Over 50s Relive Their Youth to Party Like It’s 1982

Brits turning fifty are hitting Europe’s party hot-spots like Ibiza and Berlin after two years of lockdowns and travel bans.

New research by travel insurance provider, Holidaysafe, reveals that, rather than picking a cruise or a sedate villa holiday to mark their milestone birthday, Generation X is choosing to let their hair down like it’s the 80s all over again.

The research*, collated by analysing social media holiday #hashtags compared with the ages of travellers, found that Ibiza, Berlin and Barcelona were the three most popular destinations for Brits to travel to when marking their special occasion.

Hot spots including Munich, Marbella and Kos followed closely after as destination favourites to celebrate milestones, with Venice and Rome also prominent for those looking for a bit of romance and culture at the same time.

And, although this generation is still looking to party, they are still being sensible by making sure they’re fully protected with suitable travel insurance should anything go wrong.

‘Mid-lifers’ are approaching ageing in a completely different way to previous generations. And those aged 46-55 and 56-65 account for over one third of all Holidaysafe travel insurance policies sold.

Given that the Generation X is known for their convention-breaking trends of glam-rock, new romantic, disco and acid house, it comes as no surprise that those turning 50 and over are opting to make up for lost time during the pandemic and let their hair down during their milestone getaways.

Sarah Page, brand manager at Holidaysafe, said: “Our research clearly highlights that the desire to travel and party like you’re in your twenties isn’t over when you reach fifty.

“There’s a huge misconception of what it means to turn fifty these days. For many, life after fifty is a brand new and exciting chapter. It’s an opportunity to have new experiences, visit new places, see the world, all while carrying on partying like you’re twenty once again.

“But despite the growing desire for party holidays, the over fifties tend to be more cautious when it comes to booking a holiday and protecting their trip with travel insurance.”

The top ten destinations for Gen X:

1.              Berlin

2.              Ibiza

3.              Barcelona

4.              Munich

5.              Rome

6.              Lisbon

7.              Venice

8.              Marbella

9.              Kos

10.           Dubai