- I’m a millennial and my aunt is a boomer. We’re great travel companions despite our 33-year age gap.
- We both prefer slow-paced trips and like to wake up and take breaks around the same times.
- Traveling together has only brought us closer, and I look forward to planning more trips.
My aunt and I might seem like an odd pair of travel buddies since she’s 68 and I’m 35 — but we’ve been happily exploring the world together for over a decade.
We first discovered our travel compatibility during a family trip to Las Vegas when I was a teen. As our relatives hit the outlet malls and lounged by the pool, we found ourselves naturally drifting away from the group.
Turns out, having shared priorities is way more important than being born in the same decade.
While we spent quiet mornings together and found activities that would give us lots of time to soak in our surroundings, we realized just how many vacation preferences we shared, including an appreciation for slower-paced travel.
We carried these takeaways with us into future trips, and we’ve been having fun ever since.
On vacation, we both embrace travel at a slower pace and take breaks
Pascale Gueret/Getty Images
When traveling with someone, it’s important to be on the same page.
For example, my aunt and I like to sleep in on vacation. For us, though, that still means getting up around 7:30 a.m. and out the door by 8:30 a.m.
From there, we’re not go-go-go — most of our travel days start with a relaxing brunch. We usually plan just one or two activities a day instead of trying to “maximize” our time by overloading our itinerary, which feels more common among friends my age.
When we visited the Louvre, for example, we stayed from opening until closing, giving ourselves permission to explore every corner of the massive museum.
Afternoon breaks are another important part of our trips, and some of our favorite vacation moments have been chatting over snacks about what we’d seen on our travels so far.
Oftentimes, we’ll also use this break to figure out where we’re going for dinner or what we want to do that evening, whether it’s visiting a casino or seeing a show.
From there, we’ll know how late can stay out wherever we are before heading back to our accommodations to prepare for the night.
Traveling together has strengthened our bond
Ashley Couto
My aunt and I spend a lot of time together because I live with her, but it’s our trips that have truly strengthened our relationship.
We just understand each other’s pace, both find joy in slower experiences, and share compatible opinions on ideal trip itineraries — all important factors when looking for a good travel companion.
Some might find it unusual that a millennial chooses to travel with her boomer aunt instead of friends her own age, but for us, it makes perfect sense.
Our next adventure will likely take us back to Paris. With my aunt’s retirement approaching, we want to make the trip while she’s still working and can more easily manage the flight and hotel costs.
It’s a city that perfectly matches our travel style — rich in history, full of museums, and ideal for our leisurely pace.
