Planning for your upcoming retirement? Kick things off with a holiday to celebrate
Retiring from work and beginning a new chapter is a monumental moment in anyone’s life. It can mean different things to different people, from celebrating the highlights of a varied and hard-earned career, embracing the feeling of escaping the daily grind, or simply acknowledging a transitional moment when life changes gear.
A memorable escape is perfect for celebrating this new chapter and to help you on your way, we've rounded up the very best retirement holidays for you to do it in style.
Whether your retirement is an early one, a late one, or right on time, it’s an event that marks the beginning of a new phase of your life. A dream holiday is the perfect way to acknowledge and remember this significant life event, whether you're thinking of travelling with a partner, your child, friends or solo.
A retirement holiday could centre around something you’ve always wanted to try, such as a river cruise or a railway holiday. It could be somewhere far flung that you’ve always longed to visit but never found the time to explore, such as Japan's vibrant cities, the USA's Deep South, or even the remote beauty of Antarctica.
The best thing about retirement holidays is you don't need to rush back to work, meaning longer escapes of 10 days or more. It's an excellent way to add more meaning to your escape, too.
Maybe a retirement holiday is your chance to learn something new to kickstart a gardening or cooking hobby? Or perhaps it’s the ideal moment to take an extended trip to really get to know a country's culture. If you're looking for ideas for a memorable retirement holiday, you've come to the right place.
Here’s all the inspiration you need to start planning a retirement holiday for this year or next.
Ride in luxury on board the Venice-Simplon Orient Express
Fabulous rail holidays are on the wishlists of many retirees and if you want to book a truly one-of-a-kind train journey, you'll be excited to hear about a special trip in 2025. Join Good Housekeeping on a spectacularly luxurious journey on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express between two of Europe's most elegant cities, Venice and Paris.
This train's ornate carriages are rich in history, having carried royalty and celebrities since the golden age of travel of the 1920s. Joining you will be broadcaster and rail enthusiast Michael Portillo, who'll host an evening talk in Venice and join you for a drinks reception on the train. Look forward to fine food in the plush dining cars and raise a toast in the iconic Bar Car '3674' as a pianist plays the baby grand.
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Wind down the Mekong on this South East Asian adventure
Retirement can be a brilliant opportunity to expand out of our comfort zone and explore the world. For a really special trip, why not consider this incredible 17-day adventure across Cambodia and Vietnam. But backpacking this is not. Bookended by five-star city breaks in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, the real highlight of the trip is a week-long cruise along the Mekong River.
Wind down to Mekong time as you drift through the jungle-lined waterways of Asia's longest river on the Mekong Jewel, a luxury riverboat. The trip also includes 13 excursions from a sensitive tour of the infamous 'killing fields' in Phnom Penh to a fascinating guided tour of UNESCO-listed Angkor Wat.
Trace the footsteps of Julie Andrews along the Danube
A journey along the Danube River is all about fascinating tours in culture-packed cities, visiting historic buildings which have seen the rise and fall of empires, and soaking in glorious rural views in the Wachau Valley. You'll do all of this on Good Housekeeping's six-day Danube cruise, which will be especially enticing for any fans of Julie Andrews and The Sound of Music.
You'll dock in Salzburg and visit some recognisable locations on a guided tour, including the gazebo where 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' was shot. An extra special event awaits on board your stylish ship, where you'll be treated to a cabaret performance of Julie Madly Deeply. This award-winning West End act is an affectionate love letter to Julie Andrews and will be an unforgettable evening for fans of the movie icon.
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Take the ultimate adventure to see the Arctic or Antarctic
Perhaps your retirement calls for the ultimate bucket list adventure: a journey to the Arctic or Antarctic. Head south from Argentina to experience the raw natural beauty of Antarctica on a state-of-the-art expedition ship, the MS Roald Amundsen.
Venture into the icy waters of the Drake Passage to land on sites in the South Shetlands and the Antarctic Peninsula, spotting orcas, humpbacks, seals, and penguins. This genuinely remarkable and once-in-a-lifetime experience is surely the ultimate retirement holiday.
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For a journey that takes in all the highlights of Norway's spectacular coastline, take this wonderful 12-day voyage. From exploring the UNESCO-listed port of Bergen, the city of Tromsø and the ancient Viking trading post of Trondheim, you'll cruise through magical landscapes. Stargazing and wildlife spotting will come alongside the chance to see the unique light display of the aurora borealis. You'll also be joined by astronomer Tom Kerss, who will help you spot the Northern Lights and share his expert tips.
Taste your way around beautiful Puglia
A balmy climate, spectacular scenery and some of the finest flavours in Italy, it's easy to see why Puglia is a hotspot for a retirement holiday. This leisurely six-day tour will have you feasting your way around Puglia's famous produce, from the most fragrant of olive oils and feather-soft focaccia to creamy burratas, and pasticciotti, a glorious sweet cream and cherry pastry from Lecce.
Luckily, there's plenty of opportunity to walk off all that delicious food. The trip includes a vineyard tour of Locorotondo, one of Puglia's prettiest towns, and visits to the Unesco-listed Sassi di Matera, famous for its ancient caves and rock churches, and Alberobello's trulli houses.
Take a musical journey through the USA's Deep South
Retirement surely calls for soulful adventure, and a journey through the USA's Deep South certainly offers this. The area is known for historic architecture, charming small-town culture and enormous impact on modern music – all of which you'll explore during this nine-day adventure.
The first stop is New Orleans, where you'll get to know the iconic French Quarter, before moving on to Memphis. Here, you can explore the birthplace of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and soul at your leisure – paying homage to the King himself on a visit to Elvis Presley’s gorgeous Graceland estate. The final stop will be in the undisputed capital of country music: Nashville, Tennessee
Discover the foodie treats of Venice and Veneto
With atmospheric canals, ornate palazzos and grand piazzas, Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world. Of course, there's no better place to toast your retirement than with a classic Bellini from Harry's Bar. This fantastic eight-day river cruise on S.S. La Venezia explores the romantic waterways of Venice and the Veneto region, stopping off for exclusive VIP tours of Doges Palace and St Mark's Basilica, as well as a guided tour of Torcello's Basilica with an art historian.
But what makes this an extra special trip is the glorious gala dinner cooked onboard by acclaimed celebrity chef, James Martin, who'll also host a talk and Q&A afterwards.
Another option for exploring all that the wonderful Venetian Lagoon has to offer is an eight-day sailing with MasterChef judge Monica Galetti. Monica joins you on board S.S. La Venezia for a talk and Q&A and will accompany your visit to the lively market on Chioggia, where local fishermen and farmers sell their fantastically fresh produce.
A third wonderful foodie cruise of Venice comes with Good Housekeeping's sailing with Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett. Angela will join you on a visit to the lively Rialto food market before hosting an exclusive onboard cooking demonstration and a Q&A session.
See the wonders of Japan, from Tokyo to Osaka
A holiday to Japan can be well-timed to make the most of one of its most sensational spectacles – the emergence of the powder-pink cherry blossom. Book ahead for a 2025 trip to Japan to embrace Hanami, the custom of enjoying the transient beauty of the blossom, which blooms against a backdrop of hi-tech cities that exist in harmony with ancient rituals and shrines.
Another natural wonder not to be missed in this unforgettable country is the Japanese Alps, which you can traverse on a 13-day escorted, immersive tour. This exceptional journey will take you across the Alps to explore the local culture of Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa, discovering a side of Japan that many visitors miss.
Sashay around the Italian Lakes and Switzerland
Few destinations rival the sensational Italian Lakes for a feeling of romance and escapism. Here, you can explore lakeside villages, villas, and splendid gardens, including in gorgeous Lake Como.
Unwind with a glass of something delightfully chilled in a hotel on the shores of Como, undoubtedly one of Italy’s prettiest lakes. You can also look forward to various day trips to Varenna, St Moritz and a ride on the Bernina Express.
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