The Best 7 Millennial Travel Trends To Follow

It’s no secret that millennials are travelling more and more. But, just what are they after when it comes to modern-day travel experiences? Instagram, online booking apps, and artificial intelligence are shaping the way this generation travels, for sure, but there’s more to it than just apps and shareability.

Just as millennials have got their own slang, they’ve also got their own way of travelling, and companies all over the world should look to understand millennial travel trends. Doing so will help them learn how to cater to one of the world’s largest demographics.

Sure, millennials are addicted to travel. But, here’s how that addiction is shaping the travel industry. From accommodation booking to the trip duration and even the things they do once they’ve reached their destination, here are seven millennial travel trends to follow.

Millennial Travel Trends

1. Travel With A Purpose

It’s hard to deny the fact that millennials grew up in a time of profound social, political, and cultural upheaval. From a worldwide recession and the growing threat of terrorism to more recent issues surrounding climate change, millennials are socially aware. So, expect millennials to engage more in travel with a purpose. This can look like anything from engaging in classes with locals to volunteering while travelling.

2. Sustainable Travel

Sustainable travel is one of the biggest travel trends for, regardless of the demographics we’re talking about. It’s called eco-tourism, and it’s huge right now, for a good reason. Travel (planes, trains and automobiles etc) makes a huge part of global CO2 emissions so expect future generations to stay closer to home and demand more eco-friendly options from their vacation providers.

3. Mini Trips

Millennials are so addicted to travelling and seeing the world that they’re willing to take what industry experts are calling “micro-cations.” These are three to five-day trips where someone will maximise a long weekend in order to turn what could easily be a week or two trip into a mini vacation. Why? They love to travel and want to see as much of the world as they can. While this is great for airlines, it will definitely affect booking trends for accommodations as well.

4. Cash-Free Travel

Millennials are so used to cash-free everything that it comes as no surprise that cash-free travel might be one of the biggest millennial travel trends. Gone are the days when taxi drivers could rip you off with the wrong change. Cashless solutions are the present and the future. We are starting to reach the stage where you might not even have to have any local currency whatsoever on a trip abroad. And, millennials are pioneering that movement.

5. No More High-Ticket Purchases

Whereas baby boomers might have shelled out a lot of cash for a super luxurious experience, millennials aren’t so fast to spend their hard-earned money. Due to various social factors, millennials are more interested in experience-driven travel versus high-ticket attractions. This means that you won’t find them spending money on designer bags or fancy dinners. According to one report, 86% of millennials chose to invest in experiencing a new culture over 44% who wanted to party and 28% wanting to shop.

6. Rise of Digital Nomadism

Millennials are transforming the travel industry by turning it into a full-time job. Currently, 4.8 million people describe themselves as digital nomads, compared to 17 million who aspire to someday become nomadic. While this might not seem like it changes a lot, it’s completely revolutionising the travel industry. Long-term booking websites are becoming more popular, cafes are catering to the culture, and co-working spots are popping up everywhere. The long-term effects of this will be interesting to see in about 10 to 15 years.

7. More Solo Travel

Seeing as transformative travel is such a big deal for millennials, it’s easy to see why solo travel is becoming more popular and more accessible. Social networks make it easy to meet other travellers or to even become inspired to travel solo before you take your trip. From Bumble BFF to Tinder and even simply signing up for a co-working space, travelling solo now feels far less lonely than it might have a decade ago. That’s why 58% of millennials stated they would solo travel, and 26% already have.