Millennial Travel Trends Set To Disappear in 2025

As traveling habits continue to evolve in the new year, several travel trends for millennials—those born roughly between 1981 and 1996—are on their way out.

Around 80 percent of Americans are planning to take a vacation in the next 12 months, according to the latest edition of the Portrait of American Travelers report, released last month by MMGY.

Newsweek has spoken to a number of experts who have revealed the shifts we can expect to see in the travel landscape among millennials in 2025.

'Sprint' and Spontaneous Travel

Will Lee, a travel agent at Chima Travel, told Newsweek that "by far the biggest trend we are seeing with millennials that is dying out is their tendency to want to 'sprint' through multiple countries while traveling overseas."

Traditionally, millennials would spend just a night or two in cities like Venice, Barcelona or Paris, but now they are opting for slower, more immersive travel experiences to fully appreciate each destination, he noted.

Joe Cronin, the president of International Citizens Insurance, echoed these sentiments, telling Newsweek that short-term, spontaneous trips are also losing their appeal.

"Many individuals are now opting for more intentional, long-term travel planning, influenced by the increasing cost of travel, job flexibility from remote working, and a growing appreciation for immersive experiences," he said.

The 'Deification' of Travel

Ronan McLoughlin, the founder of the Boutique Hotel Hub, told Newsweek: "The deification of travel as a life-defining achievement is set for its final bow in 2025."

Travel was once seen as a marker of "personal growth and cultural sophistication," he said, noting that "millennials will be the last generation for which that is true, and 2025 will cement that hypothesis." This is because travel is no longer a significant status symbol, as the rise of social media has democratized travel, making it less impressive to simply document one's journeys across popular destinations.

McLoughlin said: "Instagram etc. will still be popular but the kind of look at me 'selfie-ing' it around Europe travel flex is now mainly met with eye rolls...nobody is impressed any more. It's dead easy to travel these days and if it's dead easy, meh, who cares?"

'Picture-Perfect' Getaways

Duncan Greenfield-Turk, the founder of Global Travel Moments, observed a shift away from meticulously curated, Instagram-ready vacations.

"One trend that's fading away is the focus on travel that's all about getting the perfect Instagram shot," he told Newsweek, noting that millennials are now prioritizing genuine and meaningful experiences over aesthetically pleasing yet superficial ones.

Mona Molayem, a millennial luxury travel blogger at MonaCorona.com, noted a similar trend. The blogger told Newsweek :"Travel around hyper-photogenic 'nature-scapes' such as seasonal blooms and northern lights will be replaced by travel around other natural phenomena that are not as camera-ready, such as eclipses and bioluminescence."

A stock image of a woman taking a photograph in a scenic mountain setting. "One trend that's fading away is the focus on travel that's all about getting the perfect Instagram shot," one travel expert... iStock / Getty Images Plus

Extreme Budget Travel

Greenfield-Turk mentioned that extreme budget travel is losing popularity among millennials.

"People in their 30s and 40s are now looking for travel that offers real value and quality rather than just the cheapest options," he said.

Kristan De Graaf, CEO at Elite Rentals Dubai, concurred, telling Newsweek that "many millennials who have enjoyed budget travel and staying in hostels might move away from this," gravitating toward comfort, luxury and unique experiences.

De Graaf emphasized the growing trend of seeking out unique adventures that provide a personalized experience beyond mass-market travel.

Millennials are now "more interested in comfort, luxury, and unique experiences," with more "choosing private yacht rentals, high-end hotels, and custom travel packages instead of traditional, low-cost options," De Graaf said.

Solo Journeys

Cronin pointed out that "solo traveling is steadily declining" because of safety concerns, including geopolitical uncertainties, as well as an increasing interest in community-based tourism.

"The focus for millennials is shifting towards group-based travel as it encourages shared experiences and interaction," he said, noting that services offering group tours or coworking retreats have seen an upswing, providing a safer and more socially engaging travel option.

Over-Tourism and All-Inclusives

Ally Gibson, a millennial travel blogger from the YouTube channel Ally Travels who has visited 30 countries, told Newsweek that millennials are moving away from over-tourism.

"More people are looking into sustainable and eco-friendly travel options, as well as finding 'hidden gems' that aren't overrun with tourists," she explained.

Molayem added that "party-centric and social media hotspot destinations like Tulum [in Mexico] or Bali [in Indonesia]" are being replaced by less-traveled neighbors like Guatemala or the wellness-focused Sumba in Indonesia.

Molayem also mentioned a shift away from all-inclusives and influencer-curated trips among millennials, in favor of voluntourism, heritage travel and cultural immersion.

Gibson agreed, noting a growing interest in wellness and mindfulness retreats over the conventional all-inclusive resort experiences, which "can limit the travelers time and ability to have a genuine experience in a location."

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