Gen Z adopts multigenerational travel trends

Gen Z is increasingly embracing multigenerational travel, shifting away from traditional solo or peer-based backpacking toward vacations with parents and grandparents. According to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2026 report, these family-oriented trips are becoming a defining characteristic of new tourism habits. In the United States, more than half of Gen Z individuals report vacationing with their parents.

This trend is driven by both economic necessity and a desire for emotional connection. Financial pressures, including high living costs and precarious job markets, play a significant role; nearly one-third of young people cite savings as a primary motivator. A Bank of America and Ipsos study indicates that almost half of twenty-somethings live paycheck to paycheck.

Social media, particularly TikTok, has helped destigmatize these trips through the “loud budgeting” trend, where young adults openly discuss financial limits. Rather than feeling forced into family vacations, many Gen Z travelers are actively choosing them to build authentic memories and strengthen family bonds.