Tired Of Tourist Traps? Gen Z's New Approach To Travel
Where are Gen Z travellers heading to and what do they want out of the travel experience? Eight avid globetrotters in Singapore tell us.
STUDENT GLADYS NG, 25, WHO CURATES HER TRAVELS AROUND “VIBES, GOOD FOOD AND PHOTO POTENTIAL”
Ng chilling at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris earlier this year.
PLACES SHE HAS TRAVELLED TO IN THE PAST YEAR: Seoul, Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin and Amsterdam
LONG TRIPS OR SHORT GETAWAYS? “Long trips far away from Singapore, which to me feel like a reset from life and my usual commitments”
A crookie – or cookie‑croissant hybrid – from Lourens in Amsterdam and the spread at Buddy Buddy Nut Butter Coffee Bar, one of Ng’s favourite cafes in the French capital (she recommends its peanut butter and matcha latte).
A MUST‑HAVE ON EVERY ITINERARY: “A cafe or bakery – I absolutely love bread and sweet bakes”
HOW SHE COMMEMORATES EACH TRIP: “T‑shirts that read ‘I heart’ followed by the city’s name, and lighters – I love collecting lighters, so I try to find a unique one in every city I visit”
A snap of the selection at OFR Bookshop in Paris, Gladys Ng’s choice spot for art books and indie magazines; the iconic The World Begins With Every Kiss mural in Barcelona, where Ng travelled to for the first time solo last year; photo of the stunning Acropolis in Athens, Greece, which Ng recommends for every art lover; and her vintage jewellery discoveries at a brocante – or flea market – in Paris.
RECOMMENDED HANGS IN HER FAVE DESTINATIONS: “My favourite weekend activity in Paris has to be exploring the brocantes – charming flea markets found throughout the city. I’ve found so many cute, unique pieces of vintage jewellery and antiques there, and usually follow @alicjakissaa on TikTok because she gives weekly updates on where the brocantes are located … If you’re into warm, melty cookies and croissants, Lourens in Amsterdam is a must‑go for its crookies (a cross between the two pastries). And if you’re into curated and designer vintage pieces, Nhogirl, also in Amsterdam, is definitely a boutique to check out – it has a fantastic collection of archival magazines and books for browsing as well … And over in Greece, I discovered my favourite grilled octopus dish at Gods’ Restaurant, which is near the Acropolis.”
A mandatory shot in front of the Eiffel Tower.
GO‑TO TRAVEL APPS: “If you’re into parties and raves, RA Guide is a great app for discovering events in different countries and offers an easy way to explore the local nightlife scene.”
FREELANCE MARKETER JADE AMELIA, 27, THE SELF‑PROFESSED “HOPELESS TRAVEL ROMANTIC” WHO HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR MORE THAN HALF A YEAR
Jade Amelia is a travel addict whose mostly solo trips abroad are inspiring and introspective affairs in which she immerses herself in local culture. Her photographs documenting her sojourns are equally romantic.
AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS SHE TAKES IN A YEAR: “Ideally, one long one and multiple short ones, though as we speak, I’ve been travelling almost non‑stop for 250 days now, and am only in Singapore for a few days before going to Bali”
An antique store in the French city of Versailles; the stunning Tropea, a seaside village in Italy; a scene from Grindelwald, a scenic mountain village in Switzerland; and the majestic Arno River in Florence, Italy.
HOW SHE FINANCES HER TRAVELS: “I’m a trust fund baby – not. My advice is to save as much as you can. I also take on freelance projects and work remotely on the go to keep the funds flowing. Travel isn’t cheap, but neither does it have to be expensive. For example, while I readily spend on experiences, I try to save on accommodation, which I usually keep between $60 and $80 a night.”
An OOTD shot on a balcony in Paris; the view from her room in Dolomites, Italy; her photo of Rome’s Trevi Fountain; and Amelia relaxing on the steps of the Italian town of Amalfi.
FAVOURITE TRAVEL MEMENTO: “It’s a tube of tomato paste from a random grocery store in Italy. I don’t even cook, but I was mesmerised by Italian design. It’s so effortlessly creative and even the mundane looks like art.”
Amelia on an impromptu sailing trip with strangers in Flores, Indonesia.
TRAVEL TIPS: “Make friends with the locals – and I don’t mean just exchanging pleasantries or getting food recommendations … Be genuinely curious and get to know how they live, their family and friends, and how their upbringing has shaped their world views. Secondly, ask the locals for music recommendations. This exposes you to new genres and artistes, and can connect you with the local culture in a deeper way than sightseeing can. Lastly, photograph the ordinary. The real charm of a place often lies in not just iconic landmarks or perfect sunsets, but also the everyday moments, and capturing them creates a richer, more personal memory that reflects the true spirit of the destination.”
CONTENT CREATOR AND MODEL BELICIA GWEE, 26, THE SEOUL REGULAR
Belicia Gwee describes herself as “a mix between a spontaneous adventurer and a culture deep diver”, and her travels are usually a fun and Instagrammable riot like a trip to the Everland theme park in Seoul – her idea of wonderland.
NUMBER OF TIMES SHE HAS BEEN TO SEOUL IN THE PAST YEAR: Five – “If there’s one place I could move to, it’d be South Korea. Not for forever, but maybe for a few years.”
The first time she experienced snow, in the Cheongyang Alps Village in Chungcheongnam‑do, South Korea.
HER SEOUL RECCOS: “My favourite cafe spot is Stance Coffee in Hongdae, which serves really good coffee. A beloved local brand is Glowny for its good‑quality basics – I have so many pieces from it: from jeans to skirts to tops. And if you’re into history and culture, I recommend visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace. It always amazes me how history can be preserved so well up to this very day. Tip: Rent a hanbok from one of the stores nearby and you’ll get free entry into all the historical spots on site.”
Her go‑to restaurant in London, Flat Iron, which she recommends for its quality, friendly prices and mash potatoes (so good, she wishes she could pack some home); a stop at one of the original sets used in the Harry Potter films at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter; London’s Natural History Museum – Gwee’s favourite museum in the capital of England and the UK; and the matcha latte and waffles from Maurice Cafe in Paris.
OTHER FAVOURITE CITIES: “Paris – I only visited once earlier this year, but I already have a few favourite haunts. One is the barbecue specialist Melt, which serves the most tender beef brisket, and the other is the trendy Maurice Cafe for its matcha latte and waffles. I also love London and all its museums. My all‑time favourite is the Natural History Museum.”
The content creator picking strawberries for the first time in Seoul.
HOW MUCH DOES SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE HER TRAVELS? “As a content creator, I plan my travel itinerary in such a way that it covers places where I can make content that my audience would enjoy.”
TRAVEL TIP: “Walk – I always discover new places from walking a lot. My friends call me the walking queen.”
TATTOO ARTIST AND MODEL TRISTEN TIO, 23, WHO EXPLORES THE GLOBE TO INK AND GET INKED
Travel’s all about adventure, art and getting inked for tattoo artist Tristen Tio.
PLACES HE HAS TRAVELLED TO IN THE PAST YEAR: “Batam and Johor Bahru, and also Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Mai Chau, Rome, Venice, Malta, Antwerp and Eupen in Belgium, Amsterdam, London, Bern and Melbourne”
Traversing down a sand dune with friends in Malta; visiting Antwerp’s KMSKA museum; getting a pint at the bar at HR Giger Museum in Gruyeres, Switzerland; and hitching a ride to get from Venice to Berlin.
WHAT HIS TRAVELS USUALLY REVOLVE AROUND: “As a tattooist, I’m often looking for cities where I can find work in, but anywhere culturally rich, with a vibrant art scene or interesting food and cultures, calls out to me … Scenic motorbike or bicycle routes are a huge plus and lately, I’ve got into sport and multi‑pitch climbing. I just did my first lead climb (a style of climbing in which the rope one is attached to is clipped to bolts along the route only as one ascends, instead of already being anchored from the top) outdoors in Lopburi, Thailand. Definitely a core memory.”
Him harvesting rose fruit to make jam as part of his first experience doing farmwork in exchange for accommodation and food in Switzerland.
HOW HE FINANCES HIS TRAVELS: “Tattooing has been my main hustle and primary source of income for travelling, while having friends overseas helps – couchsurfing allows one to save so much on accommodation. I’ve also tried Wwoof‑ing (doing farm work in exchange for food and lodging) in Switzerland, because things there are generally really expensive.”
Hanging out in the studio of tattoo artist Axuon in Ho Chi Minh City.
FAVOURITE TRAVEL MEMENTO: “All the tattoos that I get abroad. They’ll be with me forever, with each one carrying a memory of the specific trip as well as my experience meeting and learning from artists whom I’ve admired for years.”
ACCOUNT MANAGER VANESSA LOW, 26, THAT GIRL WITH THE POSTCARD‑PERFECT PICS
Vanessa Low’s travels are the stuff of dreamy photography books. Great sights she has visited – and documented beautifully.
AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS SHE TAKES IN A YEAR: “Depending on how spontaneous I’m feeling, I travel anywhere between two and eight times a year – my current record is eight!”
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona; Yosemite National Park in California; Gangchon Rail Park in Chuncheon, South Korea; and Mount Bromo in Indonesia.
HER FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS: “Barcelona has the best vibe. You get everything in one place: the beach, mountains, stunning architecture, great shopping, rich culture and natural wines! Lijiang in China is another favourite – just Google it and you’ll see why. You’re surrounded by breathtaking mountains, lakes and traditional architecture. I suggest cycling as the best way of getting around and seeing everything. Then there’s Surabaya in Indonesia, where I’d recommend doing a four‑day, three‑night hiking tour. It’s very beginner‑friendly.”
Shopping and chilling are also important parts of her itineraries, with London and Tokyo (pictured above) among the fashion-forward megacities she has visited for leisure.
WHAT HER TRAVELS USUALLY REVOLVE AROUND: “I break it down into a few buckets: shopping, sightseeing and experiencing nature, chilling (aka doing nothing), and adventure and sports such as hiking and snowboarding.”
The Frank Gehry-designed Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.
HOW MUCH DOES SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE HER TRAVELS? “I used to plan my itinerary fully around photogenic spots that I saw online, but I realised that I didn’t enjoy travelling like that. In fact, it felt inauthentic and was very disappointing when a place ended up looking pretty only from certain angles or in photos, and not in real life … Now, I’m a lot more intentional about the places I visit. It makes me a lot more present on my travels, which has also helped me to discover more about not only the city I’m in, but also myself.”
RECENT GRADUATE ZHANE CHAY, 24, THE FOODIE TRAVELLER WITH A CREATIVE STREAK
Zhane Chay’s colourful food- and shopping-focused travel content has made her a bit of a social media star.
HER FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS: “Seoul for shopping! Clothes, skincare, makeup – everything is top‑tier. The streets are always buzzing and you’re never too far from a great cafe or restaurant … Don’t miss Bukchon Hanok Village, which offers a glimpse into traditional Korean architecture and culture. Shanghai also gets my vote for the vibes. I haven’t explored much of China yet, but I’d love to go back and visit more cities. It’s such a beautiful country, plus Disneyland in Shanghai is incredibly fun. And lastly, there’s Bangkok, which offers me a break from reality and is where one can eat to one’s heart’s content. You absolutely have to try the salt‑baked mackerel and leng saeb (a spicy Thai pork spine soup) that’s sold at the Jodd Fairs night market – both are super delicious!”
Chay catching snow for the first time at the Disneyland resort in Paris last year; Chay tucking into warabimochi (a traditional Japanese sweet treat) in Kamakura, Japan; trying out the desserts at the long-standing patisserie Carette in Paris; and having macarons for tea in Bangkok.
WHAT SHE SPLURGES ON: “Food – I try to buy a few dishes at every meal so I can try as much as I can”
WHAT SHE SAVES ON: “Nothing, really, because when I travel, I want to treat myself”
The playful-looking boutique of a Chinese lifestyle brand named Tagi in Shanghai.
HOW SHE FINANCES HER TRAVELS: “Work and save”
HOW SHE COMMEMORATES EACH TRIP: “With illustrated postcards that remind me of each trip and are cute enough to put up on my wall … I also recently started collecting Disneyland‑exclusive charms by Pandora to attach to a bracelet that I absolutely love.”
Shopping hauls at the local konbini, or convenience store, in Tokyo and exploring Kanazawa’s street food scene.
TRAVEL HACKS: “Use Google Maps or whatever mobile mapping service the locals use to scout for hidden gems. Some of the best spots might not have a big online presence, but local reviews rarely steer you wrong.”
ARTIST AND DESIGNER JON TAN, 27, THE AESTHETE
As a designer, Jon Tan never fails to include in his travels stops at architectural wonders.
AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS HE TAKES IN A YEAR: “It depends on what work finds me, but I typically travel once a quarter.”
The Philological Library at Freie Universitat Berlin; the historic Mullersches Volksbad – the first public indoor pool in Munich; a chic Airbnb apartment Tan had rented for his recent trip to New Zealand’s Mount Cook; and the laundry room of Le Corbusier’s Unite d’Habitation, where Tan lived when he visited Berlin.
RECOMMENDED SIGHTS IN HIS FAVE DESTINATIONS: “I love New York for its energy, which I try to adopt and translate into my work. If you’re visiting, start at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and stroll down to the Met for a full day of art and architecture. I like Berlin too because of how its culture runs deep, and you can see it in everything socially and creatively. Take the Jewish Museum Berlin, for example, which features the likes of tilted corridors and other disconcerting elements to evoke the suffering of Jews during the Holocaust. The building’s design was carefully considered to provoke. Lastly, New Zealand reminds me of how small we are, yet how impactful we can be to the world around us. A must‑see is Mount Cook, the highest mountain there. The views go hard, but the glacier hikes go harder.”
Tan OOTD shot in Paris.
HOW HE COMMEMORATES EACH TRIP: “I have an obsession with ceramic cups and started a collection of them when I was 18. Now, I try to get one from every new city I go to.”
Travelling solo or with friends, be it to buzzy cities such as Paris or somewhere quieter, doesn’t matter – he enjoys them both, he says.
ON ETHICAL TRAVEL: “As travellers, it’s important to be mindful of the impact we leave behind in the places we visit. I try to stay informed about a country’s culture and heritage, support local business, and find ways to directly contribute to local communities such as using a local tour guide. Being respectful goes a long way.”
STUDENT KRISSTEN TAN, 24, THE SERIAL THRILL‑SEEKER WHO SHOULD GET HER OWN TRAVEL TV SHOW
Krissten Tan’s adventurous spirit has taken her to some of the most obscure places on earth, for example, this picture of Tan exploring the Marsiling Tunnels – yeah, she seeks out and explores the unknown right here in Singapore too, and given her an authentic taste of different cultures (in some cases, literally).
HOW SHE DESCRIBES HER TRAVEL STYLE: “I’m a full‑time spontaneous adventurer because travelling this way has the highest ROI to me: It’s the most economical and comes with the most adrenalin. Some of my most memorable travel moments include eating a very fat and wriggly live worm in Sibu, Sarawak, offered to me by the indigenous community living in the longhouses; finding my own way from the commune of Val Masino to Val di Mello in Italy by bus even though Google Maps and three tourist offices told me there were no routes I could take; and that chemistry‑altering via ferrata (a climbing route with fixtures such as metal cables, rungs and ladders installed into the rocks) on the edge of a mountain in Murren – you can see the town two kilometres below unobstructed because you’re clipped to nothing but two karabiners.”
Tan sharing a meal with a Bedouin (a traditionally nomadic Arab community) family whom she met when visiting Jordan; a dish of Empurau fish – a local delicacy – in Sibu, Sarawak; a roadside stall in Kuala Lumpur serving home-brewed chrysanthemum tea; and Tan at Jordan’s Petra archaeological site, one of the world’s seven new wonders, and one of her favourite trips to date.
WHY SHE TRAVELS THE WAY SHE DOES: “I rarely travel for vacation as my relaxation needs are easily met at home, lying on my bed with Netflix and a bowl of Samyang noodles for company. When I travel – solo, ideally – the main goal is to be humbled or pushed way beyond my comfort zone.”
Her photo of the picturesque Konigssee lake in Germany, where she had lunch.
TRAVEL TIP: “I have only one: The less you carry, the further you go. This can be taken literally, as I enjoy trips on which I don’t have to struggle with a huge bag the most, or metaphorically – the less biases you have from your own culture and upbringing, the more you’ll get out of your trip.”
ALL INTERVIEWS HAVE BEEN EDITED FOR BREVITY AND CLARITY.
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LAWRENCE TEO ART DIRECTION JONATHAN CHIA HAIR & MAKEUP
This article first appeared in the May 2025 Travel Edition of FEMALE