Study Shows Generational Travel Trends by Season

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People of all ages travel, but different age groups have different needs, wants and preferences when traveling.

New data from InsureMyTrip highlights how travel preferences differ across generations, especially when it comes to picking the season to travel. Whether you’re a Baby Boomer, Gen X, Millennial, or Gen Z traveler, studies show that there’s a season that speaks to your travel style.

Boomers

This group born between 1946-1964 prefers the cooler and more tranquil months of fall and spring, avoiding the busy times for slower, cultural trips with a focus on comfort.

Kristy Mosolino, co-owner of Wishes Travel agency in Birmingham, Alabama said that, “Boomers love shoulder season and look for booking this time of year given their schedules allow for more flexibility. The weather is still nice abroad and they can avoid the higher airfares that come with high season travel.

Boomers also tend to be well traveled and understand that air conditioning in Europe isn’t like the U.S. and prefer not to travel in the heat. They also like to travel longer and realize their funds go further off season.”

Gen X

Generation X represents the group born between 1965 and 1980. They tend to favor the classic summer vacation season, followed closely by the vibrant beauty of spring. They prioritize family vacations and often plan trips around school schedules and holiday breaks.

Karen Shelton, Owner of My Path Unwinding Travel in Charlotte, North Carolina says that, “Gen Xers tend to be families in a transitional phase of travel. Their kids are going away to college or taking jobs and they may be empty nesters for the first time. The question now becomes When do I take my kids on vacation?”

Shelton sees that Gen Xers travel goals shift and they may take a family trip with their college-aged children and then take next trip by themselves.

Millennials

Like Gen X, Millennials, born between 1981 to 1996, prefer to travel during the summer season, followed by spring and fall. They often look for adventure and unique experiences, with an eye toward exploring new destinations.

According to Mosolino, “Most Millennial travelers have school-aged kids so parents tend to be apprehensive of their kids missing school due to attendance rules.”

Shelton adds that, “Millennials may start out as young couples without kids but once they become parents, everything changes. Having school age kids, they don’t have the spontaneity they once enjoyed, but they value travel with educational encounters and are willing to be somewhat flexible with vacations and take kids out of school if it means providing enriching experiences for their children.”
Gen Z

The youngest generation of travelers, born between 1997 and 2012 is most eager to explore during the warmer months. However, they show a greater inclination to embrace winter travel more than any other generation, with fall being their least favorite season.


“This generation will go anywhere, anytime,” says Mosolino, “as long as it’s warm. They want the endless summer in a stunning Instagram-worthy destination.”

We see a lot of them requesting vacations to beautiful resorts or sun-soaked vacations to beautiful islands. Anywhere where the background compliments their outfit of the day and selfies.”
Though Mosolino says Gen Zer’s typically love creating their own experiences, Shelton has seen an up-tick in this group using travel advisors more often. “They’re wanting to get to the destination and jump right into the fun and let someone else do the planning, even if they build in spontaneity while at the destination,” she said.

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.