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Honeymoon Trips

Once wedding plans are finally taken care of, you’ll likely start to focus on another, arguably more fun, event planning effort – you’re honeymoon! However, you’re probably going to be experiencing planning fatigue at this point. This is where we can help. Just tell us what you’re looking for – from pure rest & relaxation to lots of adventure and anywhere in between, and we’ll do all the work! We’ll save you precious time & energy from having to do the tons of international travel research and trip planning necessary to ensure a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime, romantic honeymoon vacation.

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Ironically, in many instances, weddings tend to somehow become more about others – hosting and starring in the perfect marriage celebration for your many guests – your family and closest friends. When your honeymoon rolls around, it’s truly time for it to be about just you two. Your honeymoon is likely the first opportunity to enjoy spending quality time together. Gen X Travel can help you plan a honeymoon vacation that is personal and where yes, for the first time, the world revolves around you!

Figuring out where to go for your honeymoon can seem to be a bit overwhelming, particularly after coming off of all the time-intensive wedding planning effort you just endured. There are so many amazing places to visit in the world for that perfect trip. And once you decide on a travel destination, there are even more seemingly endless options to make regarding what do and see and where to stay. We can help you narrow down the choices to make the honeymoon decision-making manageable and even fun!

Our specialty is offering non-touristy international trips that are different than the standard vacation options. Our recommendations involve more off-the-beaten track type of destinations whether that’s a beach/island or a locale focused on unique cultural opportunities or active pursuits. We’ll listen to what you’re looking for and help you find the best escape that fits your style, but gets away from the usual honeymoon experiences of most others. We do offer trips to some of the more tried and true locations, as long as it’s indeed a special place to visit, it will be on our list to consider. And in these instances, we’ll find ways (accommodations & activities) to incorporate experiences that are less touristy/crowded. Having your honeymoon at a new destination with new experiences is a great compliment to starting your new life together. And there is something romantic about an off-the-beaten path, lesser-known adventure!

Gen X Travel also focuses on sustainable, responsible travel. This ensures a positive impact economically, environmentally and socially on the places visited - because many times, it’s not. We love planning awesome trips, but we also want to travel in a responsible way, respectful way to the local communities as well to the planet. Traveling this way also helps curb challenges with overtourism. There are many very cool, yet less obvious, under-touristed destinations and experiences out there in the world to discover.

Contact Us to begin planning your honeymoon vacation!

Tips for Responsible Travelers

It can be somewhat unclear about what responsible travel/sustainable travel looks like. The simplest definition is travel that positively impacts the environment, community and economy of the destination you’re visiting. Tourism can have very negative effects on the people and the destinations that travelers visit. By choosing a vacation that follows principles of responsible travel/sustainable travel, you can really make a difference.

Below are some straightforward Tips for a Responsible Traveler. They were developed by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics and are based on the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. The UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is a fundamental frame of reference for responsible travel and sustainable travel.

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Honor Your Hosts & Our Common Heritage

Research your destination to learn about local customs, traditions and social conditions. It’s a great way to build understanding of the local community and excitement for your adventure ahead.

Learn to speak a few words in the local language. This can help you connect with the local community and its people in a more meaningful way.

Experience and respect all that makes an international destination different and unique, from its history, architecture, religion, dress and communication codes, to its music, art and cuisine.

Always ask before taking photographs of other people as their privacy matter as much as yours.

Protect Our Planet

Respect wildlife and their natural habitats.

Purchase products that aren’t made using endangered plants or animals. In protected areas, access only the places open to visitors.

Reduce your water and energy consumption whenever possible. Leave only a minimum footprint and a good impression behind.

Support the Local Economy

Buy locally-made handcrafts and products.

Respect livelihoods of local vendors and artisans by paying a fair price.

Do not buy counterfeit products or items that are prohibited by national/ international regulations.

Hire local guides with in-depth knowledge of the area.

Be An Informed Traveler

Take appropriate health and safety precautions prior and during your trip.

Know how to access medical care or contact your embassy in case of an emergency.

Research well before engaging into voluntourism.

Choose tourism operators with environmental policies and community projects in place.

Be A Respectful Traveler

Observe national laws and regulations.

Respect human rights and protect children from exploitation. Abusing children is a crime.

Refrain from giving money to begging children and support community projects instead.

Take photos instead of protected cultural artefacts as mementos of your trip.

Provide honest travel reviews upon your return and promote your positive experiences.

 

 

30th Birthday Trips

The big 3-0 birthday is the first milestone birthday you experience as a full-fledged adult! It’s about the time when you feel its time to get more serious than your fun, carefree 20 something self. There’s probably a lot going on and you’re hitting many big life goals (or will be soon) such as getting married, starting a family, buying a house, completing higher education, and being established in your career path.

At 30 years old, you are so much more experienced, knowledgeable, and prepared to kick butt in this thing we call life. Turning 30 is awesome and a glorious milestone worth celebrating in a deeper more meaningful way than the standard celebrations involving simple dinner or drink outings with friends/family. A more fantastic and appropriate approach to celebrate “Dirty Thirty” birthdays is in the form of fun-filled 30th birthday vacations!

You’ve probably spent the last number of years working hard on your career and achieving other goals. Use your 30th birthday as a chance to pause, reflect and celebrate! Go and see those places you’ve always wanted to see. Have fun, relax & just take a break from the real world. Get re-charged to begin your third decade of adventure and possibilities. Grab your friends/family and plan a magical, well-served 30th birthday getaway to do and see whatever you want!

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We plan 30th birthday trips! We have lots of 30th birthday vacation ideas!

So you decide, yes, I’m going to celebrate my big milestone with a 30th birthday getaway! But where to go? What to do?

Trying to identify the best destinations and activities can be a bit intimidating, It’s not your imagination, there are tons of options to choose from. But we’re here to help with all planning including coming up with 30th birthday trip ideas. We specialize in small group trips. Based on your guidance and budget, we’ll work with you to identify & narrow the choices until we find the perfect plan for the birthday honoree. We listen attentively to ensure that the final itinerary is full of fun & relaxation and the ideal mix of the birthday person’s favorites such as active pursuits, wellness activities, lounging & relaxing, arts/cultural/historical sightseeing, and foodie excursions.

And a bonus, we combine all that special attention and thoughfulness with our usual awesome trip philosophy. That is, only cool, non-touristy, unique trips allowed that follow principles of responsible travel.

We are big supporters of responsible travel aka sustainable travel so we use local businesses that follow these principles to minimize our impact on the local communities and the environment. We don’t go with the big international conglomerates. Instead we work with local, independent businesses - accommodations, transportation, and guides - to ensure the money you spend stays in the local community. And as small, boutique providers, their focus is pampering you with high-quality services and personal attention that noticeably are above and beyond the usual travel experiences.

We’d love to help you plan that perfect 30th birthday trip where you and you’re friends/family enjoy an unforgettable celebration at an amazing destination that includes a moment where you are completely at peace, relaxing and gazing out on beautiful scenery. And the memorable toast, made to clinking glasses, is etched in your mind, “Congratulations on a great second decade… here’s to year 3-0!”

Contact us to begin planning your well-deserved 30th birthday vacation – including every last detail from 30th birthday getaway ideas to a complete amazing itinerary with everything taken care of!

40th Birthday Trips

Is your 40th birthday coming up? Do you have a good friend or a family member who is getting ready to turn the big 4-0? Looking for the perfect way to make this special day truly special and memorable for the birthday honoree? Look no further, we can help you plan the best 40th birthday vacation ever! We have all kinds of fabulous 40th birthday getaway ideas! We specialize in small group trips!

When you hit the big 4-0, it tends to not only be a time for celebration but also reflection with your younger days behind you and an undeniable shift to being older. This can tend to bring on anxiety producing thoughts that revolve around what you have/have not accomplished now that you’re at what many consider to be the halfway point (where quality of life – physically & mentally – is strong enough to do whatever you want).

While its actually good to reflect on everything and quite normal, most 40-year olds come to the conclusion that the 40th birthday is the sweet spot of their life! As the French poet/playwright/author Victor Hugo once said, “"Forty is the old age of youth.” After 40 years on the planet, it’s the time to appreciate all that you have and all that you’ve done and to celebrate these experiences. And to get excited about working on other goals on your bucket list!

When you hit 40 years old, you’ve undoubtedly earned a unique, highly-upgraded birthday celebration different from the usual go to dinner with friends type of affairs! 40th birthday vacations are the ideal, unforgettable way to mark this meaningful, important milestone!

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We Love Planning 40th Birthday Trips!

When planning 40th birthday getaways, one of the very first tasks is coming up with some great 40th birthday trip ideas. Trying to identify best destinations and activities for the birthday honoree can be a bit daunting as the options can seem endless. Based on your guidance, we’ll help you narrow down the choices to those that are the ideal fit for the birthday person that matches their personality and interests such as active pursuits, wellness activities, lounging & relaxing, arts/cultural/historical sightseeing, and foodie excursions.

Once we’ve turned the 40th birthday vacation ideas into a final plan, we’ll make it happen. We are very thoughtful and detail-oriented in our planning. We use highly-regarded and highly-rated companies at the destination who understand the extra special nature of the 40th birthday trips. They provide high-quality services and personal attention that noticeably are above and beyond the usual travel experiences.

And a bonus, we combine all that special attention and thoughfulness with our usual awesome trip philosophy. That is, only cool, non-touristy, unique trips allowed that follow principles of responsible travel.

We are big supporters of responsible travel aka sustainable travel so we use local businesses that follow these principles to minimize our impact on the local communities and the environment. We don’t go with the big international conglomerates. Instead we work with local, independent businesses - accommodations, transportation, and guides - to ensure the money you spend stays in the local community.

During our planning process, we are constantly thinking about ways – big and small – to make 40th birthday getaways unforgettable and to maximize the number of times we can make the birthday honoree and guests smile and laugh. We truly care about our trippers and their experience and are very thoughtful and creative in designing and executing trips.

Contact us to begin your 40th birthday trip planning! We are ready to make the special occasion a birthday to remember!

50th Birthday Trips

A big 50th birthday coming up? Looking for an extra special way to celebrate this extra special birthday? We can help with 50th birthday vacations including 50th birthday getaway ideas! We specialize in small group trips

Turning 50 years old – Time to really celebrate!

Make no mistake about it. Marking the accomplishment of a half a century of life with all the successes, struggles, good times and bad, is a momentous milestone to celebrate. Turning the big 5-0 is the time to ratchet up the birthday celebration. The birthday person deserves the best of all birthday celebrations for this one - a 50th birthday vacation with close friends/family to their dream destination!

50th birthday trips are one of the most awesome ways to make birthdays as memorable and as special as possible. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the honoree’s big birthday, but also their life – their half-century on the planet! Spending lots of amazing quality time with loved ones on a 50th birthday vacation is invaluable. The birthday person can celebrate their 50th year of life reflecting back & reminiscing on that time with loved ones whom they share many of the memories of past years with. And lets not forget all of the new, unforgettable experiences created on the 50th birthday getaway!

Even for those turning 50 who are in denial mode and see the milestone as negative thing. Reflected in comments such as saying they don’t want to be reminded and certainly don’t want to bring more attention to their older age by celebrating it. But we all know that a 50th birthday getaway to honor the big day always will be cherished and looked back on very fondly with great appreciation and a big smile… and probably outright laughter thinking about all the good times.

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How We Can Help You Plan the Perfect 50th Birthday Trip!

A big part of creating a memorable trip is the location. And we can help with 50th birthday trip ideas for destinations as well as things to do and places to visit once there. Trying to identify the perfect destinations and activities for the birthday honoree can seem a bit overwhelming with tons of great options to choose from. We’ll listen to your critical input on the kind of location the birthday honoree would love (e.g., Caribbean beach, exotic adventure, European city vacation) and the type of itinerary to plan (e.g., active vs rest/relax), as well as every other detail of the trip.

With the brainstorming and discussion of 50th birthday vacation ideas behind us, we’ll provide you with the final agreed upon itinerary & make it happen. We are very thoughtful and detail-oriented in our planning. We use highly-regarded and highly-rated companies at the destination who understand the extra special nature of milestone birthdays, notably 50th birthday trips. They provide high-quality services and personal attention that clearly are above and beyond the usual travel experiences.

And a bonus, we combine all that special attention and thoughfulness with our usual awesome trip philosophy. That is, only cool, non-touristy, unique trips allowed that follow principles of responsible travel.

We are big supporters of responsible travel aka sustainable travel so we use local businesses that follow these principles. This ensures that we minimize our impact on the local communities and the environment without sacrificing any of the fun and adventure! We don’t go with the big international conglomerates. Instead we work with local, independent businesses - accommodations, transportation, and guides - to ensure the money you spend stays in the local communities we visit.

During our planning process, we are constantly thinking about ways – big and small – to make 50th birthday getaways unforgettable and to maximize the number of times we can make the birthday honoree and guests smile and laugh!

Contact us to start your 50th birthday trip planning and to get 50th birthday vacation ideas!

Birthday Trips & Other Special Occasions

 “The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits.”   ―American novelist & poet, Hervey Allen from his book, Antony Adverse, Vol 2

Thinking of a birthday trip to celebrate in a more meaningful & memorable way? Looking for help? You’re at the right place! We can help you with every last detail to plan the perfect trip to celebrate a milestone birthday or any birthday or, other special occasion.

That’s right, in addition to our regularly scheduled trips, we also do special occasion travel notably birthday vacations, but also anniversary and other significant days to celebrate. We can help with your birthday getaway planning including coming up with birthday trip ideas if you’re stuck on where to go & what to do.

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Why birthday vacations?

Birthday getaways are a distinctive way to celebrate the special day. They provide a unique experience that will be remembered & treasured much more than the typical, uninspiring events such as birthday dinners, movies, or other local activity for the day or night.

Birthday trips are tons of fun! And they last significantly longer than most birthday outings – many are just for a few hours! Birthday getaways create amazing & lasting memories that you’ll always share and fondly look back on with endless smiles & laughs.

Milestone birthdays especially, are anything but an ordinary day; it’s a special day to the birthday person. As the birthday honoree, it's usually an important time to pause & reflect about where you’ve been, what else you want to do, and lessons learned. For family & friends, birthday vacations really show you care and that you went the extra mile to make sure your loved one had a particularly awesome & unforgettable day.

Whether you’re looking for an all-out fun vacation, or one with relaxation & reflection, or a trip that lets you finally do, see & experience those things that have been on your bucket list forever, we can help.

Why use us to plan your special occasion or birthday trip?

We are great listeners. We know how to ask the right questions and layout the options to help guide you in planning the perfect birthday getaway. We’ll create an exceptional, customized trip based on what you tell us is important to ensure the vacation is an experience the birthday person will absolutely love and will talk about for years to come!

Ideas! We can help you with birthday vacation ideas! Can’t figure out where to go - at all? Overwhelmed trying to decide between a long list of destinations? Not sure what to do once you figure out where to go? We can provide birthday trip ideas and recommendations to help you brainstorm & decide on the perfect plan.

We have a lot of know-how and knowledge crafting special occasion trips and understand how to plan an unforgettable, meaningful trip. From getting all of the big things just right to the smallest, most thoughtful details, we'll ensure a very personal and exclusive experience. And of course, just helping with birthday getaway ideas & suggestions on where to go and what to do. We combine all that special attention and thoughfulness with our usual awesome trip philosophy. That is, only cool, non-touristy, unique trips allowed that follow principles of responsible travel.

See our other pages on all the milestone birthdays – 30th birthday getaways, 40th birthday vacations and 50th birthday trips. And honeymoon vacations!

Contact us & let us know how we can help!

Summer Travel

We actually don’t do a lot of summer travel. The reason being that summertime is popular for vacations since kids are out of school and so most families are traveling. And of course, popular means busy, crowded summer travel destinations with strained availability for hotels, tours, transportation and all aspects related to going on a vacation. And visiting during high-demand, peak summer season is noticeably more expensive than traveling other times of the year when school is in session. High prices include airfare, which is significantly higher in the summer. So, we try to stick with the shoulder season and generally not visit popular travel destinations during school breaks, i.e., winter/holiday, spring and summer breaks.

There are exceptions to our avoidance of summer trips. Sometimes there are true summer travel destinations that really should be visited in the summer. For example, Iceland, Norway or Canada where being able to access many areas and partake in activities like hiking, sailing or kayaking require warm weather.

One other reason you may find us doing a trip to a summer travel destination is when we do custom trips or organizing a small group family vacation ourselves.

Responsible travel / Sustainable travel

We are big supporters of responsible travel and sustainable travel, which have the same basic goal.

What exactly is responsible travel?

Responsible travel is the concept of having a positive impact economically, environmentally and socially on the places you visit including respecting the local people, the community, and their culture and customs. Some organizations prefer the term responsible tourism other use responsible travel and sustainable travel pretty interchangeably.

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How do we support the responsible travel/sustainable travel philosophy?

We travel in small groups, which has substantially less negative impact on the environment and communities we visit than large groups of traditional mass tourism.

We employ residents of the places where we go. We use local providers such as accommodations, restaurants, transportation and guides. We don’t patronize the huge international, multi-national chains – only locally owned and operated. Our goal is to ensure that the money we spend stays in the local communities to benefit the people and places we visit.

We strive as much as possible to be environmentally-friendly through recycling/reusability efforts and energy conservation practices. We are respectful to minimize our footprint as we explore the local communities and natural environment. We seek to partner with local providers who follow these principles.

We emphasize experiences that involve connecting with the local people and understanding the local culture. We build in opportunities to interact with the those who live where we travel rather than just being in the bubble with only other tourists. We focus on learning about the places we go rather than snapping pictures to simply document the boxes being checked off the proverbial list.

Gen X Travel Club is a member of Sustainable Travel International and on the leadership team of the Washington DC chapter of Impact Travel Alliance.

 

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When you join us one our trips, you’ll know you are traveling responsibly and supporting sustainable tourism principles to have as positive of impact as possible. We strive to go about our regular lives at home responsibly & respectfully and we should do the same while visiting the home destinations of others.

Unique/Non-touristy trips are us!

What makes us different from other travel and tourism companies?

We are all about non-touristy travel and are dedicated to offering unique trips rather than the usual, typical vacations that repeat the same itineraries on the well-worn travel circuit. We thoughtfully design off the beaten path trips that include distinctive destinations, imaginative itineraries, authentic experiences, and interesting activities & sights. The result: deeper, richer experiences and a fun & unforgettable trip. This is simply a better vacation.

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There are a lot of hidden gems out there that travelers don’t get the opportunity to experience because they aren’t typically offered on the standard buffet of travel destinations or travelers simply don’t know about them. We take the time to find these cool places with lots of character and share it with you. We thoughtfully plan each trip focusing on the little things that make all the difference in achieving an outstanding, uncommon experience.

We encourage travelers to slow down, explore and take in the experiences when traveling. Travel is vacation, but it also should be education. On our unique trips you’ll really get to know and learn about the destination you’re visiting including its people, culture and attractions.

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And all the while, our focus is you. We sincerely care about you and your travel experience. We are focused not only on good customer service, but remarkable service striving to provide attentive, personal attention that we would want ourselves.

We want to share our love and excitement of world travel and off the beaten path trips with you. Our travel style ensures you have an unforgettable experience full of smiles and laughs.

Should you travel with us?

Not Necessary. It’s not necessary to travel with us if you are just looking for a traditional vacation to get away and you aren’t really concerned with the details beyond dates and pricing that work for you. There are many travel tourism companies who offer these types of standard trips.

Yes, Definitely. If you are more of a picky, more discerning traveler who longs for high-quality yet affordable trips with thoughtful itineraries to cool, interesting places with lots to learn and experience to feed your worldly curiosity, then Gen X Travel Club trips are definitely for you.

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In a Nutshell

Traveling with Gen X Travel means that you’ll:

  • Travel to cool, distinctive hidden gems with lots of character (as opposed to the standard touristy spots on the mass tourism circuit)
  • Enjoy high-quality vacations and personal, local experiences (rather than the cheapest & most action packed trip to check off as much stuff as fast as possible)
  • Feel as though you are visiting a friend with a personal, exclusive vibe (not being on a cookie-cutter tour being herded around in a general, ordinary fashion)

Take one trip with us and you’ll truly understand that we are not like the other standard tour travel companies.  There are plenty of choices for standard travel tour packages to the numerous on-the-beaten-path vacation spots around the world. But if you are looking for non-touristy vacations and off the beaten path travel, then book a trip with us!

Travel Destinations

 Finding great travel destinations is a primary focus for us. We put a lot of time, effort and thought into where we go. We strive to bring you trips to unique travel destinations with important reasons to visit. Perhaps it offers amazing natural beauty, rich ancient history, important classic architecture, or is steeped in other cultural significance. Great travel destinations are educational, inspiring, humbling, and leave a lasting impression & deep sense of appreciation, and perhaps even change your perspective & make you a more well-rounded human being.

 Sometimes it almost seems like dream destinations travel because we end up going to must-see places on your “bucket list” or on your proverbial places you want to see before you die list. It’s a big beautiful world with so much to see and experience. It’s obviously impossible to get to every corner of the globe to all the destinations you want to see.  The question is always where to start. We can help you get started on your dream destinations travel.

We offer unique, high quality, non-touristy vacations, but plan our itineraries to make sure the places we visit are also affordable travel destinations. Typically, joining us on our trips is less expensive then doing it yourself. And if you take into a account your precious limited time spent planning a trip to a far-flung destination, then traveling with us is even more so the better economical choice and means budget-friendly, affordable travel destinations.

So take a break from your same, limited routine. Come with us to unique travel destinations all over the world!