Longing to get away this holiday season but overwhelmed by the options when it comes to where to go? Leaning into the unique travel style and motivations driving your particular generation might help you whittle down the list of destinations.
This year marked the first time in history with seven generations alive all at once. We’re hardly all traveling the same way, nor are we looking to escape to the same destinations during the upcoming holiday travel period.
“The week between Christmas and New Year’s has its own kind of magic,” says Lottie Norman, chief marketing officer of Contiki, a tour company that caters to the 18-to-35 market. Norman calls this time of year the sweet spot when the thrill of the holidays combines with the excitement of a fresh start.
“While older generations might use the week to unwind with family or escape somewhere warm, younger travelers see it as their moment to get out, explore, and squeeze in one last adventure before real life starts up again,” she says.
Tour operator and travel agency Zicasso is seeing “a universal desire across generations to prioritize meaningful connection over mere sightseeing,” including during travels over the holiday periods, says Marci-Beth Maple, senior manager of Zicasso’s advisory team.
But how that’s playing out in bookings and inquiries over this span varies.
“While younger travelers are craving high-energy cultural immersion in destinations like Thailand or Peru, boomers and Gen X are leaning heavily into seamless, stress-free logistics for families and multigenerational reunions, favoring accessible, warm-weather escapes like Costa Rica that keep everyone from toddlers to grandparents comfortable and engaged,” Maple says.
We talked to travel experts for their hot takes on the kind of holiday vacations and destinations that are most appealing right now, for everyone from tech-savvy and Instagram-motivated Gen Zers and practical-planning, immersion-seeking Gen Xers to bucket-listing baby boomers, motivated Matures, and those freshly minted mini passport holders along for the ride.
Matures, why not let a professional outfitter like Abercrombie & Kent take you on an unforgettable holiday season trip through Costa Rica?
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Matures embrace carefree getaways
Matures, born between 1925 and 1945 and also known as the Silent Generation, thanks to their reputation for keeping their heads down and working hard, are known for prioritizing comfort, accessibility, and meaningful milestone celebrations, Maple says.
Short-haul and nonstop flights are particularly appealing to this segment, so the holiday period is a good time for Matures to turn their sights to destinations in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize, she says.
“Our senior travelers are prioritizing ease of logistics more than ever, especially given ongoing concerns around air travel, weather-related disruptions, and access to medical care in the post-pandemic era,” Maple says.
To that end, Matures might consider a tailor-made Costa Rica trip with luxury operator Abercrombie & Kent or an Iconic Italy itinerary through Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Boomers craving Europe without the crowds or summer heat might book a trip to Marbella, Spain, on the country’s southern coast.
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Boomers look to the mountains and the sea
Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) lean into “trip of a lifetime” experiences and embrace multigenerational travel, Maple says. Among the destinations she suggests for keeping adult children and grandchildren engaged during holiday travel while allowing boomers time to relax, too, are places like the Galápagos for nature-loving families and southern Spain for culture and sunshine.
Going’s travel expert, Katy Nastro, says that recent surveys have shown that more than 73 percent of travelers in the older generations look to Europe for the ideal vacation, with boomers leading the charge. She says Italy, in particular, is one of the site’s five most searched international destinations across generations.
Nastro suggests boomers consider holiday travel to destinations in northern Italy, like Milan and the Dolomites, before the region really ramps up for February’s Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
“You’ll even get to see some of the Olympic structures being built and the signage. It’s sort of getting a taste of the Olympics without the Olympics price tag that could come in February,” she says.
Chasing the aurora borealis in northern Norway’s Lofoten Islands could be an epic holiday adventure that Gen X travelers will love.
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Gen Xers are plotting epic trips
The latchkey kids of this generation practically raised themselves, and they know what they want out of a vacation.
When prioritizing travel in their busy lives, Gen Xers (born between 1965 and 1979) are focused on the human connection and feeling immersed in a place during the short bursts of time they can get away, says Paula Vlamings of Tourism Cares, which maintains a Meaningful Travel map to help travelers target community-led experiences around the world.
“They (Gen X travelers) want to really feel like they’re in the place they travel to. And the only way to do that is to travel sustainably and support locally,” Vlamings says.
Holiday trips that appeal to Gen Xers with or without kids might include visiting northern Norway to scout for the northern lights and go dogsledding with women-owned Arctic wilderness operator, Villmarkssenter, in Tromsø, where travelers can also learn more about Northern Europe’s Indigenous Sámi culture. For Gen Xers in need of a warm holiday getaway, Vlamings suggests whale watching, swimming with seals, and glamping on remote beaches in Baja California Sur with Todos Santos Eco Adventures.
Millennials, this is your sign to go all in on the festive season and go holiday-market hopping in Europe. Make sure to hit spots like Frankfurt’s charming Christmas market.
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Millennials seek adventure, authenticity, and festive getaways
Known for craving adventure and authenticity—and not being afraid to post about it—Millennials (born between 1980 and 1994) were the first generation to grow up with smartphones yet tend to embrace nostalgia over the holidays, says Contiki’s Norman.
Those who celebrate Christmas or appreciate a festive atmosphere seek experiences that capture the season’s magic. “From wandering Germany’s Christmas markets to soaking in the festive lights of Paris, they’re turning holiday traditions into memorable escapes,” says Norman.
And with the late-fall and winter holiday season often a more affordable time to travel in Europe than summer is, Millennials can finally tick off those bucket-list destinations without stretching their budgets, she says.
Along with their Gen Z counterparts, Millennials lean into immersive, local experiences that connect them to culture and community, says Melanie Fish, vice president of communications at Expedia Group.
A popular destination that fits that bill any time of the year, Mexico City really shines over the holiday period, Fish says.
“There’s a Christmas market, ice-skating rinks, live music, dance, and colorful light displays in the Plaza de la Constitución. While you’re there, attend a Lucha Libre match, where wrestlers wear Christmas-themed masks,” she suggests.
Holidays stressing you out? Here’s an idea for Gen Z: Take off to Thailand.
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Gen Z is up for far-flung destinations
Digital natives who value authenticity, Gen Zers (born between 1995 and 2009) are known for their get-up-and-go attitude when it comes to travel, says Dana Manacher, Founder and CEO of Shrtlst, a membership-based travel-itinerary planning service.
“Gen Zers are definitely a lot more spontaneous and are not afraid of any offbeat destinations, and they’re also really, really keen on having shareable moments that they can share on social media,” she says.
And while Gen Zers are still targeting traditionally popular spots like Aspen in Colorado, Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, St. Barths in the Caribbean, Miami, and Paris, they’re also venturing to places like Todos Santos on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, South American destinations, and Thailand over the holiday period, too, Manacher says.
Maple concurs, pointing to Peru, Costa Rica, Thailand, and Japan as attractive holiday travel options for Gen Z, thanks to a diverse mix of wildlife, hiking, street food, and local encounters.
“Fast-paced, high-energy itineraries dominate, though this generation is able to slow down when engaging in hyperlocal, immersive experiences,” she adds.
With limited vacation time, many Gen Zers are traveling solo, too, embracing the freedom to discover, connect, and celebrate the holidays their own way, says Norman.
“They’re drawn to far-flung spots where they can avoid the crowds and make the most of their budget, from exploring Egypt and Japan to enjoying warm-weather escapes in Thailand and Argentina,” she says.
There are some extremely kid- and baby-friendly safari experiences in South Africa for families with little ones in tow.
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Family-friendly ideas for Gen Alpha and Gen Beta
With decision-making still in its infancy among Gen Alph and Gen Beta, the seasoned travelers shepherding the newest generations out into the world have their sights on kid-focused family travel, Maples says.
“Gen X and Millennial parents traveling with young children are placing a high priority on seamless logistics, family-friendly accommodations, and plenty of outdoor time,” she says, giving high marks to family-friendly wildlife experiences in places like Costa Rica and South Africa.
