For many Gen Zers, traveling is their life and a facet of their personality. A whopping 65% say that seeing the world is the most important way they can spend their money. They prioritize experiences over everything else. Trying out new cuisines, for example, is the top priority for 61% of Gen Z travelers.
Young travelers don't just want to visit foreign countries; they want to experience them like locals. Many think that visiting supermarkets is the best way to experience a culture, so, 44% try to visit local ones if they can. 39% also buy local beauty products to bring home. Concerts and visiting libraries and bookshops are also ways Gen Z tries to immerse themselves in cultures. And last but not least is socializing: 40% say they travel so they can meet new people.
