‘I’m young and lit so why save for a house?’ Arlo O’Callaghan speaks to six Gen Zs about their summer 2024 travel plans, how they are funding their trips and who they will be going with.
Generation Z are becoming the world’s most powerful consumer group, with a population of over two billion we will make up 27 per cent of the global workforce by 2025. With this, we also seem to have quite unpredictable consumer habits, specifically when it comes to travel.
Over half (52 per cent) of Gen Z adults are considered frequent travellers, taking at least three leisure trips annually. I spoke with six of my peers in the UK about their summer travel plans and their relationship with spending and saving, and a common attitude revealed itself.
The looming instability of future finances seems to have given priority to shorter-term savings goals such as like travel. We seem to be leaning towards more frequent and casual habits, staying with friends, visiting family and taking multiple trips per year.
We are also keeping in mind the effect of sustainable travel and working with local communities. According to the European Travel Commission, Gen Z travellers are more likely to gain cultural benefits from their travel and contribute to the local area they visit too.
As a 21-year-old frequent traveller, I myself often opt for budget accommodation in hostels or stay with friends internationally. This summer I will be spending a week in Berlin, Germany, at a friend’s apartment to celebrate CSD (Berlin Pride) and catch up with friends. My trip will consist of lake days and a few club nights but mostly socialising and soaking up the city.
Six British Gen Z traveller case studies:
Shaniya (they/she)
Age: 23
City of residence: London
Occupation: Student and freelancer
Destination: Portimão, Portugal
Shaniya spoke about their impending trip to Portimão, Portugal, for the Afro Nation music festival with their university friends and housemates. They will be spending three days at the festival and four exploring the Algarve and taking a day trip to Lisbon. She hopes to spend her time in the Algarve surfing, visiting the Bengali Caves and perhaps even paragliding.
While in Lisbon, they’ll be thrifting, looking for jewellery and enjoying Portuguese food. Including their £400 ticket to Afro Nation, Shaniya expects to be spending £1,500 on this trip including flights, hotel accommodation and spending money.
They mentioned that they don’t opt for party holidays very often, continuing that their friends had originally planned to visit the Dominican Republic yet hoped Portugal would be a more affordable alternative. However, Shaniya admits upon reflection the trips would have amounted to a similar price.
They’ll be funding this trip through their work as a freelance creative and university bursary and will be preparing by getting their hair and lashes done before they go. They also stated that in the week before heading to Portugal, they will be in Paris for Fête de la Musique. They confessed to having a bad relationship with money, prioritising short-term spending like travel. In her own words: “I’m young and lit, so why am I saving for a house?”
Defne (she/her)
Age: 21
City of residence: London
Occupation: Student
Destination: Ankara/Izmir, Turkey
As an international student, Defne will be heading home to Turkey this summer to visit family and friends for two weeks. She will be staying in a few areas including Ankara, Izmir, and some smaller seaside towns with immediate and extended family. She admits to feeling a little homesick, craving the sun and a sea swim which prompted her to book this trip. Defne is just finishing her master’s degree, and with some free time alongside writing her dissertation, she’s looking to take in the sea air and find some peace in reading, writing and drawing on the beach to figure out her next steps post-grad and reset.
To prepare she will have her hair freshly cut and coloured, will be buying swimsuits, sunglasses and film for her camera, and is writing up a list of books to bring with her. She believes she will spend around £1,100 on this trip, most of which was spent on her flights which cost £600, and is funding this through savings put aside from an internship at a pharmaceutical company last year. Defne spoke about how she doesn’t feel like she spends much whilst travelling, she eats at affordable restaurants and chooses fewer tourist activities to avoid spending unnecessary money.
Nova (she/her)
Age: 21
City of Residence: London
Occupation: Record label supply chain co-ordinator
Destination: Lake District, UK
Nova, 21, is heading to the Lake District with her mum and dad this August. She lives at home and works full time, as does her mum, whilst her dad is retired. They’re hoping to find some quality family time and relaxation away from the noise of London. They’ve chosen to stay in an Airbnb over a hotel so they can cater to her Dad’s dietary requirements. As for budget, Nova said they plan to spend roughly £800 on this trip which will be split three ways. Nova explained that they’re a very free-spirited family, they don’t have much of an itinerary but are going to see what they want to do once they arrive.
In terms of savings, Nova recognises that as a Gen Z in the Western world, she is very lucky to be able to travel, especially with friends, so she wants to take advantage of that. Earlier this year she travelled to New York with friends for one of their birthdays. As someone working full time at a young age, she likes to balance living within her means and putting a little money aside for the future but dedicates a fair amount to travelling. She spoke about how she is in no rush to move out, appreciating the strong and caring familial base she has, attributing that mostly to Filipino culture, which helps her afford her travels.
Khyon (he/him)
Age: 19
City of residence: London
Occupation: Musician/bartender
Destination: Barcelona, Spain
Khyon is travelling to Barcelona this summer to stay with his boyfriend who is living in University accommodation there. Khyon has been hoping to visit Spain for a while and is looking forward to exploring the cafes and thrift shops and enjoying the authentic Spanish cuisine. He spoke on wanting to travel consciously, aiming to support local small businesses as much as he can, especially when looking for restaurants to find the best tapas spots.
Following the convenience of his boyfriend residing there, Khyon admits he is also drawn to Barcelona as a creative hub to afford him some soul-searching and inspiration as a musician. He paid for his flights with the money from a recent gig he organised and performed at and will be using his earnings as a bartender to spend money on food, thrifting and nightlife.
Khyon presented a relaxed attitude to budgeting stating: “I don’t actually have any budget, I’m just kind of like ‘live, laugh, love’ and go out there.” He admits to not saving money, booking most trips a few weeks in advance and enjoying frequent casual travel when he can afford it with his disposable income.
Laila (she/her)
Age: 21
City of residence: London
Occupation: Retail stylist/sales associate
Destination: Medina, Saudi Arabia
Laila will be travelling with her husband and their daughter to Medina, Saudi Arabia to visit family and make the pilgrimage to Mecca. It will be Laila’s first time out of the country since pregnancy and her husband and child’s first time taking part in the Umrah journey. Laila is looking for a change of scenery, good weather and to spend time together as a family unit. She speaks fondly of the way of life in Saudi, excited for a breath of fresh air, living simply and revolving the day around prayer times.
She knows that it might be stressful travelling with a toddler but as they will be staying with her mum, she is also looking forward to spending quality time with her husband whilst her mum is with their 20-month-old. As her family have offered to pay for their flights and the only accommodation they will be paying for will be a one-night stay in Mecca, Laila said their budget falls at around £400.
To prepare for their trip, Laila will be organising visas, flights and vaccinations, as well as stocking up on sunscreen and bug repellant. On travel habits and savings, Laila spoke about how she saves as much as she can whilst running a household but they fairly frequently take short domestic trips to visit family within the UK.
Fenn (they/he)
Age: 24
City of residence: London
Occupation: Sexual health advisor
Destination: Dorset, UK
Fenn will be visiting Dorset for three days this summer with seven friends from university. They will be staying in a friend’s family home and are looking forward to a wholesome one-year reunion in a seaside village. Fenn spoke about preferring smaller budget trips within the UK. They would like to explore more of what’s on their doorstep and see the beauty of the country while also prioritising putting savings into an emergency/rainy day fund. In Dorset, he is looking forward to catching up with friends and spending time with them.
Their holiday will likely consist of trips to the beach, picnics, playing cricket, board games and cooking together. They will be celebrating one of their friend’s birthdays and also be taking a trip to explore some local historical ruins. Fenn’s budget falls under £100, with no accommodation fee they will be spending their budget on train tickets, a meal out and their share of the grocery shop and petrol fund. He is hopeful for a restful and sunny few days in picturesque surroundings reconnecting with friends.