Do you have clients looking for an especially memorable birthday experience? Suggest a carpe diem celebratory birthday vacation — a trip where friends and family travel to celebrate their 50th, 60th or 70th birthday. These birthday trips are growing in popularity. According to Travelling with Purpose: Milestone Motivations — a recent study commissioned by the UK’s cazenove+loyd and Globetrender — carpe diem celebrations are up 40%, making them one of the seven biggest travel trends of 2024.
But it’s not only adult travelers booking special birthday trips. In fact, a Forbes Advisor survey found that 18% of trips planned for 2024 were to celebrate a birthday or other life event. Forbes also reports that travel to celebrate tween and teen birthdays and graduations is also a growing trend.
No matter what age is on the horizon for your clients, there are destinations near and far that can serve as the perfect celebratory experiences. We spoke to travel advisors to get their recommendations for the best birthday trips for travelers of all ages.
Children
Atlantis Paradise Island
Located in the Bahamas along five miles of white sand beaches, Atlantis Paradise Island boasts 14 pools, five hotels and 40 restaurants. It’s a boon for children of all ages. The tropical destination provides a celebratory atmosphere for kids and relaxation opportunities for parents. One of the most attractive features is the ability to interact with sea animals.
“The Atlantis is focused on rescuing animals from the sea,” said John Purcell, travel advisor at Susan Peavey Travel. “Though the primary goal of this program is to release them back into the wild, rehabbed animals are kept on the property until they can safely be released.” Purcell added that the property has achieved Global Humane certification, and the animals are very well tended.
For children, this means there are endless opportunities to visit and interact with animals up close. Options range from $75 to $550 and include a dorsal fin ride and “foot push,” where dolphins push riders from the soles of their feet, raising them above the water’s surface, among others.
Accommodations at Atlantis Paradise Island’s five hotels can range from $1,400 per person per week at The Coral up to $2,650 or more at The Cove.
Utopia of the Seas Cruise
Royal Caribbean’s all-inclusive cruise, which sails between Port Canaveral, Florida and the Bahamas, is a hit with children, said veteran advisor Nadia “Sparkle” Henry, president and owner of Travel With Sparkle.
“They have 18 water slides, 10 pools, seven beaches and two aqua parks designed just for kids,” Henry said. “They also have a kids’ club with tons of activities and shows dedicated just for children.” This family-friendly ship is great for children looking to meet others their age and has activities like rock climbing walls, mini golf and a zipline.
Pricing depends on the season; a four-night cruise can run from $800 to $1,700 per person.
Teens
Icon of the Seas Cruise
Henry also recommends the seven-day Icon of the Seas cruise, which has a lounge for teens to make new friends. It offers video games, a theater, trivia games, laser tag, music and a teen-friendly nightclub. Depending on the season and level of accommodations, the cruise can range from $1,900 per person for seven nights up to $3,000 or more. She recommends clients secure travel insurance in case plans change.
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Many teens like Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya’s music lab, said Purcell, where guests 12 and older can be rock stars for a day, regardless of skill level. A “rock specialist” coaches them through rehearsals, soundcheck and onto the stage where they perform. Teens can also play in a rock ‘n roll “jam band” or try their hand as a music producer and DJ. It’s all included as part of the all-inclusive stay, which varies depending on the season, but may run from $1,700 per person to $3,600 or more for seven nights. Purcell suggests booking this experience well in advance.
20s
RIU Palace Hotels
Henry said all-inclusive trips are the way to go for people in their 20s. “20s like to party,” she said, and for more budget-conscious partiers, she recommends the all-inclusive RIU Palace Hotels throughout the Caribbean.
Henry and Purcell both suggest reminding young travelers it’s often better to book well in advance. “They shouldn’t wait until the last minute to book these places,” Purcell said. “It’s easier to budget $1,000 or $1,500 many months in advance because most places have payment plans. If they book far enough in advance, they can make it painless, compared to booking at the last minute and having to pay for it all at once.” The RIU Palace in Jamaica, which is for adults only, can run from $2,300 to $3,300 or more per person per week.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica Highlights: Jungles & Sand is a package that Brandi Merchant, Costa Rica destination expert at Kensington Travel, suggests for people in their 20s who enjoy luxury adventure. The 10-day adventure lets them unwind at a secluded luxury resort’s thermal springs, explore the jungle and its wildlife with an expert naturalist, eat in a treehouse overlooking Monteverde’s Cloud Forest, sail and enjoy volcano views along the forested coast and enjoy the beaches. The customized tour starts at $6,580 per person.
30s
Tour of France
Travelers in their 30s might enjoy a seven-day tour of Paris and Loire highlights, which lets guests experience historic chateaus, manicured gardens and fine wines “by bike, boat or even hot air balloon!” said Jessica Osborn, France destination expert at Kensington Tours. Prices start at $3,926 per person.
Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall + Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall
Henry recommends both of these all-inclusive resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica, which are on the same compound. Hyatt Zilara is adults-only, and Hyatt Ziva is a family resort, so birthday celebrants in their 30s can choose which suits them. Hyatt Zilara has a sports bar that turns into a club at night, and five nights there starts at $1,700/night, depending on room type.
40s and 50s
Croatia and Adriatic Islands
Chantal Schmidt, Europe destination lead at Kensington Travel, said people in their 40s and 50s looking for a higher-end birthday experience may enjoy a custom tour of Croatia and the islands of the Adriatic. The tour includes exploring medieval Old Town Dubrovnik and the island of Korcula, each with a private guide, as well as embarking on a Dalmatian island-hopping adventure with a private skipper, visiting a family-run honey farm on Solta Island and swimming in crystal-clear waters. Prices start at $12,781 per person for double occupancy.
Italy
Henry said many in their 40s and 50s enjoy traveling to Europe. “They might want to go to Rome to celebrate their birthday and see the Coliseum, the Vatican and Trevi Fountain.” Travel agents can arrange something special, such as a birthday dinner celebration in a restaurant’s private room. A Rome trip’s accommodations might run between $5,000 and $7,000 per person for a week.
60s and 70s
European Group Coach Tours
In their 60s and 70s, Purcell says, people often enjoy guided group coach tours. “It’s usually 44 passengers or less with a motor coach driver and a tour guide that take you from point to point,” Purcell said. “They’ll also tell you about the little spots you wouldn’t know were there.” Advisors should check on accessibility ahead of time if that’s a concern. Purcell said one popular tour is the 14-day Best of Eastern Europe tour, which starts and ends in Berlin and costs $3,799 per person.
African Safari
This is an age group whose members are often interested in “bucket list trips,” including safaris, Henry said. She’s sent many retirees to South Africa and seen those trips be a big success: “They go to Cape Town, do a safari at Kruger National Park, and visit the vineyards in Cape Town.” If clients would enjoy a custom-designed, personal tour of Cape Town, Kruger and Victoria Falls, Megan Baker, African destination lead at Kensington Tours, said Kensington’s tours start at $9,100 per person for 10 days.
80+
Rocky Mountaineer Train Journey
Older travelers might enjoy a birthday journey on the Rocky Mountaineer, a train with open-view cars that offers a guided tour through the Rockies and up into Canada. It has hydraulics that can transfer travelers in their own wheelchairs off and on the train. “It’s nice for older people because someone else is doing the planning and all the work to get them from point to point,” Purcell said. “They’re on vacation. They’re not having to worry about driving or going the right way. No one’s reading a map. No one’s looking at GPS.” The five-night Rocky Mountaineer Journey Through the Clouds tour, which travels from Vancouver to Jasper, costs $2,241 per person.
Star Clippers Tall Ship Sailing
Star Clippers offers cruises on tall ships, traditionally rigged sailing vessels, with Caribbean, European, Panama Canal and Central America itineraries. “Because they are smaller vessels, they’re able to get into some more exotic ports of calls. They have great itineraries with some exotic destinations that big ships can’t go into,” Henry said. “A week’s cruise is $4,000 or less, depending on the time of year.” She recommends looking into accessibility in advance if clients have mobility issues.
Originally appeared in the Winter 2024 issue of The Compass magazine
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