5 destinations to help young travelers ‘recover from exhaustion’

Micro-retirement or short-term retirement is emerging as a new travel solution for young people who have limited budgets but do not want to wait until retirement to start exploring the world.

According to recruitment marketing platform Joveo, by mid-2025, more than 10% of workers have considered short-term retirement. Another survey by part-time or remote job placement app SideHustles.com found that 54% of participants believe short-term retirement helps prevent burnout.

Short-term retirements refer to intentional and extended periods of time off, from a few months to more than a year. These retirements appear in young people with the goal of avoiding exhaustion, regenerating energy and themselves before major changes in life.

Travel experts of Euro News has suggested 5 suitable destinations for young people to retire in the short term in 2026 based on criteria such as affordable costs, lots of experience, easy access, friendly people, and good social security.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi, where East and West cultures interact and has a large digital nomad community, is considered an attractive choice for young people who want to retire short-term. Vietnam’s capital attracts international visitors of generation Z thanks to its vibrant atmosphere like Bangkok, many areas in the city are compact in size, easy to walk, and the climate is cooler and more pleasant than other tourist centers in Southeast Asia.

Not only does Hanoi have a low cost of living, it also has good infrastructure and internet connection, a friendly and supportive foreign community, and many active social networking groups.

Visitors can explore the city’s rich history, created from a blend of Southeast Asian influences and French architecture. Experiences such as boating on West Lake, visiting Tran Quoc Pagoda or Quan Thanh Temple bring relaxing moments. Strolling through the narrow alleys, rich in nostalgic atmosphere of the old town, or visiting Hoa Lo Prison, Museum of Ethnology to understand more about history and culture are also suggestions for young international visitors when coming to Vietnam.

Street food is an experience not to be missed, with must-try dishes like pho, bun cha and egg coffee. If you come to Hanoi for the first time, the Old Quarter is the ideal choice to stay while the French Quarter is suitable for those who love beautiful architecture and location near Hoan Kiem Lake.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is considered the top choice for short-term retirement tourists thanks to its relatively low cost of living compared to many European and world cities. Despite low costs, the city still attracts tourists by providing high-quality essential services.

This helps tourists’ savings last longer, helping them have long, experience-rich vacations and reducing stress in the process of determining their next step in the future. Visitors can explore centuries-old Thai culture through quiet temples to bustling night markets, and enjoy diverse street food such as pad thai, mango sticky rice, and roti banana cake.

Visitors can also visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and Wat Arun, or head to shopping malls like IconSiam then relax with a river cruise. For those looking for relaxation and rejuvenation, Bangkok has many yoga, meditation and spa locations such as Lotus Wellness or The Green Room Yoga. Siam area is suitable if you want to stay in a central location, Sukhumvit offers a modern atmosphere, and Khao San is an economical choice.

Bangkok is also a convenient and low-cost gateway for travelers who want to continue exploring other parts of Thailand or Southeast Asia during their vacation. The thriving English-speaking foreign community here also offers many networking opportunities, especially useful for those who are looking for direction for their next career path.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, a suitable destination for trips thanks to its strategic location in Europe, warm, safe climate and rich cultural life. The city has a quality healthcare system at an affordable cost, much cheaper than other large cities such as London, Paris or Dublin.

Similar to Hanoi, Lisbon is pedestrian-friendly with a convenient public transport network of buses, trains and metro, and a local community that speaks English widely.

Visitors can explore historic neighborhoods such as Alfama and Belém, or go to central Baixa or Bairro Alto to feel a more youthful, modern pace of life. A trip on the ancient tram line 28E will bring poetic views of the city.

Culture lovers can visit St. George, Lisbon Cathedral, LX Factory creative complex or Oceanário, one of the largest aquariums in Europe.

Local cuisine is also a highlight, with bifana pork sandwiches, bacalhau salted fish dishes and the famous pastéis de nata.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest, a low-cost destination rich in culture and green space, is especially suitable for Gen Z for short-term retirements.

Visitors can admire impressive architectural works such as Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, Hungarian Parliament Building or St. Stephen, Heroes’ Square, Jewish quarter. For those looking for a little thrill, try the Budapest Eye and stroll along the banks of the Danube River.

Budapest is famous for its classic hot mineral baths such as Rudas Baths or Széchenyi Baths. Hungarian cuisine is also worth trying, with goulash, chimney cake and paprika chicken.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

For those looking for a new experience, away from the familiar noise of Western Europe, Tashkent is a harmonious combination of ancient Silk Road heritage, modern infrastructure and beautiful architecture, while easily connecting to other countries in Central Asia.

The city remains safe, friendly to newcomers, and has a slow pace of life – ideal for visitors to relax and inspire creativity.

Visitors can visit Amir Timur Square, Hazrati Imam complex, Independence Square or Chorsu market. Tashkent City Park, Navoi Theater are other notable destinations.

In terms of cuisine, visitors can enjoy plov (pilaf), shashlik (grilled meat skewers), manti (steamed buns) and especially traditional Uzbek bagels.

In a context where job burnout rates are at alarming levels globally and traditional goals such as buying a house are becoming increasingly out of reach for young people, short-term retirement is seen as a way to bring balance to life.

“Younger generations value mental health and experience over career advancement,” said Andrew Harrison-Chinn, CMO of travel services company Dragonpass. Working models have also changed, with many jobs requiring only remote work and more people working freelance, making short-term retirement easier for many people.

Short-term retirement reflects a shift from postponing enjoyment into the future to creating memories in the present and goes beyond the traditional “gap year” model (taking 1-2 years off to travel before returning to college) of students. These short-term retirement travelers have higher requirements than gap year travel and have a more stable financial foundation.

Unlike long-term vacations sponsored by businesses (a form travel bloggers often take), these trips are often paid for by individuals, without plans to return to a specific job or career path. Sometimes, short-term retirees will combine remote or freelance work, part-time.

Short-term retirees often have longer, slower schedules and more flexible plans. Destinations are chosen based on a combination of lifestyle, connectivity and access to healthcare services. Travelers don’t just think about where they’re going, but also consider how the entire journey makes them feel, including the airport experience.

According to Andrew Harrison-Chinn, young people increasingly prefer seamless, digital experiences from start to finish. Any element that reduces their interactions and makes the journey fluid and intuitive is something they love.