Best Places To Go for Your Birthday as an Adult

Look, we're all friends here — and if this past year has left you inches away from falling into a rhythmic stereotypy under the table, fantasizing about an adults-only getaway, you're in good company. If your birthday's just around the corner, it might just be the ideal excuse to book one in.

Adult life often undulates somewhere between partially and totally relinquishing control of our schedules to balance the precious priorities of our families, finances and careers. Often, when we feel we have the least control, we're the most compelled to throw those schedules to the wind and reclaim a version of ourselves without the calendar.

So, if you're ready for a break from the school drops, reminders that your insurance is up for renewal and meetings that should be emails, keep reading. This guide explores the best places to celebrate your birthday as an adult, including activities, unique ideas and planning tips. That way, you can leave work priorities back on land where they belong and sail off into a tropical sunset and a personal new year in some of the world's most intoxicating coastal destinations.

Why the Zero-Decision Birthday Vacations Win

The bane of adulthood is that there's no “maximum decision quota,” after which we aren't allowed make any more choices. This is great because it gives us the freedom to make new decisions every day. It can also lead to decision fatigue (sound familiar?).

To exercise our freedom, we need to consciously veer away from the same-same choices we make on autopilot and say yes to fresh, new realities. I know as well as the next guy that birthday travel vacations and decision-making are becoming synonymous. Still, there's one option that strips out the clutter, providing an all-inclusive feel accompanied by a smorgasbord of lighter decisions to make — or not — depending on how you feel. That vacation is a cruise.

Imagine only having to unpack once. Imagine a selection of world-class drinks and meals available where and when you need them. Imagine going to bed when you want and having a warm shower and a comfortable bed waiting. Imagine having the beaming sun, spa treatments, nightlife, a jogging track, swim-up bars and Broadway-caliber shows no more than a few decks away from your stateroom. Moreover, imagine doing it without the kids.

If you're up for an adults-only cruise birthday celebration, the only real decision required is your destination.

The Best Adults-Only Destinations for Your Birthday Vacation

1. Perfect Day at CocoCay

Unleash your inner child without the actual children on a Royal Caribbean private island. If your idea of a perfect day involves an amusement-park-style island where you don't have to carry anyone's wet towels, this one’s for you.

​​Make a beeline for Hideaway Beach℠, an adults-only space with a private beach, its own DJ and a swim-up bar serving sunset-colored cocktails while you float around in an infinity pool. It’s all thrills and chill, no shrill and ideal for a​ quick weekend getaway if you’re short on PTO

2. St. Maarten

3. St. Thomas

4. Santorini, Greece

5. The French Riviera

Unique Birthday Ideas for Adults on Board the Ship

Among the best realizations you can have as an adult is that not everyone operates the same way you do — including travel — and that's absolutely fine. Similarly, among the best aspects of cruising to somewhere tropical is that everyone can travel however they want.

That said, if you need a few cards up your sleeve to get different friends on board, here's how you can paint it: