AS a child, I spent my holidays crammed in a campervan while in rainy Wales, or at a budget kids club at a Spanish resort.
But as an adult, I’ve realised that everything my parents loved about holidays, are nothing like my trips now as a grown up Gen Z.
Kids clubs and pool games made hotel resorts seem exciting as a kid. But now I’m in my twenties, I avoid at all costs[/caption]
That the all-inclusive life is suddenly not so appealing, the buffet food becomes same-y, you’re bored out of your mind at bingo, and actually that kids pool looks quite grimy.
Now we’ve gotten old enough to plan our own travels, Gen-Z are choosing holidays nothing like those loved by our parents.
Adrenaline over All-Inclusives
My Grandad’s favourite thing to do is help himself to a buffet-style breakfast in Benidorm, before setting himself up on a sun-lounger with a good newspaper.
But Gen-Z travellers like me are ditching the plastic wristbands and relaxing resorts for high-adrenaline adventure.
I prefer paragliding to poolside lounging, and backpacking to beach holidays.
I remember getting strapped into my harness on the edge of a mountain in the Swiss Alps.
My heart was hammering, as I waited for the wind to pick up so I could run off the cliff edge.
When I texted my Dad a pic of me dangling 6,500 feet in the air, I think he nearly passed out.
But after years of travelling, I’ve gotten used to lounging by the pool – I need something exhilarating.
And it turns out I’m not alone – 78 per cent of Gen-Z travellers like me want to try more exciting outdoor activities abroad.
Geared up and ready to run off the edge of a cliff![/caption]
The views over Lake Thun in Switzerland were stunning at 6,500 feet[/caption]
“I remember getting catapulted across a waterfall in Canada,” says fellow Gen-Z Sun Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding.
“At first my parents couldn’t believe I did stuff like this – but now they’ve had to get used to it!”
Hostels over Hotels
One hot, stuffy room. Twenty creaky bunkbeds. One guy snoring so loud it shakes the entire building.
I’ve had my stuff stolen, showered with a frog, and shared a room with a woman in L.A. who smuggled in her Jack Russell.
Sounds like a holiday from hell to my parents – but I’ll always pick a hostel bed over a plush hotel room.
Why? Because hostels are always the start of a crazy story. They make unforgettable memories.
My Mum still thinks hostels are dirty, dingy and full of weirdos. But you just don’t get those wild experiences in a hotel.
One survey showed that 75 per cent of Gen-Z and young millennials have stayed in shared accommodation on their travels.
So I know I’m not the only one who thinks it’s worth trading comfort for chaos.
Samesun Ocean Beach is one of the coolest hostels I’ve stayed in – they even run beach yoga classes and rent out snorkel gear[/caption]
Double beds, minibars and flatscreens are boring.
I’ve met people from all over the world in hostel kitchens, bonded over instant noodles at 3am, and ended up on spontaneous trips I never planned.
And if you haven’t brushed your teeth in a bathroom next to a stranger being sick – have you even been travelling?
Plus, you can actually get some really nice hostel stays for cheap.
My favourite London hostel Clink261 costs me as little as £18 a night, plus I’ve stayed in the centre of Paris for just £20 with Generator Hostels.
TikTok advice over Tours
My parents’ idea of the perfect holiday is ticking off the sights from a tour bus, and eating at the top-reviewed restaurants on TripAdvisor.
I couldn’t think of anything worse.
Gen-Z travellers like me are obsessed with chasing cheap food, hanging out with the locals, and steering clear of crowds.
Tour buses and tourist traps are a nightmare. I couldn’t imagine queuing for hours just to climb the Eiffel Tower – especially when TikTok gives you all the best free spots to admire it from!
I learned the best spots to view the tower from on TikTok[/caption]
Similarly, I didn’t care for the top-rated restaurants in Rome.
I paid half the price of the fancy restaurant bill to make my own pasta with a class from Get Your Guide. (£30 to learn from the best? Absolute steal in my eyes).
Why follow an old guidebook when social media is packed with real people sharing their favourite finds?
That’s how I found the pasta class – it was half the price of a meal out for two, and way more fun.
In fact, 97 per cent of Gen-Z use social media as their main source of inspiration – and I have to say, it’s served me pretty well in finding the best secret spots abroad.
So ditch the travel agents and package holidays – try chasing the chaos and culture you can’t find in a brochure.
