21 Trip Ideas to Celebrate a Milestone Birthday

Do you have a big, milestone birthday coming up this year or next? Or perhaps you missed celebrating last year? Pandemic era Zoom celebrations just don't cut it.

Here at Videre Travel, we have been busy planning several fantastic milestone birthday celebrations for our clients. It seems that now more than ever big celebrations, together with friends and family, is what travelers are eager to plan.

So today we wanted to share some of our favorite destinations for a celebration trip. These work for all group sizes, and we're preferred partners with all the properties mentioned so you can expect special added amenities and VIP treatment throughout.

Here are 21 fabulous ideas for a milestone birthday celebration!

1. Take over a boutique hotel right on the beach in Belize

We've planned several milestone birthdays in Belize - and can't think of a better place to host than Turtle Inn. Located in the charming beach town of Placencia, Turtle Inn offers several standalone suites and even a few larger villas. Owned by Francis Ford Coppola, here the food and wine are amazing. This is an easy option for a shorter weekend celebration getaway.

2. Book a Private Island in Panama

Or how about a private island a bit further south in Central America just for your family and friends? Isla Palenque is a 400-acre, private, tropical island resort in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama. Discover primary forests, 7 secluded beaches and a sacred history of archaeological significance. Book the Beachfront Villa Estate and add on standalone Beachfront Casitas as people join (there are 8 total).

3. Create Your Own Flotilla in the Virgin Islands

What's better than chartering a sailboat in the Caribbean? Chartering several sailboats in the Caribbean! This is a fun one to plan - book a catamaran for 4-6 people, and as more people join the celebration we can add more boats. Learn more about a sailing trip in the Caribbean here.

4. Backcountry Skiing in a Charming Colorado Mountain Town

If your crew is adventurous, head to Crested Butte Colorado for some backcountry cat skiing. We love Scarp Ridge Lodge for a large group or Sopris House for a smaller group. Both are operated by adventure outfitter Eleven Experience. Your snow cat picks you up right out front of the lodge, and whisks you up to some of the best backcountry skiing in the United States!

5. Explore the Galapagos by Private Yacht

Here's another fun adventure! Head down to the Galapagos Islands and stay in a private villa on Santa Cruz island. We have two private villas just steps away from one another. You can book one and if the group grows easily book the second. We'll charter a private yacht so you can spend your days exploring the uninhabited islands, viewing exotic wildlife, and enjoying a variety of water sports.

6. Private Mobile Luxury Camping near Lake Powell

Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir on the Colorado River along the Utah and Arizona border, is a pretty unique destination. Here you have warm, clean water and the striking contrast of the red rocks of Glen Canyon. And here we have private mobile camping, the most luxurious way to experience Lake Powell and the perfect setting for a unique milestone birthday celebration.

7. Luxury in the Wilderness at Clayoquot Vancouver Island

And for even more wilderness, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge located on Vancouver Island, is the perfect mix of adventure and luxury. Spend your days with bears and whales frolicking in the pristine waters and forest around Vancouver Island. An all-inclusive experience, you can set you own agenda and be as adventurous or as relaxed as you like. Here, you can book a few luxury tents, and as more people join the celebration simply book more tents.

8. Even MORE Luxury in the Wilderness at Sheldon Chalet

And for even MORE adventure Sheldon Chalet is the place! Set on the only privately-owned land in Denali National Park in Alaska, book this property for your group and spend a few nights exploring this pristine national park. 50 years and three generations of the Sheldon Family have worked to create this super special luxury lodge in one of the most remote corners of the continent.

9. Slow Down and Enjoy Nature at Morgan's Rock Nicaragua

A perfect, massive crescent of a beach offers a beautiful and safe setting for a big birthday celebration at Morgan's Rock in Nicaragua. There are few places on earth where you can spend days on end exploring this private coastline, playing in the water, relaxing on the beach - and see almost no one else! Each standalone room is perched on the hillside among the trees with a private plunge pool - and there are a few lovely 2-bedroom suites that work perfectly for families.

10. Charter a Traditional Gulet Boat in Croatia

Croatia's Dalmatian coast offer perfect sailing conditions, and when combined with the local Mediterranean cuisine, historic sites and friendly culture - it's a perfect destination for a milestone birthday celebration! A Gulet Boat is a traditional design of a two-masted or three-masted wooden sailing vessel (the most common design has two masts) and typically 4 - 6 cabins.

11. Wine and Dine in San Sebastian Spain

The food and wine experience in San Sebastian, Spain are like nothing else in the world. Basque gastronomy has gained its fame largely for two quite different areas of the culinary world: Pintxos, or pinchos, (the Basque word for 'tapas') and Michelin star restaurants. If you're a foodie, consider spending a few days in San Sebastian enjoying days packed with wine tasting, cooking classes, and simply enjoying a slower pace of life in the quaint Old Town.

12. All the Fresh Air in the Italian Dolomites

The Italian Dolomites are a perfect mix of Italian and Swiss cultures. Set in the dramatic Dolomite mountain range, here the air is crisp, people are friendly, and the food and wine are spectacular. Spend a day hiking in the mountains and enjoy a gourmet lunch at a traditional rifugio in the middle of nowhere!

13. Rent a Luxe Villa in Los Cabos Mexico

Los Cabos, located at the tip of the Baja peninsula, has some of the best large villas in all of Mexico. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Los Cabos - whether you decide to bring the kids or not!

14. Relax at an Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resort

While we don't book big all inclusive resorts very often, for an adults-only milestone birthday celebration they can be a great idea! It's easy to add rooms as people are able to confirm and just about as stress-free as it gets! For a fun, quick and easy celebration - UNICO Riviera Maya in Mexico is a fabulous option. Here you'll find a fun pool scene, great beach, and wonderful food.

15. Safari in Africa is even Better with Friends!

A safari in Africa should be on everyone's bucket list. Whether traveling as a family, as a couple, or as an extended multi-generational group - there really is an adventure for everyone. Consider planning a 3-4 night safari at one of our favorite tented camps for a milestone birthday celebration. Then, friends and family can do their own thing on either side of the celebration safari. You'll be giving friends and family a good excuse to plan a trip of a lifetime to Africa!

16. Charming Caribbean Cottages in Key West Florida

Sunset Key Cottages in Florida, located on an island just off the coast from Key West, Florida, is the perfect home base for a milestone birthday celebration. They have several multi-bedroom cottages so your group can relax with plenty of space on an island - and hop over to Key West via their private boat at any time.

17. Low-key Luxury at Goldeneye Jamaica

Goldeneye is a Videre Travel favorite! Located in Oracabessa, just outside Ocho Rios, this boutique property is owned by Chris Blackwell, the famed music producer who discovered Bob Marley. As you might expect, the property is full of great music, style and that classic laid back Jamaican vibe. You can book private villas or smaller beach huts, all just steps to the water.

18. Private Villa in Grand Cayman Island

Grand Cayman Island is home to a wide range of spectacular private villas. And seeing as the island is extremely easy to navigate, really there is only one road that rings the island, you'll want to get out and explore. We love Rum Point, home to a few fun restaurants and super laid back lifestyle. Spend a few days out on a boat, snorkel and relax with friends and family for a perfect birthday celebration!

19. Food and Wine in California Wine Country

Wine country is always a good idea. Spend your days biking through the rolling hills, tasting wine, learning about the different farms and hearing stories directly from the winemakers. Carneros Resort and Spa is the perfect home-base for your celebration. The Napa property offers charming cottages and suites as well as six luxurious private homes clustered throughout the property. Inspired by Napa’s working countryside with farm-style architecture and an indoor-outdoor feel, the individual cottages are set up in small "neighborhoods" so even if you have a large group you can all be close together.

20. The Brando in Tahiti

The Brando is one of the coolest properties in the world. Set within a private archipelago owned by Marlon Brando's family, it's an absolutely perfect experience from start to finish. The villas are massive, the spa is world class, dining is fresh and delicious and the service is perfection. What more can we say?

21. Lake Life in Northern Minnesota

There’s something truly special about the Midwestern United States in the summer. The air takes on a rich, organic scent and as the sun begins its journey towards the horizon each evening, a beautiful mist sets in. There are over ten thousand lakes that dot the Minnesota landscape, and during the summer months the lake is the place to be. For a fun and easy celebration destination, book a lake house and spend time together with friends and family playing on Minnesota's famous lakes!