If you’re turning fifty but don’t have a wad of cash to fly to Dubai and live like a Sultan or soirée in Paris like a movie star, I’ve put together 50th birthday budget trip ideas to help you out.
Traveling to an exotic destination for your 50th birthday doesn’t have to be crazy expensive. You can celebrate your 50th birthday by going to places that don’t carry an insanely high price tag and still have the kind of experience you’ll be bragging about until your 100th birthday.
This post was updated in November 2024.
Affordable 50th birthday trips
We all want our 50th birthday to be special. But that doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. You can have a fun or memorable birthday on a budget and still have bragging rights and a killer Instagram feed to prove it.
I put together this list of places and experiences that are affordable by combining locations and activities that balance out to a friendly budget such as staying in a less expensive hotel but paying the difference for the activity or experience.
A tight budget is relative. My goal here was to shoot for under $1000 for two nights for two people including at least one excursion and $100 a day for meals per person.
The budget does not include airfare since I don’t know where you will be traveling from. But I list nearby airports so you can hunt for airfare sales or you can choose a place that’s close to home.
Remember: prices change depending on season and dates, so my estimates could be off by a few bucks.
1. Swim with the manatees in Crystal River, FL.
A little over an hour north of Tampa on Florida’s West Coast is the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.
What to do: There are a number of tour and boat companies for you to choose from so you can boat, swim, or kayak out on the Crystal River with a guide and swim and interact with the manatees.
November through March is the best time to visit as this is when Crystal River sees the largest gathering of manatees. The cost is reasonable at about $75 per person, usually with all the gear included.
Where to stay: Places to stay are relatively inexpensive starting just over $100 a night for the Port Hotel and Marina, or splurge a bit and stay at the Plantation on Crystal River for $150 plus.
Budget-friendly price: You and your partner can have a nice weekend, manatees and all, for about $600.
Closest Airport: You have two options: Tampa and Orlando. From Tampa, it’s about an hour and fifteen minutes heading north on FL-589. From the Orlando airport, it’s approximately two hours northwest on the Florida Turnpike.
2. Ride on a hot air balloon over Napa Valley, CA
If you’re near the area, like say you’re visiting San Francisco, drive on up to Napa Valley and book a ride on a hot air balloon.
What to do: There are half a dozen hot air balloon companies to choose from and prices hover around $350 per person for a one-hour ride.
Where to stay: There are a number of great places to stay. Yeah, many of them range above $200 a night. For example, the Elm House Inn is a great place in that price range. But depending on when you go the Hennessey House B&B in downtown Napa lists rooms for as low as $140 a night.
Budget-friendly price: If you keep an eye out for the deals, you and your partner could do this for just about $1000.
Closest Airport: San Francisco International Airport and the Sacramento Airport are both a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Napa.
3. Go mule riding in the Grand Canyon
Visit one of America’s most fantastic and impressive natural wonders, the Grand Canyon for an experience you will remember and brag about for the rest of your life.
What to do: The mule rides run from $60 to $160 depending on the route. You can take a three-hour or day-long guided mule ride along the rim or other parts of the canyon.
Where to stay: There are different lodges that stay at. Prices run from about $175 per night to $450, depending on the lodge and time of year.
Budget-friendly price: Two nights and a mule ride will add up to just over $600 for a nice weekend getaway depending on where you choose to stay.
Closest Airport: Las Vegas, Flagstaff, and Phoenix are the closest cities with commercial airports. Amtrak has train service to Flagstaff with a connecting bus to the canyon.
4. Take a Jazz tour of New Orleans
Forget Mardi Gras. We have a great way of taking traditional festivities such as St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Mardi Gras and turning them into little more than a drunk fest. But just spending a couple of days in the French Quarter is an amazing birthday getaway, Lese le bon temps roule!
What to do: Meander around the French Quarter. Remember, New Orleans is about the food and music, so visit any of these iconic restaurants and bars. And enjoy live jazz by visiting Preservation Hall where tickets start at around $30 for general admission but reserve in advance.
Where to stay: I prefer going to this historic city and staying at an iconic hotel like the Roosevelt New Orleans at about $220 a night or the Andrew Jackson Hotel at about $150 a night.
Budget-friendly price: You could easily do a nice weekend trip for under $600 for two.
Closest Airport: Fly into New Orleans International Airport and take a taxi or rideshare to the French Quarter.
5. Go deep-sea fishing off the Florida Straits
Hemingway did it, so why not you?
While you don’t specifically have to fish the Straits, you can fish off any of the Florida Keys. And in Key West, it’s all about wandering along Duval Street and digging that Jimmy Buffet vibe.
What to do: There are dozens of deep-sea fishing charters in the Keys. The cost of a fishing charter can be anywhere from under $100 for group fishing to $1000 for a half day for you and your party. Shop around and find the best deal for your budget. While you’re there, check out the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, meander along Duval Street and have a drink at Sloppy Joe’s.
Where to Stay: In Key West, where hotels like the Seashell Motel run at around $100 plus, or the Garden House for just over $130 depending on the season.
Budget-friendly price: With two nights at the hotel, food, and a fishing charter you can be looking at anywhere from $900 to $2000.
Closest Airport: Miami International Airport is about a five-hour drive from Key West. There is also a small airport in Marathon, across the bridge from Key West.
6. Go glamping in Moab
Moab, Utah is a little town in the middle of a beautiful desert country and is the getaway to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, the largest national park in Utah.
What to do: The Moab area, including the national parks, is like an outdoorsman’s paradise. Not only will you experience some of the most incredible landscapes in the country, but there are also a ton of activities like horseback riding, four-wheeling, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing and more.
And the best part: you can participate in many of these activities because the lodging is so inexpensive!
Where to stay: Imagine a homey cute teardrop trailer for a little over $100. You don’t have to haul it anywhere, they bring it to your campsite. Just bring your food and hiking gear and you’re good to go. Or stay at the very cool Red Moon Lodge for about the same price. Make it your base and go explore.
Budget-friendly price: How much you spend is really up to you and the activities you choose to experience. For example, a two-hour horseback tour is $180, and half a day of kayaking is $120. So you’re looking at anywhere from $400 to $1000 for a weekend packed with activities.
Closest Airport: Canyonlands Field Airport is a small airport in Canyonlands. Otherwise, you have the option of Walker Field Airport in Grand Junction, Colorado about 100 miles away, or Salt Lake City International Airport, which is four hours by car from Canyonlands.
7. A road trip through New Mexico
They don’t call it the Land of Enchantment for nothing.
New Mexico has a very diverse landscape from places like White Sands National Park, Bandelier National Monument, and Cibola National Forest. It takes more than two days to experience it all.
What to do: You will need a car. New Mexico is about all the funky towns you drive through such as Madrid, a little artsy town on your way north from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. And then there is old Route 66 that cuts right through the state and it’s still dotted with restaurants and motels right out of the 1950s. Depending on when you visit, you can go skiing in Angel Fire, experience Native American culture in Sante Fe and Taos Pueblo, and check out Silver City, an old mining town and gateway to Gila National Forest. The list is endless.
Where to Stay: In Taos La Fonda de Taos is right in the center of town for $180 or so. In Las Vegas, a place that feels suspended in time, you can stay at the Historic Plaza Hotel right on the plaza for about $100 a night. The Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town Albuquerque runs about $150 plus a night.
Budget-friendly price: Not counting the car rental, you could have a nice 3 or 4-day vacation for less than $1000.
Closest Airport: Albuquerque International Sunport is the largest airport. There is also an airport in Santa Fe also has a small regional airport. If you’re visiting south New Mexico, you might consider El Paso International Airport.
8. Catch a Broadway show in New York City
It’s New York. You have to go. Just walking around the city is a feast for the senses. And catch a Broadway Show because it’s one of those things you have to do in your lifetime.
What to do: A Broadway Show, obviously. But if you’re selective it will only set you back $130-$300 per ticket, more if it’s a popular show with orchestra seats. The American Museum of Natural History is a must at $30. Take a walk in Central Park or down Fifth Avenue, and hang out in Washington Square Park. All of it is free!
Where to stay: Hotels in New York, as in many dense and expensive cities are usually small. But you just want a place to sleep, that’s all. You can try the Hotel Indigo Downtown for about $230 or the Chelsea Inn, for about the same price.
Budget-Friendly Price: If you skip touristy areas like Times Square and Columbus Circle, catch a slice of pizza or a falafel wrap for lunch and have dinner at small restaurants in Little Italy, Chinatown, and Harlem, you can make this a great weekend for a little more than $1000.
Closest Airport: You have two options. I prefer LaGuardia, but you also have JFK. Take your hotel shuttle to the city, the train, or a bus. Otherwise, you’ll be paying over $50 for a cab or rideshare.
Budget-Friendly International Birthday Trips
No one says you can’t celebrate your 50th birthday with a trip inside the U.S. There are many foreign destinations where the dollar has strong purchasing power. This means you can stay at a fancy hotel, enjoy opulent meals, and partake in extraordinary activities for less than it would cost in the U.S.
The main thing to consider here is airfare. It can get pricey during high season or if you don’t get your tickets in advance. My suggestion is to plan early and consider alternative airports. Book your flights when there is a sale (use Google Flights to find the best fares) and just go for it. You only turn fifty once!
9. Swim with whale sharks in Holbox, Mexico
If swimming with manatees in Florida sounds too tame, how about swimming with whale sharks off the Yucatan Peninsula? These gentle giants are not dangerous, but they’re huge, and every year they migrate past one of Mexico’s coolest beach destinations: Holbox.
Unlike the bustling tourist center of Cancun, Holbox, a little island on the north of the Yucatan Peninsula has only small boutique hotels and restaurants. The island is part of the Yum Balam Biosphere Reserve, Mexico’s largest ecological reserve. It also boasts a long, beautiful beach.
What to do: Book a trip with one of the official tours to swim with the whale sharks that migrate through the area between June and September for about $200 per person.
Where to stay: Check into just about any hotel like Villas HM Paraiso del Mar for $150 or the Holbox Dream Hotel for about $180.
Budget-friendly Price: The total cost for a weekend not including airfare to Cancun can run you about $1000 for two people.
Closest Airport: Holbox has a tiny airport so you will most likely fly into Cancun. From there, you will have to take transport to Chiquila (about two hours away) and then the ferry to the island. The bus is the cheapest mode of transportation at about $5-$10 each way. The ferry is $12. Or you can splurge on a shared van to Chiquila which runs about $50 each way.
10. Hike a volcano in Guatemala
Guatemala can be a magical experience all on its own. But to hike the Fuego volcano which erupts every half an hour or so or the dormant Acatenango volcano for a hike and overnight camping, will make your trip unforgettable.
These excursions can be physically demanding and made even more difficult by the altitude, so be prepared.
What to do: Book your tour with OX Expeditions for either of the two volcanos. They can pick you up at your hotel. From then on, that takes care of pretty much anything. The cost is under $100 for an overnight hike and includes meals, overnight stay, a guide, and even gear. Day hikes are $70 and include lunch.
Where to Stay: Antigua is a beautiful colonial city worth spending some time in. Check into a hotel like the El Carmen Hotel or the Hotel Eterna Primavera, both run under $100 a night.
Budget-friendly price: You could make this a longer trip and stay four or five nights and still come in under $1000, not including roundtrip airfare to Guatemala City.
Closest Airport: You will have to fly into Guatemala City and take transport to Antigua, a couple of hours away. A shared van from the airport to Antigua is about $15 each way. A private van can run you between $50-150.
11. Visit Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is on just about everyone’s bucket list. This unique and amazing ancient Lost City of the Incas in Peru is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a sight to behold. Part of the experience involves hanging out in Cuzco (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) for a couple of days while getting used to the altitude because Machu Picchu is almost 8000 ft above sea level.
What to do: You will need to book early and secure your permits for Machu Picchu (only 500 people a day are allowed into Machu Picchu). You can either take the train ride in a panoramic car for about $125 per person or hike along the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu which can take 3-5 days.
If you’re hiking, work with a licensed tour guide like Alpaca Expeditions to arrange the hike and entrance to Machu Picchu which will cost about $800. The hike takes four days and includes meals and transportation.
While in Cuzco, wander the streets of the colonial town, shop for arts and crafts, enjoy amazing food, and take on the vibe of the old city.
Where to stay: In Cuzco, check into a hotel like the Hotel Costa del Sol Wyndham for $100 a night.
Budget-friendly price: Let’s face it. You’re not going to fly to Peru and hike to Machu Picchu in two days. The budget for this one is a bit of a stretch. So figure about $1000 if you take the train; $1500 if you hike.
Closest Airport: While Cuzco has an international airport, you will likely have to first fly into Gorge Chávez International Airport in Lima and then take another plane from there to Cuzco.
12. Surf in San Salvador
If you surf, then you’ve heard of Punta Roca in El Salvador where surfing is the best in Central and South America.
I know, El Salvador does not have the best reputation with Americans. But after decades of civil war and the rise of crime by notorious violent gangs, the country has made a turn for the better and is one of Central America’s best-kept secrets.
What to do: Surf season is generally May through October, but you can still get some decent waves off-season. And if you don’t surf, check out Surf Strong, they have surf lessons for about $50.
Where to stay: Beach Break Hotel and Sports Bar is a good place for $100 a night. Or try Olas Permanente El Zonte for the same price.
Budget-friendly Price: A decent weekend of surfing in El Salvador will run you only about $800!
Closest Airport: You will have to fly into San Salvador International Airport. Punta Roca is in La Libertad, about 30 miles from San Salvador. You can take a means of private transport to La Libertad which runs about $50 each way.
13. Veg on the beach in Punta Cana
You work hard. You just turned 50. Maybe you don’t want an adventure full of activities. Maybe you just want to chill. Isn’t that what a vacation is supposed to be?
Imagine yourself lying on a nice beach sipping piña coladas, eating luscious fresh seafood, or napping on a hammock under the palm trees.
And how about a little dancing in the evening, a dip in the pool, or riding a jet ski in the blue waters off the coast of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic?
What to do: Nothing. Or everything. Most resorts in Punta Cana are all-inclusive and offer activities like golf, horseback riding, jet ski rentals, sailing, fishing, you name it. Do as much or as little as you want.
Where to stay: If you have kids, Club Med would be a nice choice. Prices fluctuate constantly, but slightly off-season you can have a two-night all-inclusive stay with two kids for under $1500.
A pleasant adults-only option is the Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort for about $800 for two for 3 nights, all-inclusive.
Budget-friendly price: Please check the fine print before you book. These hotels are like a cruise. Many of the activities, the higher-end restaurants, and top-shelf booze are an added cost. So your $1000 weekend getaway could easily add up to three times that.
Closest Airport: Punta Cana has its airport, and many of the travel packages include flights and hotel. But even if you arrange your own flights, all the resorts include transport from the airport to the resort.
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