As Gen-Zers and millennials embrace travel more and more, trends are starting to emerge that are truly unique and distinctive. Aside from trends like grief tourism and quiet vacationing as well as an enduring shift toward eco-friendly travel , young jet-setters prefer destinations with a vibrant party and dining scene. "Gen Z and millennials want to be close to nightlife and restaurants," says Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, also noting they want proximity to city centers and tourist attractions.
Likewise, they're keen to travel to participate in sporting events, she says, like Formula 1 in São Paulo, Brazil. With that in mind, American Express Travel recently released their 2025 Trending Destinations list , with the top ten cities to explore around the world, catering to Gen Z and millennial travelers. Based on their global Card Member travel bookings, the list includes such destinations as the aforementioned São Paulo, Brazil for the Formula 1 experience; Koh Samui, Thailand whose white-sand beaches will soon appear on HBO's "The White Lotus"; and Brisbane, Australia, which offers extensive nightlife and dining options.
The list also features five picks from The Hotel Collection , American Express Travel's lodging program that offers benefits like early check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades when available as well as an $100 credit. From the famous Hotel Barriere Le Grand Hotel Dinard in France to the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho known for its f.