6 Reasons Why Millennials Make The BEST Travelers

They say Millennials are irresponsible and impulsive. We’re constantly being told not to disrupt the status quo and to fall in line. But this is our time, and we’ve decided to live life on our own terms. We don’t want to be the mirror image of the ones that came before us. We’re carving out our own path and uniting the world.

Traveling is but one of many ways that we’re leaving our historical footprint. Why? Because it makes us feel alive.

It takes us a few steps closer to the discovery of our place in the world. It takes our breath away, then turns us into writers, photographers and storytellers. It keeps the dreamers dreaming. And even as we age, we will forever remain youthful at heart.

Past generations prioritized stability, safety and comfort as they spent their lives planning for the future. That’s not to say that we completely disregard tradition and all the good our predecessors have done. We’re thankful and appreciative.

Yet, we are young, enthusiastic and actively rejecting the standards that have been set for us.

We build long, seemingly irrational bucket lists–lists that only get longer every time we check things off. Our goals, no matter how wild or lofty, are still well within reach, and so we set out into the world step by step with our eyes on the horizon.

A life of fulfillment is all we really want. We want to seize the day in as many places as possible. We want to drink the sun and bask in the vastness of the world as it is, if only for a little while. Millennials have come to the collective realization that if ever there was a time to see the world, that time is most certainly now. Which is why we, the millennial generation, are the absolute best at traveling.

1. We’re impatient.

We don’t want to wait until we’ve settled into our careers. We don’t want to wait until we’re married with kids and have a burdensome mortgage. And we definitely don’t want to wait until retirement.

Why should we? The future isn’t guaranteed. It never has been and it never will be.

We approach life with a sink or swim attitude because both options are better than never leaving the shore. The world is ours for the taking, and we want it all.

2. We’re flexible.

So what if we’re a little entitled? That doesn’t mean we aren’t willing to compromise. We don’t have to stay in five star hotels or fly first class or eat at Michelin series three star restaurants (although it doesn’t hurt once in a while).

Most of us are open to living out of a backpack, booking last minute economy class flights and eating two-dollar street food from whichever city we happen to be in. We know that the journey is more important than the destination.

If skimping on flight and accommodation perks is all it takes for us to get out and see this big beautiful world of ours, then we’re on board.

3. We embrace the unknown.

Despite what mass media would have us think, we know there is good in the world. We firmly believe that our differences are worth celebrating, not devaluing. Rewarding experiences mean the world to us, and that’s what drives us out of our comfort zones.

We acknowledge that only so many lessons can be learned between the pages of a textbook.

We traverse the world, not only to large metropolitan cities, but also to small villages and remote islands. We hike to the peak of mountains and through the depths of valleys. We scour the earth in search of the countless lessons that must be lived, not lectured.

4. We’re not as materialistic as you think.

Millennials don’t race around the world collecting cheesy souvenirs from every country we visit. Sure, most of us have smartphones, cameras, laptops and tablets, but that’s a byproduct of our technologically advanced society, not an obsession with material gain.

We make the best travelers because we collect moments. Human connection, self-discovery and genuine experiences are what we crave.

When we’re old and grey, we won’t look back on our lives with regret. We’ll look back with bright eyes and wide smiles as we revisit our multicolored memories.

5. The world is at our fingertips, literally.

Technology is what we do. Think about it, Millennials have turned most of the world into a giant digital playground. We create and share information quickly and seamlessly thanks to an infinite amount of gadgets.

What does that have to do with traveling? Everything.

At any given moment, we have access to millions of apps that take care of almost anything our wanderlust-filled hearts desire: maps, planning, photography, food, hook-ups, languages, entertainment, productivity, transportation and networking. We’ve got it all covered.

6. We don’t believe in boredom.

Ever heard of social media? We’ve mastered it. If we’re uncertain about where to eat, party or do once in a lifetime activities, we take it to the Twitter or Facebook universe and get suggestions in a matter of seconds, in real time.

We take full advantage of our resources to make sure boredom is never an option. We live it, record it, share it and keep the cycle of love, fun and adventure going. We’re one big, happy, travel savvy family.