Some holidays are rites of passage, from those first teenage trips without parents to post-retirement, blow-the-budget breaks. But recent insights from tour operators suggest that, instead of embracing the bars of Ayia Napa or the cabins of an ocean cruise ship, Britons of every age are seeking out less-travelled paths. Here, experts reveal alternative destinations holidaymakers would do well to consider at each stage of life.
Teens
Favourite: Greek party islands
Alternative: Montenegro
The Greek islands are the stuff of teenage dreams. Trevor Ridler, business development manager at Fred Olsen Travel Agents, says they are popular with people travelling independently for the first time. At Yorkshire-based travel agent, Beverley Travel, Zante (Zakynthos) is among the most popular with customers in their late teens. But another hotspot is gaining ground with this age group thanks to a winning combination of white sand, a buzzy bar scene and a flurry of new hostels and affordable hotels.
In Montenegro, the seaside town of Budva is now regularly named the country’s “party capital”. It has an Old Town to rival the Greek islands’, beach clubs and a yacht-dotted marina. Then there are the beaches of Mogren and Becici.
“When the sun goes down, Budva comes alive. There are bars around the town centre, plus what locals call ‘party beaches’ that really get going late in the evening, before everyone goes to the clubs up in the hills, which have breathtaking views,” says Balkan Holidays’ Chris Rand.
Balkan Holidays has a week half-board in a four-star hotel in Budva from £645pp including flights and transfers, balkanholidays.co.uk
Twenties
Favourite: Thailand
Alternative: Colombia
There was a time when Thailand was a must for any self-respecting backpacker seeking cultural immersion and a Full Moon Party or two. After a long post-pandemic recovery, it is again a popular stop-off point, according to Intrepid Travel – but some young travellers are shunning Asia in favour of less well-trodden territory. “There’s been an increase in travellers wanting to visit South America, including Colombia,” says Gap 360 operations director Jane McLellan.
The hashtag #Colombia has been viewed almost 190 billion times on TikTok; Gen Z are the platform’s biggest audience and the oldest of that generation are turning 26 this year. A government focus on tourism is also having an effect: visitor numbers were up almost 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 compared with 2019. Expect empty Caribbean beaches, hikable canyons, captivating cities and even an ancient site to rival Machu Picchu – the Ciudad Perdida, hidden in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains.
“Colombia has also made significant strides in terms of improving safety and security for travellers,” says McLellan. However, reaching less-visited parts remains difficult and should be done only as part of an escorted trip.
Gap 360’s 12-day Ultimate Colombia itinerary from £1,695pp excluding flights, gap360.com
Thirties
Favourite: Croatia
Alternative: Albania
A decade ago, Croatia was the new Italian Riviera, but it has become a victim of its own success. “The Balkans are growing in popularity as people look for alternative holiday spots to well-known destinations such as Italy and Spain, and a quieter alternative to Croatia,” says Intrepid’s managing director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Zina Bencheikh.
Savvy couples and families are making for Albania and its near 280 miles of coastline instead. Only 30 minutes by high-speed ferry from Corfu, Albania generally has better weather than Croatia, while off-the-beaten-track attractions include the Albanian Alps and Theth National Park. It is a country with a complex history, which includes being part of a vast, Islamic empire for more than 500 years.
“It makes a good case as an intriguing and quirky travel experience,” says Rhia Steele of Undiscovered Destinations. “Rich in Roman and Ottoman architectural sites, with a wild and rugged natural landscape and a beautiful coastline, there is an honesty here that’s lost in more touristy Mediterranean countries.”
Undiscovered Destination’s nine-day Albania Explorer tour from £1,315pp excluding flights, undiscovered-destinations.com.
Forties
Favourite: Canary islands
Alternative: Madeira
With reliably warm weather and a glut of places to stay, the Canary Islands are a fail-safe favourite for families. But another island is having its moment in the sun: previously best known as the retiree destination of choice, Madeira has had a makeover – and occupancy on the island is up 12 per cent in 2023, compared with 2022, according to Key Data.
“When Portugal joined the EU [in the mid-80s], Madeira targeted older people looking for winter sun and it backfired because it got this fusty reputation. But in the past decade, people have started going because of the geography. It’s a very outdoorsy place,” says Paul Bunn of Archipelago Choice.
New low-cost routes have made access cheaper and self-catering is getting easier too. “People are specifically building places for holiday lettings now,” says Bunn.
The range of activities – from mountain biking, hiking the levadas (old water channels cut into the island’s hilly interior) and spotting whales and dolphins (inset) at sea to exploring the island’s beguiling capital Funchal – make for a great holiday with kids of any age.
Archipelago Choice’s eight-day Madeira Activity itinerary from £1,500pp B&B including flights from the UK, archipelagochoice.com.
Fifties
Favourite: Egypt
Alternative: Jordan
Though Egypt remains On The Go Tours’ bestselling destination, another Middle Eastern country is gaining ground, according to the company’s chief executive,
Pete Rooney. “We’ve seen demand for Jordan skyrocket this year, with a growing interest from UK travellers in particular,” he says.
Many of those bookings are from people in their forties or fifties, according to Dorothy Heng of Eastravel, and the most adventurous of them hire a car. “Jordan is a great destination to self-drive or travel with a driver due to the variety of experiences available,” she adds.
These include exploring ancient desert castles lost in the country’s empty landscapes, as well as the lively beachside city of Aqaba.
“The legendary ruined city of Petra has always been a draw,” says Rooney. “But the starring role played by the Wadi Rum desert in recent movies such as Dune has also tempted adventure travellers”.
On The Go Tours’ eight-day Totally Jordan trip from £1,155pp, onthegotours.com
Sixties
Favourite: Caribbean
Alternative: Bali
Forget a fly-and-flop trip to the Caribbean – retirees are now searching out their own Eat Pray Love moments. “Comparing this year to 2022, there has been a whopping 547 per cent increase in bookings to Bali made by those who are 60-plus,” says G Adventures’ EMEA managing director, Brian Young. “They’re moving away from mainstream beach holidays to more immersive, experience-based trips”.
Bali, he says, is “a well-developed destination with a solid infrastructure, but it still offers lots of authenticity”.
There is plenty to explore, including temples, rice terraces and the Mount Batur volcano. However, the island’s pace of life is relaxed and there is ample opportunity to soak in hot springs or stretch out on the palm-backed beaches of Candidasa too.
G Adventures’ eight-day Classic Bali itinerary from £579pp B&B excluding flights, gadventures.com
Seventies
Favourite: Spain
Alternative: Morocco
Spain is still the most popular destination for UK travellers, though fewer British tourists visited in 2022 than pre-pandemic despite a lack of restrictions, according to the Office for National Statistics. Some older holidaymakers are looking slightly further afield to Morocco, according to Intrepid’s Bencheikh. “The country is proving popular with those over 50. It is good-value and offers a warm climate, exotic culture and incredible landscapes, but it is only a few hours’ flight from the UK.”
There are, however, issues to be aware of: many of the country’s famous medinas are made of winding, potholed alleys (some with steep steps), so are not recommended for those with mobility issues, while desert camping can be tiring. To counteract this, a host of specialist tours for older people have sprung up from companies including Odyssey Traveller and ElderTreks.
Intrepid Travel’s 12-day Premium Morocco Explorer trip from £1,820pp excluding flights, intrepidtravel.com
Eighties
Favourite: Ocean cruise
Alternative: Douro river cruise
Cruise travellers are getting younger, with almost half now aged under 60, according to 2022 research by cruise.co.uk. As more families embrace ocean cruises, kids’ clubs, water parks and an array of entertainment have become an increasing focus among larger operators.
River cruises make a good alternative for older travellers seeking peace and quiet, according to Nadya Durrant of One Traveller, which specialises in solo holidays for the over-fifties. Many river cruise lines offer itineraries without single supplements or promote deals in which they are waived.
“Our One Experience cruise along Portugal’s Douro river has sold out twice,” she says. “It’s ideal for over- seventies thanks to a great climate, scenic route and lots of good food and wine. Plus, it goes at the ideal pace.”
Highlights of a trip along the Douro include the canal-threaded town of Aveiro and Salamanca with its Unesco-listed old city, as well as the terraced vineyards that hug the riverside between Portugal and Spain.
Riviera Travel has an eight-day The Douro, Porto and Salamanca cruise from £1,699pp including flights from the UK, rivieratravel.co.uk