9 Best Places To Celebrate A Milestone Birthday

While every birthday is cause for merriment, milestone birthdays necessitate a bit more pomp and circumstance. For many, it can feel like a big deal to enter into a new decade. Energetic and lively destinations like New Zealand and Spain are great for when you’re in your twenties. Cultural tours through India or Thailand are perfect for exploring in your thirties. Luxury ranches in Montana, private tours in the UAE, and brand-new properties in Singapore are just the thing for well-heeled folks in their fifties. Of course, Paris and Vienna are always a good idea.

No matter what age bracket you’re reveling in, however, you’ll never regret marking the special occasion in a grand way. For those who love to accumulate experiences over material things, consider traveling to one of these fantastic destinations to celebrate a milestone birthday.

Singapore

An island country in southeast Asia, many travelers put Singapore at the top of their bucket list after seeing the movie Crazy Rich Asians. Well worth the visit, especially to celebrate your birthday, this city-state has much to see, from popular attractions like Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest, Singapore Flyer, and Universal Studios Singapore. The modern architecture is also quite stunning—the Helix Footbridge, Marina Bay Sands, and Esplanade for starters. Singapore, a beautiful walkable city with great public transportation, is modern, clean, and oh-so green.

Pro Tip: To maximize your time and get the most for your buck, secure a Go City all-inclusive pass, which will grant you access to fun hot spots like the Flower Dome and Avatar Experience at Gardens by the Bay.

Where to Stay: New to the scene, Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore is a destination in itself where architectural delights abound through four well-designed nature-forward stacked environments: Forest, Beach, Garden, and Cloud. When you’re not lounging on your room’s luxe balcony, swimming in the outdoor pool, or enjoying a cocktail in the jewel-toned Florette, you’ll be dining in Mosella, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This whimsical luxury hotel has to be seen to be believed.

North Island, New Zealand

New Zealand’s North Island is an adventurer’s paradise, full of mountain biking, ziplining, and hiking. From exceptional dining opportunities in Auckland, the country’s largest city, to wine tasting on Waiheke Island, scrambling on Rangitoto Island, sailing at Taupo, and soaking in thermal pools in Rotorua, there’s much to experience on this wild and fern-filled island. Grab your outdoorsy besties and enter a new decade in a festive way.

Pro Tip: A member of Star Alliance (United Airlines), Air New Zealand has non-stop flights from six major US cities.

Montana

Perhaps the best way to celebrate your birthday with kids in tow is through a classic dude ranch experience with acres upon acres of tree-filled wilderness at your feet. From trail riding to cattle drives, cowboy cookouts to fine dining, white water rafting to fly fishing, Montana’s The Resort at Paws Up is just the nature-filled escape you’re yearning for. Blow out your birthday candles while staying in a luxury ranch home, where you’ll spend quality time with your family exploring the ranch’s adventuresome activities during the day and star gazing during a relaxing soak in the outdoor hot tub at night. Go ahead, you’ve earned it!

Pro Tip: Time your visit with one of the resort’s many special events held throughout the year. From wilderness workshops to live music to culinary happenings, it’s all here.

India

Exploring India’s Golden Triangle, a well-traveled circuit that includes New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, is on many travelers’ wish-lists. Who wouldn’t want to see Old Delhi’s narrow streets via rickshaw; shop for incense, spices, and textiles on a walking tour through Chandni Chowk; and wander the grounds of Humayun’s Tomb and the Red Fort? What adventurer’s catalog doesn’t include Fatehpur Sikri or the perfectly symmetrical Taj Mahal in Agra? And no visit to India is complete without experiencing the wonder of “The Pink City”, Jaipur. Marvel at the Hawa Mahal, The City Palace, and Amber Palace.

Pro Tip: To seamlessly weave all three cities together and experience the best of the Golden Triangle on a custom tour, employ the expert services of The Leela Palace New Delhi and The Leela Palace Jaipur. Both art-filled properties have stellar service, amenities, and exclusive dining opportunities. With The Leela Palace Trail, the professional team can curate a bespoke multi-day itinerary, including airport transfers, guides, and cultural experiences.

Dubai

Whether you’re visiting the UAE for several nights or you’re just popping in for a layover, be sure to make time for a desert safari. Platinum Heritage Dubai, a leading eco-luxury safari, makes visiting the region’s desert habitat stress-free. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel—The 25hours Hotel One Central is a solid choice, especially for celebrating a milestone birthday—and bring you to the conservation reserve where you’ll hop in a vintage Land Rover and explore the wilderness ecosystem in style. This inimitable once-in-a-lifetime experience also includes an educational falconry demonstration, exclusive Emirati cuisine at a Bedouin camp, a short camel ride, interactive musical performances, and more. Your friendly guide will be with you from start to finish, enlightening you about the distinctive flora and fauna along the way.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna’s youthful energy has a way of grabbing hold of you while, at the same time, allowing you to appreciate the history and architecture that this capital city is known for. Situated along the Danube River, this artistic and intellectual hub is not only known for its famous past residents—Mozart, Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud, but also, its imperial palaces, museums, and cathedrals. Explore Belvedere Palace, see the Spanish Riding School, snap photos of the Vienna Operahouse, gaze at St Stephen’s Cathedral’s spires, and try the wiener schnitzel. You’ll love how walkable the city is as well as how easy it is to get around via public transportation.

Where to Stay: Bold and beautiful, with multi-hued art-filled community spaces set in a modern building, SO/Vienna is chic with monochromatic luxe accommodations. Well located, with a beautiful rooftop restaurant and bar, Das LOFT, this brilliant hotel is ideal for any birthday celebration.

Paris

Any time is a good time to visit Paris, but this sentiment is especially true for a birthday celebration. Do yourself a favor and book accommodations at Maison Colbert, Melia Collection. Located in the Latin Quarter, within easy walking distance to the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Shakespeare and Company independent bookstore and café, this 16^th-Century boutique hotel is on a quiet street, away from the chatter of the city. There’s a lovely courtyard, with outdoor seating, a café that serves delicious espresso and croissants in addition to a lovely breakfast buffet, and amenable staff that are ready help at a moment’s notice.

Bangkok, Thailand

The first thing you’ll notice about Bangkok, one of the most-loved metropolises to visit in Southeast Asia, is how colorful and vibrant the chaotic atmosphere is, especially at night. See The Grand Palace, Chinatown, the country’s largest reclining buddha at Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and one of the hectic markets. After negotiating the fare beforehand, grab a tuk-tuk and explore the city in a gritty, wind-in-your-face kind of way. While touristy to be sure, stroll Khao San Road, the “backpacker capital of the world”, where noisy bars compete for your attention, hawkers too, and street food is easy to be found.

Madrid, Spain

Nightlife abounds in Spain’s capital city. Explore Madrid’s wide boulevards and trimmed parks by day and then sip cocktails and listen to live music by night. Nestled in the heart of the city, near the Royal Palace and the Opera House, Palacio de los Duques Gran Melia is a show stopper with its handsome garden and Restaurant Dos Cielos Madrid, located in what was once the old palace stables. This historic building was once the Santo Domingo convent and later the private residences of art collectors. You’ll love the opulent and mysterious-feeling interior, full of artworks and theatrical public spaces.