Key Takeaways
- SimCorner was featured in the news.com.au article about the “suitcase of mum and dad” movement, a growing Gen Z travel trend.
- Family and multigenerational travel is on the rise, with shared costs making international trips more attainable — as revealed in SimCorner’s 2025 survey findings.
- Gen Z values overseas travel and cultural immersion more than older generations, but faces sharper financial barriers.
- Affordable connectivity, like SimCorner’s SIMs and eSIMs, is essential for smooth coordination, safety, and sharing experiences abroad.
When news.com.au explored Gen Z’s latest travel trends, they drew on SimCorner’s survey insights and spoke with Shehbaz Shaikh, SimCorner’s Co-Founder and CEO. The feature highlighted the so-called “suitcase of mum and dad” movement — a growing pattern of young Australians joining family itineraries instead of travelling solo.
This coverage points to a bigger reality: while Gen Z are among the most travel-hungry generations, rising costs are reshaping how they explore the world. From shorter trips and budget destinations to the rise of family and multigenerational travel, affordability is redefining the next generation’s approach to seeing the world.
Gen Z and Travel
According to global travel research, people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s are more likely than older cohorts to prioritise overseas trips. They also rank higher in valuing experiences such as cultural immersion and authentic encounters abroad, compared with Millennials and Gen X.
Born into a hyper-connected world and constantly exposed to new destinations via social media, Gen Z’s appetite for travel is not surprising. But there’s one undeniable obstacle standing in the way of wanderlust: cost.
Many Gen Zers are still at the start of their careers, often earning even less disposable income than Millennials did when they were the same age. Rising costs of living and weaker purchasing power mean that while the desire to explore is stronger than ever, financial realities often force compromises. Independent, solo travel — long associated with youth and self-discovery, and eagerly embraced by Millennials — is far less accessible to today’s cost-conscious Gen Z.
Cost as the Biggest Barrier
SimCorner’s 2025 survey of 4,000 international travellers revealed that 46% had adjusted their holiday plans due to the cost-of-living crisis. To manage expenses, many shortened their trips, shifted to more affordable destinations, or postponed travel altogether.
Among Gen Z, the cost factor is even more decisive. Broader industry research shows that price isn’t just another variable — it is the dominant force shaping their travel choices. More than half of Gen Z travellers report cutting back on trips, not because of safety concerns, sustainability, or time constraints, but because financial realities leave them little choice.
Gen Z and the Rise of Family Travel
While affordability is reshaping travel choices, it hasn’t diminished Gen Z’s determination to see the world. Instead, they’re adapting — and one of the clearest shifts revealed in SimCorner’s survey is the rise of family travel.
Our data shows a rise in young Australians travelling with parents or family members, sharing costs from accommodation and meals to transport. In some cases, parents even subsidise expenses to make overseas trips possible. This pattern, dubbed the ‘suitcase of mum and dad’ movement in the news.com.au article reflects a pragmatic strategy: pooling resources allows Gen Z to access cultural immersion and authentic experiences abroad, even when solo travel is financially out of reach.
Living arrangements also influence the trend. Many Gen Z adults remain at home longer than previous generations, meaning that travel planning and bookings would often involve their parents and siblings. Increasingly, it is Gen Z who take the lead in organising these trips — using digital tools, comparison platforms, and even AI trip planners — while parents provide the financial underpinning.
The benefits go beyond affordability. Multigenerational travel fosters shared experiences, strengthens family bonds, and allows younger travellers to see the world without sacrificing the depth or authenticity they seek.
Smarter Travel, Smarter Connectivity
At SimCorner, we see these shifts play out every day. For Gen Z and Zillennials, staying connected abroad isn’t optional — it’s essential. From navigation and instant messaging to documenting experiences on social media, mobile data underpins every stage of their journey.
That’s where our international SIMs and eSIMs come in. By providing affordable, reliable data across Europe, Asia, and beyond, we help eliminate one of the hidden burdens of international travel: expensive roaming fees.
Connectivity becomes even more critical in the context of family or group travel. Many SimCorner eSIMs and SIM cards allow hotspot and data sharing, making it easy for everyone to stay online without juggling multiple roaming plans or paying inflated costs. The result is smoother coordination, safer travel, and richer experiences — whether it’s booking last-minute tickets, navigating a new city, or sharing memories in real time.
Travel Is a Timeless Pursuit
The desire to travel endures, even as the ways it’s pursued evolve — shaped by technology, lifestyles, generational habits, and economic realities. Rising costs and shifting expectations are redefining how trips are planned and experienced, pushing the travel industry to innovate while keeping the spirit of adventure alive.
At SimCorner, we support this evolution by providing affordable, reliable connectivity through our SIMs and eSIMs, helping the next generation explore the world on their own terms.
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