Contiki recently published a survey with some surprising results. Millennial travelers would be willing to do without some of life’s greatest pleasures if it meant they could travel more. They’d even consider giving up sex.
Contiki asked 1,500 people between the ages of 18 and 35 “What would you give up to travel?”
Their responses were interesting:
- 80% would give up Netflix
- 77% would give up coffee
- 73% would give up alcohol
- 60% would give up carbs
- 57% would give up sex
- 41% would give up cell phones
Kinda takes the whole idea of travel addiction to a level, huh?
Of course, you have to consider the source when evaluating the results of this. Contiki isn’t exactly an objective research firm—it’s a travel booking platform, so naturally you’d expect the results to skew in favor of travel.
But the study does reinforce the results of similar studies, which have found that millennials travel more than any other generation, including Baby Boomers, Gen X-ers and even Gen Z-ers. Research has also found that millennials aren’t as concerned with accumulating wealth or material possessions—They’d rather accumulate fun vacation memories and stamps in their passport instead.
Consider this quote from Forbes:
“Over the past couple of years, several reports have come out that an overwhelming majority of millennials say they prefer to spend their money on experiences over things. Louis Vuitton is out, Vietnam is in.”
I’ve given up a lot in order to travel—postponing marriage, a family and even a career in order to prioritize my many trips and stints living abroad (read: Why I’m Happy I Spent My 20s Prioritizing Travel Instead of a Career). But I don’t know that I’d ever want to give up any of those items on that list—at least not permanently. What about you?
What would you give up to travel?
I would probably give up sex to travel too! 😂
No carbs, though? I’m not so sure about that. 😋