AAA and Bread Financial Survey: 76% of Travelers Planning Milestone Trips in 2026
Gen Z and Millennials most likely to travel for birthdays, weddings, and special events
A new study from AAA and Bread Financial® finds that travel in 2026 will be driven by moments that matter. 61% of Americans plan to travel in 2026, and among those travelers, more than three-quarters (76%) say their trips will be planned around important life milestones such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations. Gen Z and Millennials are leading this shift, approaching these trips with greater intention as they balance showing up for life’s biggest moments with thoughtful planning and financial confidence.
Showing Up for Life’s Biggest Moments
According to the survey, traveling to celebrate a birthday (32%) will be the most popular milestone trip in 2026, followed by family reunions (30%), friends’ milestones (29%), anniversaries (22%), and weddings (19%). Other travel-worthy events include graduations (12%), honeymoons (10%), and fitness competitions, such as marathons or fun runs (7%).
While plans to travel in 2026 are consistent across generations (60% of Gen Z, 63% of millennials, 60% of Gen X, and 61% of Baby Boomers), traveling for milestone events is more prevalent among younger generations. Almost 9 in 10 Gen Z (89%) and Millennial (88%) survey respondents who said they will travel in 2026 say they will plan their trips around milestone events, compared to just 57% of Baby Boomers and 71% of Gen X.
“When families are spread across the country, traveling to celebrate milestones becomes a priority,” said Jim Garrity, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central. “To help travelers plan trips around special celebrations, AAA works to deliver exceptional experiences through our trusted travel advisors and digital tools like Trip Canvas.”
Connection Outweighs Convenience, Even When It’s Complicated
Two in five respondents (40%) say that traveling to attend milestone events helps them reconnect with people they haven’t seen in some time, while one-third (33%) say these trips strengthen friendships and bonds. Gen Z (25%) prioritizes traveling with friends more than Baby Boomers (9%).
Despite the interest in milestone travel, 22% of survey respondents say they are only willing to go to a wedding if it’s close to home, and an even smaller 9% are willing to undertake a long-haul international trip outside of North America.
Planning & Paying with Intention
Results from the survey indicate that travelers are deliberately managing milestone travel to minimize challenges, using travel advisors, planning tools, loyalty programs, and innovative payment options to optimize their traveling experiences.
Nearly half (46%) of respondents say they have relied on a travel advisor to help plan their trips. Finding the best deals (51%), saving time (43%), and having support if something goes wrong (35%) were cited as the most important benefits of using an agent. About a third of respondents rely on travel experts to handle complex logistics (31%) or uncover “hidden gems” (30%).
Debit cards (52%), personal savings (51%), and credit cards (48%) are the most common ways to pay for travel, but younger travelers are more likely to mix payment methods to manage milestone costs. This includes Buy Now Pay Later options, gift cards, vouchers, travel credits, and employer stipends as well as loyalty programs. Younger travelers feel it pays to have reward options when it comes to travel plans with one-third (33%) of Gen Z respondents (versus only 10% of Baby Boomer respondents) saying that loyalty points, status, or miles “heavily” influence plans.
When it comes to protecting their trips, most travelers (71%) indicated that they had previously purchased travel insurance for their trips, most commonly for hotel or rental costs, baggage and personal items, emergency medical coverage while traveling, or non-refundable flights.
“Traveling for milestone moments is about more than just being there, it’s about making those moments count,” said Valerie Greer, Chief Commercial Officer of Bread Financial. “With younger generations leading the charge, we’re seeing a shift toward intentional travel that balances celebrating life’s biggest events with smart financial planning. By embracing tools like travel advisors and innovative payment options, travelers can ensure they’re not only present for these special moments but also financially prepared to make them truly unforgettable.”
Survey Methodology
This was an online survey of 1,714 U.S. respondents 18+ who plan to travel in 2026 for personal, non-work-related occasions. The survey was conducted from December 15 to 17, 2025.
About Bread Financial®
Bread Financial® (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions to millions of U.S. consumers. Our payment solutions, including Bread Financial general purpose credit cards and savings products, empower our customers and their passions for a better life. Additionally, we deliver growth for some of the most recognized brands in travel & entertainment, health & beauty, jewelry and specialty apparel through our private label and co-brand credit cards and pay-over-time products providing choice and value to our shared customers. Bread Financial proudly marks 30 years of success in 2026. To learn more about our global associates, our performance and our sustainability progress, visit breadfinancial.com or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 69 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. AAA East Central provides services to its members including Automotive, Insurance, Discounts & Rewards, Financial, and Travel. Find out more about AAA Membership and current savings here.
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