Vacationing is one of the greatest aspects of adulting. After working tirelessly for months at a time, spending a week or a long weekend at a tropical paradise can be just what someone needs to replenish and relax. However, for a variety of reasons, millennials aren’t using their vacation days as much as other generations, leaving an estimated $1.3 trillion worth of wasted vacation on the table each year.
Staying true to their unconventional ways of doing things, there is one vacation destination that millennials are pondering while everybody else is a definite no: a vacation in space.
According to a new Pew Research Center study, 63% of millennials (who are now in their 20s and 30s) would be game for a vacation to space. The study found that millennials were the most interested generation in space tours, followed by 27% of Baby Boomers, and only 10% of Generation Xers.
For potential space tourists of the future, the most common reason given for wanting to go on a trip to space was a desire to do something unique. “I’m all about experiences,” said Seth Buckner, a 22-year-old who is taking a few months off following his college graduation in May.”So going to space would be a dream for me. I would 100% be the first one to go if I had the money for it.”
Money seems to be the root of the issue for just about every vacation, too. Approximately 77% of travelers (78% of Americas) cited the “estimated price of total vacation” as their top concern when choosing a beach designation. Today, there are national airports located within 31 states, but you don’t have to be interested in space travel to be priced out of the vacation market.
Here are some reasons why domestic and international vacations of all kinds are becoming far too expensive:
- Airfare — Whether you’re flying to space or staying within the earth’s atmosphere, the flight you’re taking is still going to be quite expensive. Unless you’re planning on vacationing in a spot that’s within walking distance, you’re going to have to shell out some serious coinage to get there safely.
- Resort fees — Though there aren’t any space resorts (yet), the majority of vacationers tend to stay in these expensive buildings throughout their trip. Some resort fees can run as high as $75 a day or more on top of lodging costs.
- Activities — Unless you’re going on vacation to literally sit inside your hotel or resort, you’re most likely going to have to spend a lot more money on activities. You’re not just going to vacation in space without shelling out a few extra bucks for a moon bounce excursion, right?
Luckily, there are a few great ways to turn an otherwise ridiculously expensive trip into a more manageable and affordable vacation, and that’s true wherever you want to go. Here are some simple ways to save money on your next terrestrial vacation:
- Open a travel bank account.
- Create a travel email account and sign up for price alerts at hotels and airlines.
- Sign up for apps that automatically add money into your savings account each week.
- Get a side hustle for some extra income.
- Prepare your own meals. The less you dine out now, the more you can dine out on vacation.
Whether you’re traveling into space or to Disneyland, make sure you’re saving up. In just a few more generations, space tourism may be within your grasp.
