By: Stuart Kerr, Travel Correspondent
Published: 02/08/2025 · Updated: 02/08/2025
Contact: editorial@holidaymate.com | About the Author
In 2025, a new travel phenomenon dubbed "hush trips" is quietly reshaping how European Gen Z approaches holidays. These secretive work-cations combine remote working with leisure, allowing young travellers to log in from idyllic locations without alerting their employers or family to their extended breaks. The trend represents a nuanced balance between autonomy, escapism, and digital savvy.
According to YPulse, Gen Z travellers value immersive experiences and flexible itineraries over traditional vacation structures. The "hush trip" concept fits perfectly within this ethos—visiting off-the-beaten-path destinations while maintaining remote job responsibilities. This trend is a direct response to rising digital fatigue and shifting workplace expectations.
More broadly, the hush trip is part of a wider generational pushback against overtourism and rigid travel norms, as detailed in Truthdig. As European cities struggle with tourist influxes, younger travellers are seeking quieter, less crowded locales where they can blend work, wellness, and discovery.
Complementing the hush trip trend is the revival of Europe's night trains. Mighty Travels highlights seven routes returning or launching in 2025, such as the long-anticipated Paris-Berlin sleeper. Night trains offer sustainable, scenic alternatives to air travel, aligning well with Gen Z's eco-conscious values.
This resurgence has been bolstered by recent investments, including the joint Germany-France launch of a high-speed overnight train between Berlin and Paris, reported by AP News. The service combines comfort, speed, and sustainability, with sleeper cabins and social carriages fostering community among travellers.
The night train revival isn’t just a nostalgic nod; it’s a practical solution to contemporary challenges. Climate-conscious Gen Z sees trains as a way to reduce carbon footprints while maintaining mobility across the continent. Longer travel times are reframed as part of the journey’s experience, offering opportunities for socialising, working, and even sleeping en route.
Meanwhile, the "hush trip" culture embraces technology’s paradox: using digital tools to disconnect from traditional work structures and reclaim personal freedom. However, it also raises questions about work-life boundaries and employer surveillance in the digital age. The tension between autonomy and accountability remains a defining theme.
As the travel industry adapts, some hotels and hostels are tailoring services to hush trip travellers, offering reliable Wi-Fi, flexible check-ins, and quiet workspaces. Digital nomad visas and local coworking hubs are becoming vital in supporting this emerging market segment.
Ultimately, Gen Z’s hush trips and the night train renaissance signal a broader shift toward sustainable, intentional, and flexible travel. This generation is crafting a travel style that respects the environment, values meaningful experiences, and blends work with wanderlust seamlessly.
About the Author
Stuart Kerr is a travel correspondent for Holidaymate.com, covering emerging travel trends, sustainable tourism, and digital nomad culture across Europe. Contact him at editorial@holidaymate.com.
