10 Birthday Vacation Ideas

We’re turning 30 this year and it’s got us thinking about all the ways people celebrate their birthdays. While presents and cake are great, we can’t deny that making another trip around the sun is a pretty great excuse to, well…. plan a trip around the world.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best birthday trip ideas and the most fun things you can do to kick off the next year of your life. Like Lesley Gore (kind of) sang: it’s your party and you should fly if you want to.

• Channel your inner child at a theme park
• Toast to a new year in a top wine destination
• Relax with the extended family at an all-inclusive resort
• Accomplish an outdoor feat to usher in a new decade
• Tick an item off your travel bucket list
• Embrace the easy-breezy cruise or tour lifestyle
• Get up close to your favourite animals
• Treat your taste buds on a foodie adventure
• Let your hair down and dance the night away
• Book a romantic getaway for two

Whether you’re in denial about getting older or just want to feel like a little kid again, celebrating your birthday at an amusement park is bound to be a screaming good time.

While California and Florida are the obvious choices, they are by no means the only choices. After all, there are Disney resorts, LEGOLAND parks and Universal Studios scattered around the globe — from Japan and Germany to Malaysia, Singapore and England.

Or, if you want to look beyond the usual suspects:

• Get your heart racing on the world’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi
• Ride through Hans Christian Anderson’s fairytales at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen
• Step into the comic-book world of Asterix & Obelix at Parc Astérix in France
• Discover fantastical coasters, carousels and characters at Efteling in the Netherlands

Do your at-home celebrations tend to include a bottle of wine? If so, this is one of the best birthday vacation ideas for you! It’s a simple fact that Chardonnay, Rioja, Merlot and Vinho Verde taste better in the destinations where they’re made… so, consider travelling to a beautiful city in Italy, Portugal, Spain or one of the other top wine tasting spots in Europe.

Of course, you also have the option of travelling a little closer to home. Both Canada and the US are full of amazing wine-growing regions and vineyards. We recommend sipping your way through the Okanagan in British Columbia, Prince Edward County in Ontario and Napa Valley in California.

This is probably one of the most popular birthday trip ideas, and for good reason! Booking an all-inclusive experience in a sun-kissed destination is not only cost-effective (flights, accommodations and food are included in the base price), but also caters to the whole family.

Whether you choose a resort that’s located on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach or in Cancún’s “Hotel Zone”, there will be something for everyone to enjoy — including picturesque beaches, pools with swim-up bars, multiple on-site restaurants, kids’ clubs, daily activities and nightly entertainment.

In other words, you can invite your siblings, grandkids and cousins to the party and trust that they’ll all have a good time.

Show everyone what you can do by planning a milestone birthday trip that’s packed with outdoor activities. This could be as simple as walking through a national park or as difficult as trekking to Machu Picchu… the choice is yours!

Need a little inspo for your active vacation? These adventures will reward you with breathtaking views, stunning photo ops and lifelong memories:

• Hike to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
• Zip line through a cloud forest in Costa Rica
• Bungee jump over rivers and canyons in New Zealand
• Climb to the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal
• Sand surf on the dunes of the Sahara in Morocco
• Raft down the Futaleufú River in Chile
• Go scuba diving with whale sharks, sea turtles and more in Australia
• Paraglide or hang glide in Interlaken, Switzerland

Have you always wanted to soak in natural hot springs and watch the northern lights dance across the sky in Iceland? Is it your goal to see all Seven Wonders of the World? Do you dream of wandering through the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul? What about throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome or sipping champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris?

We don’t want you to have a mid-life crisis or anything, but let’s be honest: you’re not getting any younger. So, stop making excuses and start taking steps towards achieving your travel goals. Finally knocking one of the world’s most iconic sights, attractions and experiences off your to-do list would make for a pretty memorable birthday celebration, if you ask us!

A lot of travellers are curious about cruising and touring, but never try either… and we think they’re really missing out. These types of vacations are special for many reasons, not least of which is that they allow you to visit multiple destinations in a single trip. Plus, there are countless itineraries to choose from. This means everyone from history buffs to beach bums can consider one for their next birthday trip.

Discover stunning architecture and cobblestone streets on a journey through the United Kingdom, immerse yourself in unique cultural experiences while floating down the Mekong River, spot the “Big Five” on a safari tour or lounge on tropical beaches during a Caribbean cruise. We told you there were lots of options!

There are so many cool, cuddly and creepy creatures in the world and nothing beats spotting one in its natural habitat. Valery Senyk, a Travel Expert at Flight Centre Broughton Street, can attest to this: she cried when she was finally able to see orangutans in Borneo.

Some of the top spots to view wildlife include:

• Australia: Kangaroos, quokkas, koalas, echidnas, Tasmanian devils, kookaburras
• Costa Rica: Sloths, toucans, hummingbirds, monkeys, butterflies
• Galápagos Islands: Marine iguanas, penguins, blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises
• Kenya: Leopards, wildebeests, zebras, rhinoceroses, cheetahs, hippos
• New Zealand: Kiwi birds, keas, glowworms, wekas, little blue penguins

Have your birthday cake and eat it (read: interesting local cuisine), too! Celebrating your birthday in a top culinary destination is guaranteed to be sweet — and salty and sour and bitter, depending on your tastes.

Eat as much street food as possible at a hawker centre in Singapore, fill your belly at award-winning restaurants in Lyon, feast on fresh seafood in Libson or try one-of-a-kind delicacies in Denmark. Whether you plan your own adventure or join a delicious food tour, your stomach and wanderlust will be satisfied.

Our list of birthday trip ideas wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some top party destinations. If you’re the type of person who loves to listen to live music and dance until the wee hours of the morning, invite your friends to join you in these spots:

• Berlin, Germany: The techno scene in Germany’s capital city is really good. Like, it-has-UNESCO-World-Heritage-status good.
• Montréal, Québec: City officials are currently working through a plan to create a 24-hour nightlife district — because 3am (the time bars are currently regulated to close) is way too early.
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: You shouldn’t be surprised that we’ve included Rio here. Of course the home of the biggest Carnival festival is renowned for its vibrant nightlife.
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Discover the city’s rich history during the day and then sip rum cocktails at its trendy clubs all night.

That said, you don’t have to throw a big bash if you don’t want to! Going on a trip with just your significant other is a totally acceptable way to celebrate your birthday. This is an especially great choice if you can never seem to agree on travel destinations and you’re tired of compromising — no one’s allowed to veto the birthday person!

Feel like jetting off to an island location that’s brimming with white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, colourful buildings and adults-only resorts? Aruba, Saint Lucia or Hawai‘i should do you. Or, for a more private beach vacation, set your sights on Bora Bora and Fiji.

More of a city person? Find a romantic boutique hotel in Scotland, Tokyo or Sydney that’s within walking distance of some cool attractions and restaurants so that you can spend time aimlessly wandering, chatting and connecting with your number-one travel buddy.

Whether you’re turning 32 or 72, your centre for travel can help you book an epic birthday celebration. Get in touch with our Travel Experts to start the party planning — and remember to subscribe to be notified of our latest deals.