Want to celebrate a birthday overseas? Make sure you do it right

March 31, 2026 — 5:00am

I have a friend who is in the throes of organising a 60th birthday party for himself. It’s a milestone in his life and he wants to do something special.

So, he’s throwing the party in Italy.

Over the years, I’ve been invited to a few birthday parties and weddings that were held overseas. One wedding was held on a cruise ship in Australian waters.

I didn’t make that one, sadly, but the hosts reported that it proved to be an ideal venue for a wedding because of the number of cabins available for guests and the proliferation of food and drink outlets. The groom and groom didn’t have to arrange anything, just the celebrant and a cake.

Several years ago, I attended a 50th birthday in Bali. It was a big shindig, involving dozens of people, multiple hotels and a huge beach party at Karma Kandara resort that went on into the balmy Uluwatu night.

While the guests paid for their flights, my friend had negotiated decent room rates for everyone and laid on the party and entertainment. Bali being a relatively inexpensive destination, and given we had a year’s warning, it was a manageable holiday for most.

Traditionally, the big milestone birthday was 50, but a lot of people at 50 can’t take a breather from work, kids and other family commitments.

For those wishing to create a memorable event, deciding to celebrate overseas is a big responsibility.

The choice is going to alienate some people. It’s an investment of time some people don’t have. And others don’t have the funds to do it. If you can’t afford to go, it does create a stronger sense of missing out than if it were just a normal trip you decided at your own leisure.

Although that’s never intended, such an invitation can be seen as exclusive, in the negative sense of the word. It’s probably best to look at the invitation itself as a compliment, which it is.

An invitation to a big birthday bash overseas can be a thrill, not just for the fun that holidaying with a group of friends promises, but because it provides a focus, something to save and plan for if there’s enough warning.

It can be an excuse that motivates people to travel, especially for couples, where one is more stay-at-home than the other.

A good host comes up with the concept and does the planning. Sometimes they treat their friends, buying out a villa or hotel for a few days. Usually, though, they reserve rooms and connect their guests with travel agents who can facilitate the best fares.

I’ve known of quite a few birthday parties celebrated in destinations with big price tags, like Capri, where large villas might cost as much $25,000 a night in high season. And this seems to be a trend, especially among older Australians who have a fair amount of disposable income.

In terms of birthday celebrations, it seems 70 is the magic number.

Kasianda Estate, a 12-bedroom retreat in Canggu, Bali, reports that birthday takeovers (29 guests) account for a big proportion of their bookings, with 70th birthdays a large part of that. And they’re booking the resort out for four or five days of celebrations, rather than one big night.

The feedback is that people prefer flying for a birthday rather than for a wedding – there’s less obligation, they know everyone, and it’s spread over a few relaxed days rather than one intense afternoon.

Traditionally, the big milestone birthday was 50, but a lot of people at 50 can’t take a breather from work, kids and other family commitments. They don’t have the time or wherewithal to focus on themselves.

Australians are living longer, working longer, and 50 feels a bit like 30 did to our parents. It may not be that “70 is the new 50”, but the “new 70” has become a time of life when people embrace travel and sometimes like to bring their tribe along with them.

An International Monetary Fund study looking at more than 1 million people aged over 50 found that a 70-year-old today has roughly the same cognitive score as a 53-year-old in 2000, and a similar “frailty” profile to someone in their mid-50s a generation ago.

When you’re 50, you figure optimistically that you might be lucky enough to have half a century more to explore the world. But it becomes a bit more urgent when you may only have a decade or two left, with the prospect of diminishing health and fitness.

So, carpe diem!

And make a big splash of it. You may not get another chance.