If you have a birthday ending in -0 approaching, you may have a little fear in your heart at jumping into a new decade or trepidation at the growing number of silver hairs sprouting from your hairline. But the way to beat any fear is to acknowledge it head on: in the case of a birthday this means celebrate outrageously.
Forget understated, this is the chance to go decadent. Here are six ideas to celebrate a big birthday in style.
Go to space
If you have £130,000 to spare and fancy going to somewhere completely out of this world, why not travel to space? Richard Branson’s much-awaited Virgin Galactic launches in 2014, and if you book a ticket you’ll rub shoulders with the A listers: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are believed to have signed up to the SpaceShipTwo aircraft, along with Richard Branson’s family.
Go on a retreat
They’re associated with hippies and escapists, but retreats are essentially a place to escape the world for a bit, indulge in some peace and quiet and get back in touch with your body and mind in the company of other folk who want to do the same. Yoga retreats are popular all over the world, and if you have the time, you can learn to become a yoga teacher.
Party like it’s 1999
There’s no better excuse than a birthday ending in -0 to party. The world’s party capital is Las Vegas, of course, a 24-hour cocktail of juices, restaurants, coffee points, clubs and pizza spots. Berlin, Ibiza and Budapest are close-to-home party favourites, while further afield Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv and Havana are known let-your-hair-down cities. If it’s a beach party you’re after, Thailand holds its infamous full moon parties each month, with the original in Haad Rin on the island of Ko Pha Ngan. Don’t forget your dancing shoes.
Go on a roadtrip
Forget flying into a city, exploring for a few days, then flying straight back home - the best way to travel in the USA is by touring. Alternative American holidays get you beyond the bright lights of the big cities to explore the incredible natural landscapes that are often missed by holidaymakers. A road trip is the classic way to travel, and America has some of the world’s most famous: The Pacific Coast Highway in California and Route 66 between Chicago and Arizona are two of the most famous.
Do what you love best
What really makes you tick? Music? Dancing? Food? Cycling? A big birthday is an excuse to do what you really want to. For some folk that might mean emulating Bradley Wiggins and signing up to holiday cycling the route of the Tour de France, for others, a more sedentary break discovering the wineries of the Dordogne in France might be in order. If you struggle to get your friends and family involved in what you love, now is a perfect excuse to get them to come along – or choose to go on a solo holiday and meet others who share your passion.
Learn something new
You’re never too old to learn, as the saying goes, and why not put it to the test and learn something new. It could be something you’ve been thinking about for years, something that will give you skills to change careers, or just something you enjoy. From massage to reflexology, web design to journalism, there are countless courses out there geared at adult learners, and who knows, a new skill might just open the door to a new chapter in your life.
Forget understated, this is the chance to go decadent. Here are six ideas to celebrate a big birthday in style.
Go to space
If you have £130,000 to spare and fancy going to somewhere completely out of this world, why not travel to space? Richard Branson’s much-awaited Virgin Galactic launches in 2014, and if you book a ticket you’ll rub shoulders with the A listers: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are believed to have signed up to the SpaceShipTwo aircraft, along with Richard Branson’s family.
Go on a retreat
They’re associated with hippies and escapists, but retreats are essentially a place to escape the world for a bit, indulge in some peace and quiet and get back in touch with your body and mind in the company of other folk who want to do the same. Yoga retreats are popular all over the world, and if you have the time, you can learn to become a yoga teacher.
Party like it’s 1999
There’s no better excuse than a birthday ending in -0 to party. The world’s party capital is Las Vegas, of course, a 24-hour cocktail of juices, restaurants, coffee points, clubs and pizza spots. Berlin, Ibiza and Budapest are close-to-home party favourites, while further afield Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv and Havana are known let-your-hair-down cities. If it’s a beach party you’re after, Thailand holds its infamous full moon parties each month, with the original in Haad Rin on the island of Ko Pha Ngan. Don’t forget your dancing shoes.
Go on a roadtrip
Forget flying into a city, exploring for a few days, then flying straight back home - the best way to travel in the USA is by touring. Alternative American holidays get you beyond the bright lights of the big cities to explore the incredible natural landscapes that are often missed by holidaymakers. A road trip is the classic way to travel, and America has some of the world’s most famous: The Pacific Coast Highway in California and Route 66 between Chicago and Arizona are two of the most famous.
Do what you love best
What really makes you tick? Music? Dancing? Food? Cycling? A big birthday is an excuse to do what you really want to. For some folk that might mean emulating Bradley Wiggins and signing up to holiday cycling the route of the Tour de France, for others, a more sedentary break discovering the wineries of the Dordogne in France might be in order. If you struggle to get your friends and family involved in what you love, now is a perfect excuse to get them to come along – or choose to go on a solo holiday and meet others who share your passion.
Learn something new
You’re never too old to learn, as the saying goes, and why not put it to the test and learn something new. It could be something you’ve been thinking about for years, something that will give you skills to change careers, or just something you enjoy. From massage to reflexology, web design to journalism, there are countless courses out there geared at adult learners, and who knows, a new skill might just open the door to a new chapter in your life.