Let’s begin with the strange part — think about walking into a McDonald’s at 2 a.m. expecting fries, Only to find several sleeping in the booths with neck pillows and backpacks. Welcome to China’s newest travel trend for Gen Z, where fast-food chains act as the perfect place to pound out the night for cheap.
It’s called “Special Forces Travel,” and no, it’s not about camouflage or boot camps. This trend is about traveling fast, spending less, and maximizing your comfort level — like the military mixed with budget survival. Young travelers plan their vacations like tactical missions: little sleep, lots of sightseeing, and zero wasted money.
Just before we get too deep into it, and here is the kicker — not everyone agrees. Locals in Hong Kong, where this trend originated have voiced their frustrations. Some people claim that it hurts local businesses when travelers choose McDonald’s over hotels or local restaurants. Some people even think McDonald’s should stop their 24-hour service to help those who are using it as a budget hostel.
Let’s rewind a bit. This trend went viral earlier this year when photos of travelers asleep in a Hong Kong McDonald’s found their way to Chinese social media. Tables were transformed into beds, and bags sat in a line like lockers at a dorm. Some travelers even brought along instant ramen with no intention of purchasing burgers — which is a whole new level of thriftiness, shocking and slightly bonkers.
For example, Chloe Cai tried the so-called “extreme budget adventure” and spent about $106 for three days in Hong Kong. She spent one night in McDonald’s, and one night in a hostel for $46. Reasonable? Sure. Comfortable? Not at all.
“I didn’t feel safe, and I couldn’t sleep at all,” Chloe said in an interview with ABC News, later stating she much preferred taking a day trip next time instead. Chloe left the experience with savings, but she also left with a neck kink and some mild regret.
Here’s where the irony unfolds. Even with all the saltiness (criticism), Special Forces Travel is gaining steam on Chinese social media platforms. Travelers flaunt adventurous itineraries, replete with things like “5 a.m. wake up, 10 stops in 12 hours, sleep for two hours in McDonald’s.” It’s more hardcore than vacation.
But call it what you will, in context this is way more than 5 bucks. It speaks to the mind-set of China’s Gen Z — famished of socio-economic cost to travel any more than anyone else at home — hyperliving in order to supplant a few days of travel for the reality of the high cost of living. It is travel as a method of resistance against luxury tourism, scrappy but spontaneous and brutally efficient.
If you’re curious whether this style could spread elsewhere—it probably wouldn’t be that easy. Take the U.K., for example; even 24-hour McDonald’s usually have their dining spaces closed at night to prevent “creative” seating.
Just to finish off this upside-down travel story: what started as a discount-meme turned into a fully-fledged Gen Z movement…both interesting and questionable. Because in theory, sleeping under arches made of gold could sound adventurous…until you think about the fluorescent lights and smells of fries and no privacy.
Maybe there is a price to comfort.
