Not Quite Gen X, Not Quite Millennial—and That's How I Travel

I was born between two generations. Old enough to remember life before the internet lived in our pockets, young enough to have adopted technology early and instinctively. On paper, I'm Gen X. I was born in 1979. In practice, though, I lean far more Millennial. I crave authenticity. I want context, story, texture. And yet, I carry Gen X independence deep in my bones—especially that quiet refusal to be told what I can or cannot do. That tension is exactly why I love to travel. Not to be managed. Not to be herded. But to see what's real, with my own eyes, in my own way. You see this split immediately in how Gen X and Millennials approach travel. Gen X tends to be wary—of systems, of sales, of anyone who positions themselves as an "expert." They came of age learning to figure things out on their own. Travel, for many Gen Xers, is about control: the itinerary you built yourself, the deal you found, the quiet satisfaction of not needing help. Millennials approach travel differently. They're less interested in hacking the system and more interested in meaning. They don't just want to go somewhere—they want to understand it. They value lived experience over theory. Show me someone who has been there, walked the streets, eaten the food, and eaten the food well, and I'll listen. I see this play out clearly in my own family. My sister-in-law was also born in 1979, but she grew up behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany. Her worldview—shaped by scarcity, control, and skepticism—leans distinctly Gen X. Travel, for her, is about autonomy and caution. Mine, shaped by early access to technology and information, leans Millennial. I want immersion. I want nuance. I want to know not just where to go, but why the going will change me. Same birth year. Completely different travel instincts. This is where Xennials live—the space in between. We want independence, yes, but we also want insight. We don't want someone telling us what to do—but we deeply value someone who has already done it. We don't want a script. We want a guide. Someone who can say, "Here's what surprised me," or "Here's what I'd do differently," or "Here's the version you won't find on a blog." That's why Xennials don't outsource their travel decisions—they partner with advisors who help shape the experience without taking it over. This is why travel matters so much to people like me. It isn't about checking boxes or collecting stamps. It's about agency paired with understanding. Freedom paired with wisdom. Seeing the world not as it's sold, but as it actually is—complex, contradictory, and deeply human. And this is exactly what we explore inside the Cohort. I spend time digging into generational marketing because every generation needs a travel agent for different reasons. We can learn to speak Gen X, Boomer, Millennial, or Xennial—but first, we have to understand why they want to travel in the first place. What makes them leave the house. Where they want advice, and where they absolutely do not. If this kind of thinking lights you up, I'd love to have you join us. We start February 9, and I would truly love to save you a seat.