Millennial Travel Q&A with Kara!
Your social media feeds are probably full of photos from friends on vacation sharing jaw-dropping views of beaches, mountains, and Michelin-quality meals. That’s because millennials, more than previous generations, are making travel a priority. Through social media, millennials are exposed to more travel destinations, and as we all know, wanderlust can be contagious.
What type of an accommodation do millennials typically book?
Millennials tend to be more experiential, while craving something authentic and different. When booking accommodations, I look for boutique or intimate hotels that cater to guests whose interests are similar to mine, because I enjoy meeting people when I travel. Millennials prefer hotels that are design-savvy, urban, and travel influencer-approved. They prefer to stay at properties trending on social media that are featured in design and architecture publications, and that are at the top of the travel bucket list of destinations.
Talk to us about food - How important is that to a millennial when traveling?
Many millennials seek culinary experiences such as cooking classes, food tours, and more. Andiamo helps to curate unforgettable experiences for our foodie clients, such as macaron making classes in Paris, private dinners on the rooftops of some of the tallest buildings in Dubai, or pasta tours in Rome. As far as simple restaurant reservations go, millennials tend to book hotspots that are sure to crank out some serious food porn. According to Urban Dictionary, food porn is defined as juicy, mouth-watering, high resolution images of incredibly delicious-looking food. Social media tends to influence our restaurant choices. Not only do we choose restaurants for our social feed that offer lip-smacking food, we also look for places our idols go to eat. I tend to make restaurant reservations in advance, after visiting their online menu and reviewing gallery photos. I like to know what I will likely order prior to my arrival, and post photos of the experience to the internet while monitoring the direct messages that roll in.
What is the best way to describe the travel mentality of your peers?
Millennials are adventure-driven and known to work hard and play even harder. Prior to traveling, we tend to search extensively for online content about the location’s traditions, local cuisines, and landmarks. Millennials want to explore all of it! In addition to reviewing a hotel’s website, millennials look at Instagram photos and Youtube videos to become acquainted with the destination in advance. When I travel to a new destination, I want to look like a local by dressing the part, indulging in the cuisine, and experiencing everything the destination has to offer. I actively look for ways to interact with local festivals, parties, and restaurants. Like a true millennial, I look for opportunities in millennial-favorite areas like food, nature, culture, and art.
How influential is social media when traveling or thinking about traveling?
EVERYTHING! With Internet and the proliferation of travel blogs, it’s easy for travelers to obtain information about the best places to go that specifically appeal to them, including food, entertainment, neighborhoods to explore, and nightlife. We prefer to spend discretionary income on experiences rather than possessions, and, therefore, like to go “all out” on vacation. Millennials tend to make the most of their stay by packing in as much adventure, culture, and experiences as possible. If we see some over the top view from a restaurant that keeps popping up on our feed when we search the destination, its likely we will make it a point to get there! As we all know, social proof is a major motivator for how millennials behave. If millennials don’t post the details of their trip on Instagram, did it even really happen?
What is a typical length of stay for a millennial on vacation?
Long weekend trips are typical, so as to take minimal vacation days but hit more destinations.
How many times do millennials travel per year and where do they travel?
According to AARP’s 2019 Travel Trends report, the average millennial plans on taking roughly five trips throughout the year. The most popular domestic travel destinations for American millennials are Florida, California, New York, Texas, and Las Vegas. The top international destinations for millennials include Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia.
As a millennial, I’m looking forward to my next trip to:
While COVID-19 continues to impact travel, I’m looking forward to my upcoming trip to Tulum and San Miguel, Mexico, where I’ll partake in Day of the Dead festivities. At present, Mexico is one of Andiamo’s most booked travel destination due to the limited travel restrictions, and the exciting offers to lure Americans back to its OTT luxury properties. I’m most excited for this trip in particular because it will be a perfect blend of relaxation, nature in Tulum, and culture and art in San Miguel.
Post COVID, when the world gets back to normal and borders begin to re-open, I will be booking a summer trip somewhere in Europe—perhaps Mallorca, at the coveted Cap Rocat, Madrid, at Villa Magna, or Barcelona, at the Mandarin Oriental. Andiamo Travel excels in designing one-of-a-kind, luxurious European travel itineraries.