Born Between 1977-1985? These 'Xennial' Vacation Ideas Are for You
As someone born in 1985, I count myself among the lucky few who still had a childhood filled with outdoor adventures and free of Facebook and Twitter, along with a few brief years before cellphones ruled our lives.
But, despite the fact that I still called my friends on landlines and only “liked” things in real life, I am somehow still considered a “Millennial,” that much maligned generation of apparently selfie-obsessed 20- and 30-somethings. It was a moniker that I never felt fit quite right, which is why I was more than thrilled to learn of a newly-coined term for people like me: Xennial.
Related: Why You Should Only Ever Book a Flight for the Early Morning
As Business Insider explains, anyone born between 1977 and 1985 is generally considered a part of this very special micro-generation that sits at the tail end of Gen-X and at the very beginning of the Millennial age.
And as a Xennial, I can attest to our unique interests and needs, especially when it comes to travel.
Sure, we love a good camping trip to ratchet up the nostalgia for the good ol’ days when iPhones were just a glimmer in Steve Jobs’ eye, but we also love a full-on Instagram-worthy vacation, too.
Xennials like options, including going from bare-bones to luxury in a snap. If you’re a 32-40 year old looking for the perfect getaway keep scrolling to learn about four options that will fit your generational needs like a glove (trust me, I personally tested them all for maximum Xennial enjoyment).
Tulum, Mexico
A post shared by Casa Malca Tulum (@casamalca) on Sep 14, 2017 at 1:04pm PDT
Tulum has become an ultimate hot-spot getaway thanks to its unique location and charms.
About 90 minutes south of Cancún, Tulum offers people of several generations everything they could ever want including world-class dining, outdoor adventure activities, lush white sand beaches and enough picturesque scenery to fill an entire Instagram account.
On a recent trip to Tulum, I explored one of the area’s most unique and Xennial-friendly hotels, Casa Malca. There, visitors can sit by the pool, relax on the hotel’s on stretch of private beach and even stage a photo shoot or two with the hotel’s huge and impressive art collection.
Machu Picchu, Peru
A post shared by Mountain Lodges Of Peru (@experiencemlp) on Oct 16, 2017 at 10:19am PDT
Machu Picchu may be one of the most popular tourist destinations on Earth, but this trip isn’t about the destination, but rather about the journey.
Companies like Mountain Lodges of Peru are making your adventures from point A to point B way more exciting by guiding travelers from lodge to lodge, from Cusco all the way to Machu Picchu, on five or seven-day treks. Each day, visitors will stay in a new, remote hotel and visit a different off the beaten path community along the way. Visitors can choose to either hike or take a drive to their new locations.
This way tourists (Xennial or otherwise) can get to know the country, their culture and their customs, rather than just head to Machu Picchu to snap some Machu-pictures.
Once you arrive at the centuries-old site you’ll have a deeper appreciation and understanding of what you’re looking at (and plenty of memories and photos to boot).
U By Uniworld’s River Cruises
Sure, this new river cruise service by Uniworld is billed as the perfect “Millennial” getaway, but as a Xennial who actually took the trip I can attest to its perfection as an ideal all-inclusive getaway for those in the 21-45 age demographic.
These views are just stunning. And so is #theB ???? #TravelforU
A post shared by U by Uniworld (@ubyuniworld) on Oct 20, 2017 at 12:39pm PDT
The cruise packs a punch when it comes to great service and includes daily brunch and dinner, as well as one city excursion a day to help you not only eat well and live in luxury onboard the ship like a Gen-Xer might love, but will also help you get out and explore the city, taking great social media friendly photos along the way like a true Millennial. The company’s first ship will set sail in Paris this spring with more routes coming in later in 2018.
Havana, Cuba
We know, Cuba has been essentially cut off from U.S. tourists, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t find your way there. If Xennials can do anything, it’s figure out a way around a problem.
A post shared by Chelsea Yamase (@chelseakauai) on Jul 20, 2017 at 9:38pm PDT
In Havana, Xennials will enjoy a bit of time away from modern technology due to the country’s near total lack of internet. There, your cell phones won’t work and neither will your credit cards so be prepared to live totally in the moment.