A recent survey from AAA and Bread Financial finds that 61% of Americans plan to travel in 2026, with 76% of those travelers organizing their trips around significant life milestones such as birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries, a trend led by Gen Z and Millennials who are also adopting new planning and payment strategies.
Travel Driven by Life Events
A new survey by AAA and Bread Financial shows that travel plans for 2026 are increasingly centered on important personal milestones. Of the Americans surveyed, 61% intend to travel for personal, non-work-related reasons in 2026. Among these travelers, 76% report that their trips will be organized around significant life events, including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, and other celebrations.
Younger generations are especially likely to plan travel around these milestones. Nearly 89% of Gen Z and 88% of Millennials who plan to travel in 2026 say their trips will be milestone-focused, compared to 71% of Gen X and 57% of Baby Boomers.
Popular Milestone Events
The survey highlights the types of events most likely to prompt travel. Celebrating a birthday is the most common reason (32%), followed by family reunions (30%), friends’ milestones (29%), anniversaries (22%), and weddings (19%). Other events include graduations (12%), honeymoons (10%), and fitness competitions such as marathons or fun runs (7%).
Generational Differences and Social Connection
While the intention to travel is consistent across age groups, younger travelers are more likely to prioritize milestone events. The survey also indicates that two in five respondents (40%) see milestone travel as a way to reconnect with people they have not seen in some time, and 33% believe these trips strengthen friendships and bonds. Gen Z travelers are more likely to prioritize trips with friends (25%) compared to Baby Boomers (9%).
However, traveling with friends and family can also lead to stress. About 59% of travelers reported experiencing tension or arguments with travel partners. This may influence how far people are willing to travel for special occasions; only 22% are willing to attend a wedding if it is close to home, and just 9% are open to long-haul international trips outside North America.
Travel Planning and Payment Preferences
The survey reveals that travelers are using a range of strategies to manage milestone trips. Nearly half (46%) have used a travel advisor, citing benefits such as finding the best deals (51%), saving time (43%), and having support if problems arise (35%). About a third rely on experts for complex logistics (31%) or to discover less-known destinations (30%).
For payment, debit cards (52%), personal savings (51%), and credit cards (48%) are the most common methods. Younger travelers are more likely to use a mix of payment options, including Buy Now Pay Later services, gift cards, vouchers, travel credits, employer stipends, and loyalty programs. For Gen Z, loyalty points, status, or miles significantly influence travel plans (33%), compared to only 10% of Baby Boomers.
Budget Transparency and Travel Protection
Transparency about travel budgets is common, particularly among groups or couples, with 46% reporting that they openly discuss expenses with travel partners. Thirteen percent prefer to manage finances privately. Most travelers (71%) have purchased travel insurance, primarily for hotel or rental costs, baggage, emergency medical coverage, or non-refundable flights.
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted online with 1,714 U.S. adults aged 18 and older who plan to travel in 2026 for personal, non-work-related reasons. The data was collected between December 15 and 17, 2025.
