This generation is all about chasing inspiration from TikTok, using AI to plan trips, and taking feel-good trips that don't cost the earth. But with fewer years in the workforce, savvy spending is a priority. In this report, we unpack key travel stats for Gen Z.

Value comes first

Gen Z isn’t staying put - they’re just getting smart about how far their money can go.

This is a generation that scans flight prices like it's second nature and knows that travelling more often doesn’t have to mean spending more. They’re not splashing cash, they’re stretching it - swapping big-budget blowouts for smart, smaller adventures that add up to a life well-travelled.

• 60% of Gen Z Brits say they’ll go abroad more in 2026, but only 45% plan to splash extra cash on flights. ¹

• Across the globe, 52% of Gen Z travellers take at least three leisure trips per year. ²

• 62% of Gen Z use apps and digital platforms to find better deals. ³

• Over a third (35%) of Gen Z in the UK made financial sacrifices for their last holiday and nearly half (48%) say skipping a takeaway is worth it if it gets them closer to their next trip. ⁴

• When travelling, 38% of young Brits are willing to swap plush pillows for budget stays if it helps stretch their holiday budget further. ⁴

• When it comes to funding the trip, 21% of global Gen Z travellers rely on credit card rewards and 46% rely on their parents to help pad their travel budget. ³

• In fact, 28% of Gen Z Brits are motivated to travel with their family to save money. ¹

• With price playing such a big role in travel plans, 59% of Gen Z Brits feel confident that they know how to get the cheapest holiday deals. ⁴

• 32% of Gen Z in the UK favour a package holiday in 2026, with 62% of those citing cost as the main reason. ⁵

Stress and spontaneity

Despite their savvy money-saving and travel-planning skills, Gen Z are not immune to stress when planning trips.

Limited budget, fluctuating prices, and an endless source of social media travel inspiration might make travel planning feel more like a juggling act than a dream within reach. And when too many options lead to decision overload, it’s no surprise some Gen Z travellers hit pause before they ever hit ‘book’.

• 76% of Gen Z in Britain find visa requirements stressful when planning travel. ⁶

• 60% of the UK's Gen Z find booking travel overwhelming - compared to 44% of all travellers. Costs cause the most stress (60%), but choosing where to go isn’t far behind (43%). ⁴

• 50% of young British holiday makers headed into 2026 without having booked travel as they were still deciding on a destination. ⁴

• It’s not just indecisiveness stopping booking; 17% feel overawed by options while only 10% are waiting on last minute deals. ⁴

• Despite an overall desire to travel more, 36% of Gen Z struggle to use up their allocated annual leave in a year – that’s higher than the 20% average across all age groups in Britain. ⁴

Tech savvy travellers

Gen Z didn’t just notice AI, they welcomed it with open apps.

This is a generation that grew up chatting with algorithms and swiping through suggestions, so it’s no surprise Gen Z are using AI for travel planning. AI can help simplify the process, from revealing where to go when, suggesting things to do within a traveller’s budget, and even making bookings. Gen Z has taken note.

• Globally, over 80% of Gen Z use smartphones to research and book their trips. ⁷

• 51% favour online travel agents and direct online channels over traditional travel agents. ⁸

• Only 38% of Gen Z travellers globally use traditional travel agents. ⁹

• Based on a Skyscanner survey, 46% of people in the UK say they feel confident using AI to help plan and book travel – this rises to 58% for Gen Z (up from 38% a year ago). ¹ ⁺ ¹⁰

• 42% of Gen Z are planning to use AI for destination research while 34% say they will use it to compare flight and hotel options. ¹

• Almost 1 in 5 (17%) intend to use AI to book accommodation in 2026 but only 8% plan to use it to book car hire. ¹

• It’s not all about tech, though. Almost a third of young Brits (32%) believe that planetary and lunar activity, like Mercury Retrograde and full moons, impacts their holiday. ¹⁰

From swipes to skies

Inspiration starts with a casual scroll and ends at 30,000 feet.

Whether it’s finding new places to go, planning the details or getting recommendations on where to eat and stay, social media plays a major role. And Gen Z is not just consuming content, they’re creating it too. Finding a spot that’ll spur likes and shares adds an extra layer of motivation on where to go.

• Skyscanner research found TikTok is the most popular source of travel inspiration for Gen Z in the UK (59%) followed by Instagram (51%). Only 11% are inspired by podcasts and 26% by film and TV (down from 35% in 2025). ¹ ⁺ ¹⁰

• Most (88%) Gen Z travellers globally follow at least one travel influencer on TikTok, and 45% trust influencer recommendations. ⁹

• 46% of this generation post their travels on social media, and 43% of them are prioritising trips that look good on the ‘gram. ³

• However, IRL interaction is still important; 45% of UK Gen Z travellers get into the summer holiday mood by talking about summer plans with friends, only 21% get into the holiday mood by sharing social content with friends. ¹¹

• Gen Z women are inspired to travel solo, with 83% of them saying solo female travel content on social media has inspired them to venture out alone. ³

• While social media dominates, there’s room for other influences too. 18% of Britain’s Gen Z have booked a trip after being inspired by literary content – the global average across all ages is just 11%. ¹

Experience over everything

Whether it’s making new connections, satisfying a hunger to try new foods or catching flights to see new bands, Gen Z prioritises experiences.

Gen Z prize passport stamps over possessions and are open-minded when it comes to embracing a new culture. When travelling you can find them grooving to the beat of band they’re hearing for the first time or enjoying local cuisine. There’s even time for forming new relationships too.

• Globally, 65% of Gen Z cite seeing the world as the most important way to spend their money. ³

• They’re foodies! A global survey conducted by Skyscanner found food to be the most important factor (61%) for Gen Z when picking a holiday destination – that’s higher than the weather (57%) and the shopping (39%). ¹

• Half (49%) of young Brits head for local supermarkets when on holiday to discover foods they can’t get at home, with 44% saying it’s one of the best ways to understand local culture and palate. ¹

• It’s not just food that fills their suitcases; 36% of Gen Z Brits say they’ve snapped up local beauty products abroad - the kind you can’t get back home in the UK. ¹

• When on holiday, this generation are also more likely to seek particular cultural experiences than their elders too - one-in-five (21%) of Gen Z Brits are planning to go to a gig or concert when travelling in 2026 and 15% intend to go visit a library or bookshop. ¹

• Over a quarter (28%) of the UK's young holidaymakers have travelled overseas specially to meet new people. ¹

Getting their R&R

Wellness over wild nights - Gen Z prioritise feel-good travel.

As a global trend, Gen Z seems to be more focussed on health and wellness activities, even going so far as to popularise ‘dry holidays,’ trips where they don’t consume alcohol. Millennials might’ve indulged in party tourism, but Gen Z prefers to get a full night of sleep, focussing on daytime adventures and relaxation.

• 93% of Gen Z say travel improves their mental wellbeing, with 90% returning from a trip feeling less anxious and more positive than when they left. ³

• 81% also feel holidays are helpful in building resilience and leave them better able to handle life’s daily stresses. ¹⁰

• 73% plan trips specifically for wellness benefits like relaxation or self-care activities. ³

• Half of Gen Z choose hotels based on their wellness offerings, like offering yoga classes or having a gym or spa, on work trips. ⁹

• In fact, over a third of Gen Z in the UK plan to visit a spa or salon on their next holiday. Also, 15% are packing their mats for yoga or meditation - that's substantially higher than the 5% of Boomers who plan on joining them. ¹

• Gen Z drinks significantly less alcohol than Millennials on holiday, preferring sightseeing to pub crawls. ⁹

• Globally, they're also more likely to keep up with health and wellness routines (39%) than overindulge when on holiday (24%). ¹⁰

• J.R.R. Tolkien may have written 'not all those who wander are lost' but wandering Gen Z get lost in books - 70% of young Brits say it’s important to have reading time while travelling. ¹

• Travelling to a Blue Zone, where people tend to live longer, inspires 65% of UK Gen Z travellers. ¹⁰

Conscious choices

Reshaping travel with every conscious choice and lower-impact itinerary.

More than half of Gen Z travellers say they’re willing to pay extra to help lessen the environmental impact of their trips. And we’re not just talking about ticking the “eco-friendly” filter and calling it a day. These travellers are actively steering away from overtouristed hotspots, seeking out stays that skip the single-use plastic, and swapping high-emission activities for grounding days spent in nature.

• In the UK, 76% of Gen Z are open to choosing a less well-known destination versus an overly popular one and 51% have actively planned to visit a quieter, less crowded destination due to concerns about crowding. ¹¹

• 1 in 3 of the UK’s Gen Z say they have felt overcrowding has negatively impacted the quality of their holiday. ¹

• The majority (56%) of Gen Z prefer to support companies that are environmentally responsible, even if it costs more. ³

• Globally, this is a generation that's drawn to nature when they travel. Compared to other age groups, they’re more likely to plan outdoor activities on holiday - like hiking (29%), wildlife spotting (27%), and water sports such as wild swimming (31%). ¹

• 79% of young Brits are either planning to or would consider booking a summer or autumn trip to a mountain destination in 2026, with 53% saying it’s the peace and quiet that most appeals. ¹

• Out of all generations, Gen Z globally is more likely to actively seek hotels with strong environmental credentials, with 56% preferring to stay in eco-friendly accommodations. ³

• Stopping and smelling the flowers is a hit with Gen Z travellers from the UK, with the majority (59%) stating they either like or love visiting gardens while on holiday. ¹⁰

How Gen Z travels: smart, soulful, and more sustainably conscious

With a budgeting app in one hand and an AI trip planner in the other, Gen Z are hacking their way to the kind of travel that actually means something.

It’s not about ticking off tourist traps. It’s about soul-filling, story-worthy experiences - the kind you find watching sunrise from a mountain hut or swapping books with strangers in a Balkans hostel.

Wellness matters. So does making more sustainable choices. And while their budgets might be tight, their values are non-negotiable. They’ll stretch a Pound (or a Peso) to afford eco-conscious stays, wild swims, and low-impact adventures that align with their ideals.

They favour moments over monuments. Nature over noise. Curated chaos over cruise control. And yes, their itinerary might’ve started on TikTok - but their journey is 100% their own.

Sources

1. Skyscanner research conducted using OnePoll for 2026’s Travel Trends report in June 2025 with 22,000 respondents globally (2,000 UK respondents).

2. apti.com

3. condorferries.co.uk

4. Skyscanner research conducted using OnePoll in November & December 2025 with 23,000 respondents globally (2,000 UK respondents).

5. Skyscanner research conducted on package holidays with OnePoll in January 2026 with 2,000 UK respondents.

6. Skyscanner research conducted using OnePoll in November & December 2024 with 20,000 respondents globally (2,000 UK respondents). Gen Z responses are from those aged 18 – 24 at the time of being surveyed.

7. Forbes

8. Kleber Group

9. travelperk.com

10. Skyscanner research conducted using OnePoll for 2025’s Travel Trends report with 20,000 respondents globally (2,000 UK respondents). Gen Z responses are from those aged 18 – 24 at the time of being surveyed.

11. Skyscanner research conducted using OnePoll in March & April 2025 with 20,000 respondents globally (2,000 UK respondents). Gen Z responses are from those aged 18 – 24 at the time of being surveyed.