Many assume traveling (alone, with family, or friends) loses appeal as you age. However, your 40s are a fantastic time to enjoy travel! Sure, the wild adventures of your 20s create lifelong memories, but experiences can evolve and remain wonderful. Traveling over 40 means shifting priorities; not every destination caters to them. So, I’ve compiled a list of the best resorts and destinations for travelers in their 40s.

What Does the Over-40 Crowd Want From Travel?

1.   Comfort, Cleanliness, and Safety

Many of us have already done the “three to a bed” or “let’s book a hostel instead of a hotel” kind of travel, likely in our teens or 20s. For me, one of the highest priorities in any trip I take has got to be the level of comfort I need to enjoy the experience. I want to know that the bedding is soft and the mattress is firm. I want to know that I’ll have easy access to enjoyable food. I want to know that my doors and windows lock.

2.   Access to Enrichment

There’s no denying the fun of clubbing or taking shots at the hotel bar! That said, I would far prefer to have access to enriching experiences than alcohol and flashing lights these days. Are the best Las Vegas spas within a 10-minute radius of my hotel? Can I head to the mountains for a hike on a safe, tarred road? Is the art gallery currently hosting any exciting exhibitions?

3.   To Plan Ahead

More power to you if you love a last-minute trip or “winging it” in terms of what you’ll do while you’re at your destination. This is not how I, or any of my other over 40 friends, choose to live our travel lives. I prefer to plan well ahead and won’t be visiting any destinations or staying in any accommodation where that is impossible.

Destinations and Resorts for Travelers Over 40

1.   Mii Amo in Sedona, Arizona

Blue sky so bright it looks like enamel, red and cream rocks jutting up into the sky, faded green cacti as far as the eye can see. Arizona is a gorgeous, if often desolate, place, and the perfect spot for a desert oasis overflowing with every creature comfort you could ever want or need. If being close to the natural world and exploring the flora and fauna of the American desert is crucial to you, you couldn’t find a better place. Sedona is also a mecca for wellness and spirituality travelers if that’s your thing. It’s one of the few places in the world that has a collection of “energy vortexes,” which are said to promote spiritual healing.

Staying at Mii Amo offers you the chance to experience the outdoors indoors, thanks to the stunning interior design that mimics and recreates the textures and colors of the landscape throughout the resort and suites. The building was thoughtfully crafted to fit in with and complement the stunning Sedona landscape, and that thoughtfulness runs through every aspect of staying there. The spa is a big part of the experience and is unique. It must be said that the best Las Vegas spas offer more classic treatments, but this Arizona spa isn’t like anything you’ve experienced before.

Book a guided forest meditation, get a Fall Gratitude massage (full-body massage-meets-reflection ritual commencing with a magnesium foot scrub and a clay application, followed by a short gratitude practice) after a long hike, or balance your chakras. Hiking, rock climbing, sound baths, astrology readings, and more are just a few steps away, and downtown Sedona is easily reachable.

2.   Dalhousie Castle Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is a haven for those who love history, excellent whisky, and a pace of travel that’s not even remotely close to breakneck. The city is stunning, with quaint cobbled streets, cozy pubs, beautiful restaurants, historical buildings, and castles. It’s a walkable city since it’s not as massive as many other capitals worldwide, making planning your excursions easy as you can get around on foot and on your schedule.

The city is gorgeous and overflowing with experiences that enrich your life and fill the house, and the countryside is never too far away in Scotland. Staying at the hotel in the countryside and coming into the city when you feel like it is an excellent way to ensure that you get both town and country fitted into your trip. The Dalhousie Castle Hotel and Spa is exquisite and only a 37-minute drive from the city. The castle and estate are pure Scottish heaven.

Eight centuries of heritage make themselves known in the castle, and you’ll be forgiven for lapsing into fairytale princess mode while staying there. A grand staircase, secret passages, exquisite Scottish dishes, massages, and bright green grounds just begging to be explored. It’s the perfect destination. The hotel offers falconry and archery so you’ll be able to learn a new skill when you aren’t exploring historic landmarks in the city itself.

3.   Marinedda Thalasso and Spa in Sardinia Italy

We’ll round it off with the ultimate soft sand and turquoise waters beach destination — Sardinia. This is no teenager’s spring break- it’s a naturally beautiful, world-renowned, and sophisticated place to catch a tan and become a water baby. Since Sardinia is less traveled than other Italian beach destinations, you won’t be fighting to claim a bit of sand and get run over by kids kicking balls all day.

It’s the perfect place to relax and indulge in the delicious joy of doing as little as possible. Take a boat ride to a hidden ove, visit an archaeological site like Su Naraxi, explore quaint seaside towns like Carloforte or Bosa, hike, or go wine tasting. Enjoy grown-up activities that still engage the senses and provide a good laugh or memory-making moments.

The Hotel Marinedda overlooks the heavenly beaches and ocean you’ll likely be spending a lot of time with, providing a luxurious, incredibly comfortable home base. The best part of staying at the Marinedda is the Thalasso center — an ocean-inspired wellness venue that aims to pamper and restore. Ancient and modern techniques are practiced here, and there are saltwater baths, Turkish hammam treatments, yoga classes, a fitness center, and so much more to enjoy.

Experiences Worth Repeating

These over 40 travel destinations are ideal for getting into R&R, a few adventures, some shopping, and experiences of nature that you won’t soon forget.