Millennials have become a hot topic of sorts lately but few people actually know what they are. The term refers to people born after the Gen X generation, with researchers using birth years from 1982 to the early 2000’s. Most people complain about the tendency of Millennials to stay hyper-connected and for not knowing how to live in the moment. We’re also condemned for being narcissistic (note to self: stop taking selfies) — but that’s another story. On the plus side, growing up at the crux of the Digital Age means that we’ll be commended for learning to integrate today’s technology into our everyday lives. True, it seems that sometimes we can’t function without it but so what? We just want to maximize the resources available to us. An area where Millennials excel at doing exactly that is travel.
A survey conducted by Allianz Global Assistance USA predicts that Americans will spend $13.3 billion less on summer vacations in 2015, despite a predicted increase in the number of Americans taking one. This decline is attributed to people between the ages of 18 and 34, who, instead of planning vacations using traditional, expensive methods, are using the Internet to get the more bang for their buck.
Here are a couple tips to traveling like a millennial:
Savings
Our parents might have roughed it in youth hostels to save a few bucks while traveling when they were young, but sites like Airbnb have provided Millennials with another option for saving money. With Airbnb you can find apartments to rent for a few days, or even a few months, in the city of your choice. It’s easy, it’s cheap and if you’re lucky, the owner might give you the real B&B treatment by providing a home-cooked breakfast. www.airbnb.com
Tech Savvy
Depending on your destination, public transportation might be the least expensive option. But if it’s going to be inconvenient or perhaps unsafe, Uber is a great alternative to hailing taxis. With Uber you request a ride and the closest available driver picks you up. What could be easier? Two of Uber’s money saving features are its fare estimate feature, which helps you plan out your transportation expenditures ahead of time, and its split fare feature, which allows you to share an Uber with nearby user for a reduced fare. You can even earn money for future rides by simply inviting friends to download the app for the first time. www.uber.com
Admittedly, we’ve seen some helpful technological advances over time but one thing that remains unchanged is that sometimes things don’t go as planned. My parents warned me never to travel uninsured, and although I hate to say it, parents usually know best. All of the technological innovation in the world can’t prepare you for getting sick or injured abroad. I found this out myself when I was in Prague and needed to see a doctor. If I hadn’t purchased travelers insurance, I would have had to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket for my treatment.
Are Millennials taking the step to buy travel insurance? As a group that places a lot of weight on maximizing resources and is interested in saving money while doing it, it’s seems a no brainer for them to want to protect their travel investment. And as far as cost goes, a travel insurance plan with Allianz can cost as little as 5% of the total cost of your trip. Not only does this cover unforeseen medical expenses and treatment but also the cost of last minute trip cancellations, lost luggage, and even natural disasters or national emergencies. Don’t kid yourself; these are ever more present events in today’s world. You wouldn’t even consider buying an expensive smart phone without getting insurance for it; insuring your next trip is pretty much the same. It’s an investment that protects you, your belongings and your money and even if you’re not a millennial, you’ll be traveling like one. allianztravelinsurance.com
To find out how much foregoing travel insurance could cost you in the long run, check out this interactive tool that tells consumers if insurance is really worth the cost: www.consumeraffairs.com