Where to spend every milestone birthday

For a 10th birthday: One&Only Aesthesis 

At ten, seeing the Acropolis is impressive. Getting to join a real archaeological excavation is even better. We love it for a tenth birthday because there’s a real sense of adventure for the whole family. One&Only Aesthesis sits just 30 minutes from Athens, with guided trips to the Acropolis and an Archaeologist for a Day experience alongside the usual Riviera temptations. Back at the hotel, there’s padel, e-foiling and family bungalows with their own pools, so there’s no need to choose between ancient Athens and an afternoon back in the water.

For an 18th birthday: OKU Ibiza 

Eighteen calls for Ibiza, but not necessarily the Ibiza most parents are imagining. At OKU Ibiza, days begin with yoga or meditation before moving to the adults-only main pool, where weekly Live Pool Sessions bring DJs poolside. Top tip: reserve a Bali Bed for the best view of the action, then try a hierbas-making workshop, choosing your own blend of herbs, spices and botanicals to take home. A four-bedroom private villa makes it easy to bring the group, while resident DJs carry the mood into the evening.

For a 21st birthday: Bulgari Resort Bali 

 At twenty-one, it seems only right to raise the bar. Bulgari Resort Bali does so 160 metres above the Indian Ocean, with private-pool villas, the Serpenti Pool Club and a secluded beach reached by cliffside lift. Come sunset, head to the Bulgari Bar for Italian aperitivo and bites high above the water, before dinner at Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, from the chef behind three-Michelin-starred Reale. There’s a Bulgari Boutique on site too, for anyone who’d rather mark the day with something that outlasts a tan.

For a 30th birthday: Amanyara 

If turning thirty calls for a minor existential crisis, you may as well have it beside half a mile of white sand. At Amanyara, the better distraction lies a few minutes offshore, where the Turks and Caicos Barrier Reef is home to more than 60 species of coral and 250 species of fish. Private snorkelling and diving trips leave directly from the beach, with hawksbill turtles, eagle rays and reef sharks among the possible sightings. Back on land, regroup over lunch at the Beach Club or in a multi-bedroom villa with its own host and chef. Thirty suddenly feels rather manageable. 

For a 40th birthday: Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino 

Forty is a good age to know what you like, and Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino makes room for all of it. It’s one we recommend to members celebrating with a group, thanks to the sheer range of ways to spend the day. From mountain biking through olive groves towards the Palace of King Nestor to wing foiling on the water and learning how to taste the region’s Koroneiki olive oil properly, there’s plenty to choose from. Bring everyone back together at The Private Kitchen for a bespoke dinner overlooking the open kitchen. Everyone gets the holiday they wanted, which may be the greatest birthday present of all. 

For a 50th birthday: Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc 

Fifty is a birthday that can carry a little theatre, so when our members come to us looking for somewhere that really feels worthy of the occasion, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc is always a strong contender. The heated seawater pool is carved directly into the rock, while the rose garden is home to wisteria that has been blooming for over 150 years. Dinner might mean Michelin-starred Louroc or something more relaxed at The Grill overlooking the Mediterranean. Afterwards, walk the Grande Allée the way generations of guests have before you, then leave the morning after to the Dior Spa.  

For a 60th birthday: Six Senses Kanuhura

By sixty, you probably know your way around a tropical island. Six Senses Kanuhura gives you three to explore. Take the seven-minute boat to Jehunuhura for a barefoot lunch at Drift, escape to the completely undeveloped third island for a private picnic or snorkel at nearby Turtle Airport, where green and hawksbill turtles are regular visitors. Back on Kanuhura, beach and overwater villas make returning to your own patch of the Maldives just as appealing as heading out. 

For an 80th birthday: Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire 

At eighty, the best birthday table is the one with everyone around it. For big family celebrations, Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire is somewhere we return to again and again because every generation has something to do. Take a gentle trip along the Basingstoke Canal or settle in for afternoon tea in the Drawing Room, while younger grandchildren groom resident Shetland ponies Milo and Dougal. There’s horse riding, falconry and a spa in the old stable block too, before everyone reconvenes for cake. 

Every hotel featured here is bookable through Little Emperors. Our relationships with the people behind the world’s best hotels can make a real difference, from securing the better room to helping with a hard-to-get dinner reservation or spa slot. Members can also receive benefits such as complimentary breakfast, hotel credits, room upgrades and early check-in or late check-out, alongside preferential rates and our lowest available rate guarantee.