Date of publication 02/04/2024
A new generation influencing family vacations How does Gen Z travel?
Understanding how Generation Z travels is like understanding a small part of their emotional universe, and therefore, some of their deepest concerns. In the right family-friendly hotels, your next vacation with teenagers will be full of fun and mutual understanding, as everything is designed in a way that everyone will enjoy. Need ideas on where to travel with teenagers, and tips on how to connect with them? Read on to learn more about Gen Z travel, and be led on a journey of shared discovery.
How does Gen Z travel?
To understand how Gen Z travels, you first need to put yourself in their shoes: what would you want to do if you were their age in an era of social media and artificial intelligence? Young people increasingly value spaces of disconnection that allow them to spend quality time with their loved ones. Therefore, according to recent studies, they prefer short and frequent trips where they can immerse themselves in real and sustainable experiences, discover lifestyles different from their own, and feel part of the local culture through community tourism, with an emphasis on volunteering. Moreover, they prioritize art and nature over partying, though the latter still holds a significant place in their agendas. Music festivals are a great way to combine several of their interests.
And where do they seek inspiration? Generally, through the Instagram and TikTok accounts they follow. They also trust recommendations from acquaintances. Your children might have talked to you about destinations they would like to visit; even about leisure activities they want to do or restaurants they want to try: being proactive is in their DNA. So while older people opt for remote working to see the world, the younger ones want to actively participate in trips with their parents. To make it easy for you to travel with the whole family, kids stay free at Iberostar.
Gen Z's favorite destinations
The beach (and their first music festival) in Mallorca
Another notable point about Gen Z travel is that they tend to prefer the beach over the mountains or a big city. Mallorca, a popular destination in Spain among Gen Zs, meets all the requirements to turn your family vacation into a great plan for teens and parents alike. There, you can disconnect from daily life on paradisiacal beaches and coves engulfed in the magic of the Mediterranean and explore the diverse museums and galleries that are part of the vibrant art scene on the island. Additionally, if you choose to visit at the beginning of summer, you can attend the Mallorca Live Festival, where the daytime concerts are ideal for going with your teenagers.
When you stay at the family-friendly Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park hotel in the Bay of Alcudia, you’ll have easy access to all the fun on the island. Located right on the beachfront, it has specially-designed family rooms, as well as an Aquafun water park, Star Camp kids program, and facilities for cyclists if you’re interested in doing a bike tour along one of Mallorca’s cycling routes.
Surf, sustainability, and new experiences in Morocco
Popular Gen Z travel destinations are also related to adventure and outdoor sports. Most active young people love Morocco with its surfer-friendly and family-friendly atmosphere. Additionally, if your teenagers are interested in sustainable travel, a great idea to complement your water sports days could be signing up for a volunteer activity like cleaning the beaches of plastics or snorkeling to ethically spot marine animals.
Iberostar Waves Saïdia is a five-star all-inclusive resort located on the beach of the same name, in the spa city of Berkane. This coast is ideal for learning to surf due to its gentle waves. With decor inspired by Berber history, the hotel has family rooms, as well as four indoor and outdoor pools, including a children's pool. If you choose to take your next family vacation to North Africa, new and exciting experiences await.
An alternative plan to connect with nature in the Amazon
Another thing that characterizes the way Gen Z travel is the desire to seek alternatives to the usual plans. Organizing a river cruise through Brazil to experience firsthand the customs of its ancestral people, and admire the fauna of the Amazon can be an unforgettable experience that broadens their worldview. The Grand Amazon Expedition, a luxury resort on a cruise ship, offers three itineraries designed to discover the culture and natural environment of the world’s largest river. Its family rooms and suites are suitable for stays with teenagers, where everyone can have their own space to relax and unwind on this exciting expedition—perhaps the first of many they’ll enjoy throughout their lives.
World cuisine (with awareness) in Seoul
Food tourism has become increasingly respectful of the environment and the creatures that inhabit it, and vegan vacations are gaining prominence, with many young people choosing to live these values in their day-to-day decisions and travels. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is at the top of the list of Gen Z travel destinations, where technology, trends, and gastronomy are thriving. In addition to Korean cuisine, which is rich and varied, the city offers a variety of restaurants that allow you and your family to travel across the globe from plate to plate.
With vegan alternatives to typical local dishes and a wide selection of international plant-based delicacies in its buffets and gourmet restaurants, Iberostar hotels prioritize fresh and seasonal ingredients obtained as sustainably as possible. It accommodates one of the greatest concerns of this generation and many families: conscious eating.
Tips for your family trip in the Gen Z era
Involve them in trip planning
In addition to listening to them and considering what they want to do when choosing the destination, hotel, and activities, you can also encourage them to get involved in the trip preparation in other ways, such as packing together. Or ask them to look up information about the customs and history of the destination you are visiting to be able to share it later with the rest of the family. This might spark curiosity about travel and get them excited to learn new things and share them with others.
Choose accommodations that suit you
Selecting the right accommodation is key to ensuring the comfort and well-being of everyone. In hotels with specially designed rooms and facilities such as pools with water slides, leisure areas and activities for guests of all ages, themed restaurants, sustainable spaces, and more, all family members are guaranteed a fun and memorable time.
Propose activities that motivate them
The secret to a happy family vacation might be striking a balance between spending time together doing different activities and time alone. With initiatives like Iberostar’s Star Camp, children and teens can make friends, learn, and have fun while you relax in the spa or with a cocktail by the pool. Star Camp is a kids and youth program based on the theory of multiple intelligences designed to help develop skills through play and interactions with others their age, with a special focus on care for the environment. Children aged 4 to 6 are kept engaged by the Monkey program, those aged 7 to 12 by Dolphin, and teenagers aged 13 to 15 by Eagle. In selected destinations, babies aged 0 to 3 can also be cared for in the Kangaroo program.
Encourage them to spend family downtime (but respect their space)
Now that you know that being together and being present on a vacation with family is not incompatible with Gen Z travel, you have the opportunity to strengthen your bond and create memories that will be ones not only posted to Instagram and TikTok but ones you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Encouraging them to make the most of everything on offer without restricting their personal freedom will make all the difference.
