<\/p>\n
Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands<\/p>\n
20s Thailand Highway 101, Oregon India Iceland<\/p>\n 30s Riviera Maya, Mexico Walt Disney World, Florida Iceland The Galapagos Islands<\/p>\n 40s U.S. National Parks Galapagos Islands, Ecuador Japan ALSO<\/strong>: Orbucks are timeless. Sign up for Orbitz Rewards and start earning them today!<\/a><\/p>\n The Amalfi Coast<\/p>\n 50s Tanzania European Christmas river cruise Amalfi Coast, Italy Route 66<\/p>\n 60s+ Mediterranean Cruise Canadian Rockies
\n<\/strong>You\u2019re an idealistic adventurer with more time than money. But you\u2019ve got a giant backpack\u2014and aren\u2019t afraid to use it.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Backpacking Thailand is a rite of passage for many twenty-somethings. It\u2019s significantly<\/em> cheaper than doing so in Europe. As a result, Thailand has attracted a fantastic community of youthful travelers. Begin in Bangkok<\/a>, sampling its temples, markets and street food, before launching to Chiang Mai<\/a>, where elephant sanctuaries and “monk chats” await. End your journey in the tropical islands of Phi Phi<\/a> and Koh Phangan, home to the world\u2019s wildest full moon parties.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Grab your BFFs and wind your way down one of the most beautiful coastlines in the USA: Oregon’s\u00a0Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. Dare we say it\u2019s more spectacular than the much-traveled Pacific Coast Highway in California? Rent a car from Portland<\/a> and start in Astoria<\/a> to cruise down a lush and rugged coastline that hugs the Pacific Ocean. You\u2019ll weave in and out of small port towns where whale watching excursions, brewery visits, cheese factory tours and sand dune adventures beckon. You\u2019ll also find budget-friendly motels and hotels where you can crash along the way.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>After springing for the flight, India is a bargain destination where adventures abound. Marvel at the Taj Mahal in Agra<\/a>; visit the ‘Beatles Ashram’ in Rishikesh; cruise the waters of Kerala aboard an iconic houseboat; and join other twenty-somethings in Goa for a kaleidoscope of beachfront parties.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>You\u2019ve got more disposable income and a desire to break free from the 9-to-5. But you may be starting a family and have small kids to factor into vacation plans.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Sink into the sand of Mexico\u2019s best beaches, south \u2013 way<\/em> south \u2013 of party-centric Cancun<\/a>. You\u2019ll find a wide array of all-inclusive resorts that cater to all traveler types, from singles to couples to families, in spots such as Tulum<\/a>, Playa del Carmen<\/a> and Isla Mujeres. (Families will be particularly pleased with resorts that include kids\u2019 clubs and onsite splash parks.) Add some culture to the sun-surf-sand theme by visiting Mayan ruins, such as Tulum and Chichen Itza, or snorkeling the eerily beautiful Underwater Museum of Art<\/a>, where 500 life-size sculptures submerged underwater are growing new coral and attracting diverse sea-life.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>If you\u2019ve got kids, this is the ultimate bucket list family vacation. Ride the iconic attractions (Dumbo the Flying Elephant) while enjoying the newest ones (Pandora \u2013 The World of Avatar). Save money by staying outside the Disney resort grounds, such as along International Drive; however, staying onsite makes it easier to come-and-go to the theme parks as you please, especially if your little ones require afternoon naps. Staying at a Disney property comes with another perk: access to Extra Magic Hours<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>If small kids don\u2019t<\/em> factor into your travel plans, get behind the wheel for a road-trip adventure across Iceland’s Ring Road. Because Iceland is a pricier destination to travel, you won\u2019t find many twenty-something travelers exploring beyond the capital of Reykjavik<\/a>. Instead of a sea of selfie-happy Millennials, you\u2019ll find some of the most incredible and other-worldly landscapes on the planet, from lava-sculpted terrains to glacial peaks to beaches so silent you can hear yourself breathe \u2026 deeply.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>You recognize that travel yields experiences that are priceless. Although you may not have much time, due to \u201cadult\u201d responsibilities competing for those precious vacation days, you plan and set aside the funds for experiences that will produce epic memories.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>We all instinctively crave a little nature. Whether you’re simply looking for the antithesis to your office cubicle or eager to wow your children with natural splendor that’ll tickle all the senses, the U.S. cradles some of the world’s most spectacular parks. Take your pick: Yellowstone<\/a>, Yosemite<\/a>, Grand Tetons<\/a>, Grand Canyon<\/a> … the list goes on. Put your iPhone away to unplug among mountains, trees and lakes that’ll restore your spirit and sense of wonder.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>If Charles Darwin could see it now. The setting he made famous with his Theory of Natural Selection has evolved into a true bucket list travel destination, with an increased number of cruise and charters navigating the archipelago 600 miles off the coast of mainland Ecuador. It’s a Garden of Eden more spectacular than any zoo or wildlife park, with blue-footed boobies, penguins, sea lions, lizards and giant tortoises entertaining young and old alike. (Indeed, the animals are not afraid of humans and seem to always “pose” for pictures.) While the Galapagos<\/a> may prove a pricier family<\/em> destination than, say a U.S. National Park, it certainly caters to kids’ curiosities and is one to experience before tourism overtakes the setting.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Say “Konichiwa” to Japan if\u00a0<\/em>you are traveling without young kids in tow. (The long flight and major time zone difference would make it a challenging family trip.) Pair exploration of Tokyo<\/a> and Kyoto<\/a>, Japan’s main cities connected by bullet train, with settings that delve deeper into the culture. Consider staying in a traditional ryokan near Mt. Fuji or spending a few nights in Okinawa. Often called the “Galapagos of the East” for its beautifully diverse flora and fauna, Okinawa is also home to one of the world’s oldest populations. Perhaps they’ll share their secret to longevity with you?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>As your travel experience has grown, your motivation for traveling has become more refined and niche, and you likely have more money to indulge. You also don\u2019t necessarily want to be traveling in settings crawling with twenty-somethings.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Customize a luxury safari that strings together jaw-dropping settings across the Serengeti. From the comfort of your open-air vehicle or upscale lodge, spot the Big Five: elephants, lions, buffalos, rhinos and leopards. (Some upscale tent camps even feature partially open-air showers where it’s not uncommon to watch giraffes graze on nearby trees as you bathe.) Be sure to time a trip around The Great Migration, a fascinating natural phenomenon straight out of National Geographic, and tack on a few nights post-safari on the island of Zanzibar<\/a> for some R&R before flying home.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Nobody does the Christmas season quite like Europe. Gather your family for a weeklong river cruise in December along the Danube or Rhine Rivers. Unpack once and settle into your cabin, as the boat winds through settings such as Nuremberg, Salzburg, Vienna and other towns that host centuries-old Christmas markets. Onboard, you\u2019ll enjoy meals and holiday diversions, with time to explore festive port towns at your leisure.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>La dolce vita, indeed. Indulge in culinary delights and copious amounts of limoncello from a private terrace overlooking Positano, Ravello, Capri or any of the other glamorous settings that make the Amalfi Coast of Italy such a swoon-worthy destination\u2014and one best experienced when you’ve got money to spend. Hire a private driver to navigate the topsy-turvy roads perched above the Mediterranean so that you can savor the setting and not sweat the steering.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>As you inch toward retirement, you appreciate more white-glove attentiveness and less rugged adventure (even as the wanderlust of your 20s remains). Go ahead and splurge, you\u2019ve earned it.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>You’re well-past the age of bouncing around hostels carting a backpack. Unpack once and let a cruise ship<\/a> string together European destinations such as Barcelona, St. Tropez, Monte Carlo, Rome, Capri, Venice and Athens. It’s a delicious sampling platter of history, culture and cuisine in style\u2014and without all of that running around. Travel with your adult children (and let them pay for it).<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Oh, Canada! Witness remote wilderness and unfolding mountain peaks as you journey by rail, comfortably seated in a glass-domed train car. While there are several options to explore Canada by train, The Rocky Mountaineer is considered one of the world’s greatest train journeys for its varied itinerary options, gourmet meals and, of course, dazzling views. From April to October, this rail adventure slices through the Canadian West, with overnight stops in British Columbia (Vancouver<\/a>, Whistler<\/a>, Quesnel) and Alberta (Banff<\/a>, Calgary<\/a>, Lake Louise).<\/p>\n
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