When Julia Roberts left everything, her work, her social life, her friends and went on a self-discovery trip across Italy, India, and Bali in Eat, Pray, Love, she set goals for the whole world before #goals became a thing. For years, people dreamt of long holidays where they could just leave everything and travel. This was 10 years back when smartphones were becoming popular and being connected virtually was not necessarily desired. For years, people idolized the idea of switching off their phones and just going to travel. Hrithik Roshan’s Arjun in ZNMD and Deepika Padukone’s Naina in YJHD were other iconic characters that epitomized the idea of just absconding everything to explore the world in the hope of discovering yourself. But 2020 is nothing like 2010 and long holidays are no longer the dream. Microcations are. 
Micro-cations: The Latest millennial trend
If you’ve seen a rise in pictures of ‘weekend getaways’, ‘long weekend trips’ or ‘day trips on your Instagram’, you’re surrounded by people who indulge in micro-cations. Micro-cations or micro vacations are incredibly short holidays that comprise of very few days, most often a weekend or an extended weekend. It could sometimes even be a day trip or an overnight journey. Millennials are taking microcations for several reasons. Firstly, these are cheaper and allow you to explore a place in a short span of time. For those working in corporates or in big firms with less paid leave, microcations fit perfectly. It is possible to go on 3 microcations a year and explore more, than on one long 10 day holiday. Since microcations allow you to travel more, a lot of people also take these trips to catch up with friends and family over a couple of days.
Let’s talk numbers. According to the 2019 Vacation Confidence Index, released by Allianz Global Assistance, 72% of millennials admitted that they’d taken at least one microcation in 2018, with 69% of Gen X and 60% of Baby Boomers following suit. 25% of millennials also said that they preferred microcations because they didn’t want to spend more. 37% said that it was easy to take time off for a short trip, while 34% said that they spent this time attending weddings or meeting friends. 
Why do microcations work?
While microcations are becoming popular due to economic and logistical reasons, there’s more to it. These microcations aren’t detoxing yourself or switching off your phone in order to magically discover yourself. Travelers today know that being disconnected from the world is a luxury they cannot always afford. Travelers today are realistic enough to know that being on holiday does not require you to not care about your regular life. Being connected can sometimes be very useful and it is possible to enjoy a destination while checking your phone every few hours.
In 2021, the travel landscape will change. Technology will focus on crafting safe, hygienic travel experiences. Mindfulness will rule and finances will be tight but buckets lists will be endless. The answer? Microcations. 
If you thought you needed a 10-day holiday to refresh yourself, don’t judge microcations by the name. Give it a shot. Your bank balance will thank you and your boss might hate you a little less.
And you will still have that perfect feed for Instagram. What else do you need?
