Happy Birthday Travel: How to Plan a Birthday Vacation
by Jenny Javitch, Founder of Global Game Plan
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Are you unsure what to do on your birthday, but know it should involve travel? Maybe you’re celebrating a milestone birthday, your golden birthday or just interested in planning a fun birthday getaway. Whether you would like to travel for your birthday with a group, as a couple, or on a solo adventure, follow these steps for planning a birthday trip and you will be off celebrating in no time!
1. Imagine your ideal vacation
Think about your vision for this special trip. What is the trip style that will match your ideal birthday vacation? Is it to relax and enjoy your birthday on the beach, party it up with friends, get in some solid “me” time, go on a romantic getaway with your significant other or spend time with your family? Maybe you’re just looking for unique ideas to celebrate a birthday.
Consider how much work you want to put into planning this celebration travel experience. Do you have the bandwidth to plan a group adventure or can you ask someone else to be in charge? Would you prefer something low key, or an all-inclusive resort or cruise, where most of the work is done for you?
Based on your vision for your trip and the answers to those questions, decide who should be on the birthday invite list. Big or small group, solo trip or party for two, in-town or out of town guests, friends or family…it’s your birthday vacation so you get to choose who you would like to join the trip.
Related: Global Game Plan would love to help you plan this birthday vacation!
2. Select the date
This might be obvious, but it’s possible you will celebrate your birthday while traveling before or after your actual birthday. If this is the case and you will be alone on your actual birthday, check out this awesome idea for how to spend your day. Or, maybe you are one of those people who like to celebrate your birthday for a whole month!
Related: How to Plan a Travel-Themed Birthday Party on Zoom
3. Choose a birthday destination
So many fun places to go for your birthday could make it difficult to choose! There are tons of factors to consider when choosing your birthday trip destination, and if you would like to include a “signature activity or event,” it may be dependent upon your chosen birthday destination. Of course, the entire trip can be about celebrating your birthday; but consider making one or two activities the main events that truly embody the best way to celebrate your birthday while traveling. Here are some examples to get the ball rolling:
Road tripping through a National Park
Getting dressed up to enjoy a fancy meal
Attending a famous Broadway show
Seeing your favorite sports team live on the field
Going on an adventure like whitewater rafting or taking a hot air balloon ride
Taking a fun tour around the town
Maybe you want the focus of your trip to be your accommodations! Renting a vacation home with a beautiful view, splurging on a luxury hotel or resort, enjoying a spa weekend or trying something new like glamping are all exciting ways to make your lodging special.
On the other hand, could your birthday vacation be in any destination as long as you have a special celebration at dinner with birthday cake, singing and balloons? You could even choose to invite some out-of-town friends to visit the city where you live and plan the ultimate staycation.
It’s all up to you!
Related: 23 Great Ideas for Your 40th Birthday Trip
4. Set your budget and plan for the trip logistics
There are plenty of ways to save money while traveling, but if you’re vacationing with others, it’s important to set budget expectations and discuss related details up front.
Sort out logistics, like how you’re getting to your destination and where you are going to stay. If you’re going with a group, are your guests coming from different locations or do you want to fly on the same plane? Do you want to book a vacation rental or have connecting hotel rooms? Who is in charge of logistics like booking transportation, lodging, activity bookings, and meal reservations?
Related: How to Celebrate Your Birthday Alone - Take a Virtual Vacation!
5. Create your itinerary
How will you spend each day of your birthday vacation? Do you prefer a jam-packed itinerary with multiple activities or a more chill vacation with lots of free time? In addition to including a “signature activity or event” from above, you can implement the following ideas on how to make your birthday special for yourself:
Ask for some birthday gifts from this list – travel themed of course!
Pick up some souvenirs from your vacation so the memories will last forever.
Document this celebration travel experience – think about hiring a photographer for a day…you can search for one in your birthday destination on Airbnb experiences.
If you would like Global Game Plan to curate a list of activities just for your birthday trip, reach out and let us know.
In summary, the answer to “what to do on my birthday?” is, of course, travel! By following the steps outlined here you will be on your way to an awesome birthday vacation in no time!
Need some help planning this birthday getaway? Global Game Plan is ready to help you with everything from destination ideas to vacation rental search, or planning activities the entire group will love. Contact us for a FREE travel consultation and let’s get planning!
Happy Birthday Traveler!