Since milestone birthdays only come around once a decade or so, they’re most definitely worth marking and celebrating with a vacation — whether you set out on a solo trip to fete the one-and-only you or gather with friends and family to turn it into a group extravaganza.
Deciding where to go can be tricky, of course, since each age and phase comes with new interests and travel desires. Take the guesswork out of the planning with these birthday trip ideas — they’re all ideal for celebrating some of life’s most noteworthy numbers.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
21st Birthday Trip Ideas with Adventure and Discovery
Turning 21 is transformative, with all the responsibilities — and perks — it brings to the table. Ring it in with an adventurous birthday trip nobody will ever forget, least of all you.
Bali
Bali beckons with surf, the nightclubs of Seminyak and street food galore. Invite a crew to join you or celebrate solo at W Bali – Seminyak. You’ll be thrilled to post up at the gorgeous, rice-paddy-inspired WET pool and beachfront WOOBAR Bali, serving up tropical cocktails and dreamy sunsets.
Costa Rica
Northwestern Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province promises new adventures alongside wildlife you might never have seen before — think surfing and sloths. Make JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa, near the vibrant surf town of Tamarindo, your base for oceanfront adventure.
30th Birthday Trip Ideas to Go Big and Bold
Turning 30 feels like a transition in the best of ways. You have a sense of what you like by now — so make your birthday trip all about spending good times with good friends while doing what you enjoy. The bigger and bolder the trip, the better.
Los Cabos
Enter Los Cabos on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. It’s filled with fabulous beach resorts — including JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa — and promises epic nightlife, fish tacos and seriously excellent margaritas.
During the winter months, humpback whales pass by just offshore on the regular, and you can head out on day trips to swim with whale sharks in La Paz, to the north.
Tokyo
If a big city is calling your name, a big birthday like your 30th calls for a momentous trip to a global epicenter of food, history and culture, namely Tokyo. A stay at The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza, right off Chuo Street, puts legendary entertainment and shopping right outside your door.
40th Birthday Trip Ideas to Delve Deep and Connect
For your 40th birthday, celebrate the moments and milestones that have made these four decades uniquely yours in destinations that go deep. You can choose to take it easy or hit the ground running — either way, you’re likely to learn and do some wonderful soul-searching along the way.
Algarve, Portugal
For a laid-back birthday trip, book it to Portugal’s Algarve region. At Pine Cliffs Hotel, a Luxury Collection Resort, Algarve in Albufeira, you can get your fill of fresh seafood, golf, beach time and more of the southern European good life.
Just west, in Lagos, take cooking classes to learn to make the traditional Portuguese custard tart called pastel de nata and go oyster tasting with Portugal Farm Experiences.
Mexico City
For something a little more fast-paced, you’ll find anything your heart desires in Mexico City, which boasts parks, museums and incredible dining and street food scenes.
Take in the city sights by foot in the highly walkable, stylish neighborhoods of Polanco and La Condesa, which both border Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Park). Give yourself extra time to snap photos, explore the green spaces and pop into cafés and shops as you go.
Situate yourself in the heart of it all in supremely luxe digs at The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City, soaring 58 stories above Paseo de la Reforma. Don’t miss the gorgeous indoor pool with vertiginous views and the spa where relaxing treatments await.
50th Birthday Trip Ideas Worth Savoring
By this age and stage, you really know what you want — and who and what you cherish most in this life. But with an entire globe to choose from, it hardly makes it any easier to narrow down ideas for a 50th birthday trip. Chances are, though, you’ll be thrilled with an indulgent island getaway or escape to the American West.
Bermuda
Consider the beautiful island of Bermuda for an all-seasons vacation complete with pink sand beaches, world-class golf and charming historic towns like Hamilton and St. George’s. (The latter is particularly quaint, complete with an 18th-century town hall.)
Right near St. George’s center, The St. Regis Bermuda Resort has two swimming pools, a spa and an on-site kids club. It’s a particularly inspired choice if you’re traveling multi-gen for this one, as many in the sandwich generation do. Plus, the hotel’s concierge can arrange celebratory moments ranging from intimate family dinners overlooking the ocean to sunset catamaran cruises for your crew.
Jackson, Wyoming
For an active 50th celebration in the great American West, it’s impossible to beat the landscapes, hiking, wildlife viewing and natural wonders of Jackson, Wyoming. After all, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park await nearby, not to mention skiing at Jackson Hole, come winter.
The Cloudveil, Autograph Collection has an ideal downtown Jackson location from which you can walk to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and pose with the elk-antler arches in Town Square.
60th Birthday Trip Ideas to Bring Out Your Best
What’s not to love about turning 60? For many, kids have grown and flown and the rush of career and full-on family life is starting to finally dial down — at least some — by now. Take advantage with a 60th birthday trip to a destination that helps you celebrate your precious life with the special people in it.
Sonoma Valley, California
If a wine country retreat is your idea of a perfect 60th celebration, California’s Sonoma Valley serves up wine tasting and vineyard dinners, as well as beautiful hiking and biking routes for quality time spent outdoors.
Stay at The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, Autograph Collection and you can stroll right out to the restaurants and shops at Sonoma Plaza — that is, when you’re not relaxing in the pool or enjoying a barrel-sauna session at the spa.
Puerto Rico
Celebrate your 60th with a tropical getaway to Puerto Rico. Beautiful beaches, golf courses and gorgeous architecture are all within reach in and around San Juan.
About a 45-minute drive east of Old San Juan’s historic streets and salsa bars, The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico occupies the lush oceanfront setting of a former coconut farm and makes for a magical retreat with the best of beach life and urban attractions close by.
Halifax, Canada
And for something completely opposite of the Caribbean, set your sights on a restorative summertime retreat to Canada’s gorgeous Halifax in Nova Scotia. Stay at Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel. Beloved local seafood restaurants (like Salty’s) that sell fresh lobster, and bars (like Seahorse Tavern) that host live bands are a short stroll from the hotel’s door.
You’ll want to rent a car, too, so you can set off for spectacular day trips in the region. Within an hour drive of Halifax, Peggy’s Cove is the place to see a famous lighthouse, and the small village of Truro, just inland, is known for its collection of 19th- and early-20th-century Victorian buildings.
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