Do Gen Z and millennials dream of the same trips? Not really. A new study shows the two age groups head to quite different places, and money and social media explain a lot of the gap.
Saskia O’Donoghue covered the findings for Euronews Travel on 27 August 2026. The research comes from youth travel firm Adventure360. Here is what it found.
Where Gen Z and Millennials Travel Now
Adventure360 looked at more than 4,700 bookings made between 12 August 2025 and 12 August 2026. It split travellers by age group. Then it worked out what share of each group’s bookings featured a given country. Since one trip can cover several countries, the totals add up to more than 100%.
Thailand is the clear winner for Gen Z. It appears in 29.2% of their bookings, the highest score for either group. Millennials put Australia first at 17.8%, just ahead of Thailand at 17.4%.
Why Gen Z Picks Thailand, Cambodia and Laos
Cost is a big reason. Thailand has long been a backpacker favourite, and Adventure360 says Koh Tao is the cheapest place in the world to qualify as a scuba diver. For more Thai islands, see our guides to Koh Kut and Koh Lipe.
Cambodia and Laos used to be quick add-ons to a Thailand or Vietnam trip. Now, travellers book them on purpose. TikTok plays a part here. For example, clips of people acting out the game Temple Run inside Angkor Wat have passed two million views. Long Beach on Koh Rong went viral after making a list of the world’s ten best beaches. In Laos, Kuang Si Falls also draws millions of views. On top of that, decent rooms in both countries are very cheap.
New Zealand, Visas and Quieter Trips
New Zealand is ninth for Gen Z but missing from the millennial list. The likely reason is its working holiday visa. Many young people aged 18 to 35 can use it for stays of up to 36 months, so lots of millennials are now too old for it.
Gen Z also wants calmer places. According to Skyscanner data cited in the study, 76% would pick a lesser-known spot over a famous one. In addition, 51% have planned a quieter trip to avoid crowds, and one in three say crowds have ruined a past holiday.
Gen Z and Millennials: Who Pays More for Japan and Iceland
Japan, Greece and Iceland only appear on the millennial list, and price helps explain why. Euronews notes that 60% of UK-based Gen Z plan more trips abroad in 2026. However, only 45% plan to spend more on flights, so pricier places drop off their lists.
“A £5 (€5.85) coffee in Reykjavík is a hard sell for Gen Z when the same money covers a bed for the night in Vientiane,” says Jane McLellan-Green of Adventure360. “But millennials are much happier to pay the price.”
Looking for sun on a budget instead? See our best value winter sun destinations.
Top 10 Countries for Gen Z and Millennials
Here are both lists, with the share of bookings that included each country, from Adventure360’s full results.
Gen Z
- Thailand (29.2%)
- Australia (21.7%)
- Indonesia (11.1%)
- Vietnam (10.4%)
- Cambodia (7.0%)
- Laos (6.1%)
- Peru (5.8%)
- Philippines (5.2%)
- New Zealand (5.0%)
- Morocco (3.8%)
Millennials
- Australia (17.8%)
- Thailand (17.4%)
- Philippines (13.4%)
- Japan (8.5%)
- Indonesia (8.4%)
- Peru (7.3%)
- Morocco (6.5%)
- Greece (6.2%)
- Iceland (6.2%)
- Vietnam (5.3%)
Konstantin is an acclaimed travel writer, celebrated for transforming ordinary journeys into extraordinary narratives. With years of experience exploring diverse destinations across the globe, his work blends vivid storytelling, cultural insights, and practical advice to inspire wanderlust and guide readers toward unforgettable adventures.
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