On a Friday night last year, Akylah Cox and her boyfriend took a red-eye flight from Pennsylvania to Dublin for a whirlwind adventure. The trip took less than 30 hours. They hit an impressive number of places: the Guinness Storehouse, the Book of Kells experience at Trinity College, Ha'penny Bridge, Capel Street for second-hand activities (“I gave myself only 30 minutes to do this, but I had to do it,” says Cox) and the Celtic Nights dinner and show.
They returned home on Sunday and went to work the next day.
She shared her experience in tiktok with the caption: “Was that crazy?!” The answers varied.
“I'd be tired the rest of the week,” one person commented with two dizzy face emojis.
“This inspired me!” said another.
“I'm trying to be at this level of crazy,” another commented.
Akylah Cox and her boyfriend Akram Imam in Dublin in February 2025.
(Akylah Cox)
For Cox, who was working full-time in engineering and pursuing an MBA while her boyfriend completed his medical residency, creating an ultra-compact itinerary was the only possible way to travel. And she loves the practice. On TikTok, he shares his itineraries for “micro trips”: short trips, usually international, that last between 24 and 72 hours.
“You can go,” says Cox, who lives in Chicago. “You can have that quick break, that quick reset.”
She is part of a new wave of travelers, particularly Gen Z, opting for such trips over extended vacations, according to an Airbnb trends report. Partly fueled by a viral TikTok trend in which people break down how they spent a day or two in another country, young travelers are no longer waiting for spring break or accumulating paid time off to cross destinations off their bucket lists. A recent Expedia survey found that 25% of Gen Z and millennial travelers said they plan to take a microtrip in 2026, with Toronto; Nassau, Bahamas; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, being the most popular destinations.
“Short trips can fit into busy schedules much better than longer vacations, allowing more people to explore the world without committing to long absences from work or family,” says Airbnb communications leader Ali Killam. “I think people are really embracing the idea that even brief changes of scenery can really recharge you, your mind and your spirit.”
Another driver of this trend could be the fact that younger generations consider traveling a top priority in their lives. In 2023, Gen Z and millennial travelers took an average of five trips per year, compared to Gen Xers and baby boomers who took fewer than four. Gen Z and millennials spend an average of 29% of their income on travel, reports management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. (although a study last year by Savings.com found that a growing number of parents are helping their adult children financially more than ever). Among younger generations, there is also a mantra of doing things “for the plot” and taking risks because the future seems uncertain.
“Younger millennials and Gen Z are really creating their own version of the American dream, which I think is really based on the experiences and memories you can create,” said N'Dea Irvin-Choy, 30, a Los Angeles-based content creator who posts about luxury travel, skiing experiences and tennis.
Kareen Hill, 27, from New York, is another micro-travel advocate on social media. Since October he has been making trips to explore the gastronomic scenes of various cities. In January, he went to London for two days and published a summary. video on TikTok which received more than 1.5 million likes. Now he tries to take a trip, whether domestic or international, about every two weeks.
“I just realized you have free will,” says Hill, who works at an airport. “Why not?”
N'Dea Irvin-Choy at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, left, and Kareen Hill at the Colosseum in Rome.
(N'Dea Irvin-Choy; Kareen Hill)
Beyond convenience, micro trips can also be more affordable than longer trips, an important factor as oil prices rise and airfares are already starting to rise. With the help of credit card points and a travel credit, Cox's trip to Dublin cost just under $450. She says these quick trips are a “low barrier to entry” to international travel because you only have to plan an itinerary for one or two days. And the more flexible you are in terms of schedule or destination, the more likely you are to find deals.
Another benefit is how short trips force you to be intentional about how you spend your limited time. “You can do a lot more than you think,” he said. During a three-day trip to Japan with her mother and grandparents in May (not including travel time), they were able to participate in a food tour and multiple tourist attractions in Tokyo and Mount Fuji.
Of course, a common concern about microtravel is how exhausting it can be, especially if you're traveling across time zones. And yes, fatigue can be real and travelers should certainly consider the limits of their bodies. But the purpose of these trips is to explore a destination rather than relax, Cox says. Once you have that mindset, you'll be able to get more out of the experience. “You don't really have the impact of jet lag because you're running purely on adrenaline,” he says.
Do you want to take a micro trip yourself? Here are some tips:
- Book the earliest possible flight to your destination and the latest flight back to optimize your time, advises Irvin-Choy. Definitely try to opt for non-stop flights.
- Make it easier to get around your destination. Hill says it's best to avoid checking a suitcase and pack light. Cox recommends booking a hotel that allows you to store your bag even if your room isn't ready.
- Prioritize your “shoulds.” For each of his microtrips, Cox uses the same formula: choose three must-see activities or sights and plan the rest of your trip around them. One of her favorite things to do in any new city she visits is take a food tour.
- Get ready to get back to your routine at home. Irvin-Choy recommends parking your car at or near the airport, which can sometimes be cheaper than opting for a rideshare when it's such a short trip. You may also want to wear your work clothes on the plane, so you can go straight to work if necessary.
- And finally, don't forget to rest a little during your trip, even if it's on the plane. “That's the hardest part when it's so short,” Irvin-Choy says. “But make sure you get some sleep sometime over the weekend.”
