Exploring the Travel Trend of Celebration Vacations
These 6 destinations are the perfect place to celebrate your next birthday, anniversary, family reunion and more
When Chez Chesak’s wife, Sally, recently turned 50 and his older daughter, Lillian, graduated from high school, he and his family celebrated not with conventional parties or presents, but with the gift of travel. Sally’s 50th brought them to Belize, and Lillian’s graduation took them on a Western Caribbean cruise. Now, they have a trip to Thailand in the works to celebrate the high school graduation of younger daughter, Jasper, and a vacation to Germany on the horizon to observe Chez’s belated 50th birthday. "Happy Birthday"
AAA member Chez Chesak and family venture on a cave tour in Belize; photo courtesy of Chez Chesak
“Any time you shake it up a bit and get the family away from their usual comforts and off their usual schedules—and ubiquitous devices—it creates an opportunity to truly become closer over those shared challenges, adventures and discoveries,” says Chesak, a AAA member from Cincinnati. “I don’t think there’s anything else out there that can bring a family together and further cement the bonds between them the way that travel does.”
The Chesaks’ celebration vacations are part of the fast-growing trend of milestone travel. From celebrating big birthdays (especially those ending in zeros), honeymoons and wedding anniversaries, to graduations, retirement and family reunions, milestone travel is about sharing momentous occasions and creating cherished memories in the chapters of our lives.
“Families and friends are finding that experiences are the way to celebrate life,” says Dawn Widney, senior travel advisor at the AAA Store in Troy, Ohio. “Life is short, so I advise my clients to enjoy a new destination together to celebrate life’s big moments, whether that’s at an all-inclusive resort, on a European tour or on a multigenerational cruise.”
If you’re looking to mark your next milestone in a special way, we offer some vacation inspiration for a journey to remember.
Waikīkī Beach in O‘ahu, Hawai‘i; photo by kyo46/stock.adobe.com
HAWAI‘I FOR HONEYMOONS
The Hawaiian Islands have long been the darling of destinations for honeymooners—and it’s as crystal clear as a Hawaiian waterfall why.
Laze on a sun-kissed white-sand beach in O‘ahu. Stroll through lush gardens in Kaua‘i. Watch the sunrise from the summit of a dormant volcano in Maui. Hike to hidden waterfalls in Moloka‘i. Snorkel in turquoise-blue waters at a marine sanctuary in Lāna‘i. Indulge in a couple’s spa treatment at an uber-luxe resort on Hawai‘i, the Big Island.
Island-hop among Hawai‘i’s six main islands, or find your favorite and snuggle in.
Riviera Maya, Mexico; photo by zstock/stock.adobe.com
A MEXICO ALL-INCLUSIVE FOR ANNIVERSARIES
Traditional gifts like paper for your 1st wedding anniversary, silver for your 25th and gold for your 50th are nice, but may we suggest the sun, sand and surf of an anniversary trip to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico? Mexico has thousands of all-inclusives along its thousands of miles of postcard-perfect coastline. While each has its appeal—with emphasis on breathtaking beaches, delectable dining, splendid spas and the like—you can count on them all offering one hassle-free up-front price for packages that typically include accommodations, food and beverages, activities and entertainment.
Sure, selecting the best one for you won’t be easy, but it certainly will be fun!
Paris; photo by Ednurg/stock.adobe.com
PARIS FOR BIG BIRTHDAYS
Ahh, Paris. The City of Light knows how to shine extra-bright on birthdays.
Picture yourself celebrating your special day taking in sweeping city views from the Eiffel Tower, cruising down the iconic Seine River past storybook architecture, and enjoying French pastries and coffee at a sidewalk café.
Or perhaps you see yourself shopping in a ritzy boutique for the latest couture, meandering through kaleidoscopic gardens and standing before world-renowned art at any of the city’s 100-plus museums.
Best. Birthday. Ever.
Matanuska Glacier in Glacier View, Alaska; photo by Dcrane Photography/stock.adobe.com
ALASKA FOR GRADUATIONS
How did you spend your summer vacation? If it’s the summer after graduation, why not answer that familiar question with “traveling in Alaska”?
Warm temperatures and long days make summer prime time for exploring The Last Frontier. Whether you take a cruise, a land tour or a combination thereof, visiting Alaska is the stuff that graduation dreams are made of.
Imagine trekking across glistening glaciers, flightseeing over snow-capped mountains and chasing the dazzling northern lights. Or how about rafting down a whooshing river, taking a dip in a hot spring, or watching bears catch fish or whales breach?
That’s a summer vacation for the books.
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland; photo by Sebastien Burel/stock.adobe.com
AUSTRALIA FOR RETIREMENTS
If you’ve always yearned to visit Australia but never had the time for the average 21-hour flight to get there, retirement clears your schedule.
From the Great Barrier Reef to golden Bondi Beach, from the Sydney Opera House to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, from the slopes of Uluru to the rugged outback, The Land Down Under is a land of dramatic natural wonders and diverse cultural treasures begging to be explored.
Now it’s time to pack—and practice that accent: G’day, mate!
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas; photo Courtesy of Royal Caribbean
A CARIBBEAN CRUISE FOR FAMILY REUNIONS
You want to vacation with extended family of varied ages, interests and budgets. You don’t want to split checks and split hairs on what to do and when to do it. What’s a travel-loving family to do? Take a Caribbean cruise.
Practically every major cruise line sails to the Caribbean, so you have a boatload of options for costs, itineraries and ships.
A Caribbean cruise combines the best of all vacation worlds on land and at sea. Think port calls to vibrant cities and beauteous beaches; comfy accommodations and gourmet dining; spectacular entertainment, nonstop activities, plunge-worthy pools, sumptuous spas and more.
No major milestone on the calendar? Celebrate the stepping stones, those smaller meaningful moments. Or on one of the other 364 days a year, why not celebrate your un-birthday? Because while it’s nice to have a major reason for a milestone vacation, the joy of travel can be reason enough.