Why Your Next Milestone Birthday Deserves a Passport, Not a Party
Some celebrations are worthy of an adventure.
Have you ever thought about turning your next big birthday into an adventure instead of a party?
I’m the queen of the milestone birthday trip. As much as I love my friends, I don’t love big parties and I don’t enjoy hosting. I’d rather spend time with people one-on-one or in small groups, doing something meaningful, memorable, and ideally somewhere far from my kitchen.
The idea of a milestone birthday party? Terrifying.
The idea of a milestone birthday trip? Absolutely everything.
So instead of balloons and hosting stress, I book adventures. And honestly? I’ve never looked back.
How My Milestone Birthday Travel Tradition Began
I grew up in a small country town in outback Queensland, where overseas travel just wasn’t a thing. When I moved to Melbourne at 18, the world suddenly felt bigger, and I couldn’t wait to explore it.
The problem? I had no one to travel with, and the thought of going solo back then was terrifying. So when my 21st birthday rolled around, I put a trip on my birthday wish list. I didn’t even know where I wanted to go, I just knew I wanted to go somewhere.
What happened next still blows my mind.
I was gifted two overseas trips.
Thailand, with my mum
Paris, Athens and the Greek Islands, with my boyfriend at the time
That was it. A tradition was born, and the passport stamp collecting began.
Celebrating my 30th birthday in Samoa.
The Birthday Trip That Changed Everything: Samoa at 30
By the time my 30th birthday rolled around, solo travel no longer scared me, but this time, I wanted to share it with my family.
Someone at work showed me a photo of the To Sua Ocean Trench in Samoa, casually mentioning it was basically in someone’s backyard. My jaw hit the floor. I went home, researched obsessively, and wrote Samoa straight onto my birthday list.
That trip nearly didn’t happen.
Flights were cancelled at the last minute. We arrived the night before my birthday. It poured with rain all day. We had no car, no tours booked, and no Plan B. And yet… it became one of the most memorable birthdays of my life.
Why? Because we leaned into it.
A beautiful dinner booked in advance
A surprise banana cake made by the chef
Live acoustic music and a spontaneous birthday serenade
A birthday cocktail at the bar
A last-minute helicopter flight over Samoa, rain and all, still one of the most special experiences we’ve shared as a family
Lesson learned: even when everything goes wrong, a milestone birthday trip can still be magic.
Celebrating turning 30 in style.
The Reality Check: Not Everyone Can (or Will) Come
Here’s something that matters, and often gets glossed over. Not everyone can afford a birthday trip. Not everyone can take time off work. Not everyone enjoys flying. Not everyone wants to travel… And that’s okay.
Before you plan anything, ask yourself:
Am I okay if only one person comes?
Am I okay if no one comes?
If the answer is no, I recommend this approach:
Celebrate your actual birthday at home with friends and family
Plan a solo adventure shortly after
And if solo travel isn’t your thing? Group tours are a brilliant option… you’ll travel safely, meet like-minded people, and often come home with new travel buddies.
👉 Discover How To Choose The Perfect Group Tour (My Personal Selection Process)
How to Choose the Right Destination for a Milestone Birthday Trip
A milestone birthday doesn’t need to mean a far-flung destination, it just needs to feel special. Here are a few ways to think about it:
1. A Bucket List Destination
Places you’ve always dreamed of (if it’s in the budget) such as Paris, Egypt, Iceland, Morocco.
2. A Bucket List Experience
Maybe you’ve been to the country before, but not that place, such as Stonehenge, the Sahara, Machu Picchu.
3. Bucket List Accommodation
Think luxury where it counts. A private villa in Bali with a pool, chef and butler can feel more special than five cities in ten days, and cost a lot less.
Wherever you choose, this is not the time to cheap out on accommodation. You don’t need five-star prices, but comfort, space and atmosphere matter.
Catching some rays between the rain in Samoa.
Planning the Actual Birthday: What to Do (and What to Avoid)
Book Something Special in Advance
Dinner reservations. A great table. A view. And always let them know it’s your birthday… you never know what might happen.
Dress for the Occasion
Even on holiday. Encourage everyone to pack one special outfit, your photos will thank you later.
Avoid Group Tours on Your Birthday
Tours are great… just not on that day. You’ll have zero control over the itinerary, pace, or vibe. If you’re doing a longer group tour, plan it before or after your birthday and keep the day itself free for more special moments.
Stay Connected
Make sure you’ve got a SIM or Wi-Fi access so birthday messages from home can come through. It matters more than you think.
Planning a Milestone Birthday Trip for Someone Else? Read This.
If you’re organising the trip for someone else, the magic is in the surprises:
Ask staff to sing happy birthday
Organise a cake or dessert
Tell everyone it’s a birthday… drivers, guides, hotel staff
Pack lightweight decorations (balloons, bunting, streamers)
Bring a small gift, even if the trip is the main present
One of my favourite moments recently? Decorating the apartment late at night during our trip to Tasmania so my mum woke up on her birthday surrounded by balloons and streamers. Small effort. Huge impact.
Don’t Forget the Photos (Without Living Behind the Camera)
Allocate someone to be on “photo duty” for the day.
You want:
One or two intentional group shots (sunset is perfect)
Candid moments throughout the day
A solo shot of you (the person celebrating a milestone) in your element
Don’t be afraid to ask waiters, staff, and strangers to take a photo or two… people love helping, and those photos become part of the story.
So… What Am I Doing for My 40th?
Honestly? I’m still figuring it out, but one thing’s for sure… it will be a trip somewhere special.
My birthday falls in shoulder season, and it often overlaps with Easter… Which means weather is usually not ideal, and flights are expensive. So I’m compromising, choosing somewhere new, closer, easier… and saving a bigger adventure for later in the year.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about where you go.
It’s about:
Making the day feel intentional
Creating moments worth remembering
Celebrating in a way that actually feels like you
Let This Be Your Sign
Skip the party you secretly dread. Book the trip you’ll talk about forever.
Whether it’s a milestone birthday, anniversary, or “just because” moment… turn it into an adventure. Even if the weather turns bad. Even if flights get cancelled. Even if plans fall apart.
Those are often the moments you remember most.