2025 has been the year of the big birthday trip, as evidenced by everyone from Dua Lipa (who celebrated turning 30 with not one, but two milestone birthday breaks in Ibiza and Jamaica) to David Beckham and his many 50th birthday parties which included a transatlantic jaunt to Florida, as well as a luxury wine-tasting trip to France’s Bordeaux.
And it’s a travel trend that’s set to continue well into 2026 and beyond, as travel lovers the world over turn their birthdays into epic sun-soaked getaways and fulfilling adventures. And quite honestly, who can blame them? In a world that seems utterly filled with chaos right now, it’s these joyful occasions, surrounded by loved ones and forever friends, that deserve celebrating to the max.
Like Lana del Rey, Keira Knightly, and Bruno Mars, 2025 marked the big 4-0 for me too, and in lieu of having had a wedding, baby shower, hen party or big birthday celebration before, I decided it was time for something a little special to mark all the trips around the sun. Luckily, my closest female friends were on board with the idea too.
Choosing the ideal location
With most people flying in from London, and me being based in Colombo, Sri Lanka I thought the heat of Southeast Asia would be a welcome tonic to the UK’s ever-greying winter days. Delicious food was non-negotiable, a little bit of city buzz mingled with beach days appealed, and immaculate accommodation is always the way forward, and so Thailand, with its direct flights from the UK, proved the ideal destination.
But where to start when looking for five-bedroomed accommodation options? As someone who mostly travels solo, I’ve fine-tuned the art of finding flawless hotels, homestays, and cute apartments for one, but when it comes to travelling with bigger groups, I was stumped. Airbnb was turning up super uninspiring options, while most hotels didn’t offer the intimate vibe I was after.
After hours of trawling the web, I spoke to a fellow travel writer friend who recommended Oliver’s Travels, a site that’s collated some of the most unique and luxe villas from across the globe, and that’s exactly where I came across a stunning villa located in the heart of one of Bangkok’s most historic districts.
Boasting five individually designed suites, a serene-looking swimming pool, and an immaculate dining area — it seemed like the perfect fit, plus Siri Sala Villa was free for the weekend we had planned to be in Bangkok. It had even played a cameo in The White Lotus season three — if it was good enough for Walton Goggins, it would surely be good enough for us.
Letting someone else do the planning
In the lead-up to the trip, Siri Sala took care of every detail, from luxe airport transfers to scheduling Thai massages and suggesting some cultural activities, something I’m not altogether used to as a solo traveller who typically arranges everything for myself, but wow was it was a dream to give up the reins. Arriving at the villa a couple of hours before my friends, I met with Siri Sala’s owner, Irma Go, who filled me in on the backstory of the atmospheric water-front property.
I learnt that the place has evolved from three wooden traditional Thai stilt homes into the flawless private villa it is today. Irma has channelled some of the site’s history into its new iteration through utilising furniture and relics belonging to the previous owners in the bedrooms and communal spaces.
Today, fully staffed and run to perfection, the villa is usually only available to book as a complete buyout, ensuring guests are treated to an exclusive stay; however, smaller parties will be delighted to hear that before the year is out, bedrooms will be available to be booked individually, ensuring the pristine haven is even more accessible.
By the time my friends arrived at the villa, almost three months to the day after I first floated the idea of a group birthday trip, monsoonal rains flooded down, and I began to worry whether visiting Thailand during the rainy season might have been a huge mistake.
But upon check-in, as wonderfully hospitable staff members whisked my favourite friends to their bedrooms under huge umbrellas while a vast wooden table (crafted from the original floorboards of the wooden stilt houses) was laid with cream-coloured lotus flowers, chilled champagne and all manner of delicious Thai food, I already knew the rain wouldn’t dampen their spirits and we were going to have a trip to remember forever.
Blessings, boat trips and fine dining: balancing activities with downtime
Over the next couple of days, we set sail along the fast-flowing Chao Phraya River, learning about the history of the ancient city along the way and stopping at one of Bangkok’s most exquisite temples, Wat Suwannaram Ratchaworawihan, where Siri Sala had arranged a moving birthday blessing ceremony.
Sitting crossed-legged on the floor, surrounded by some of the most incredibly detailed and beautiful murals, my friends and I offered flower-adorned gifts to three orange-robed monks before melodious chanting began, and they implored us to reflect on those who weren’t with us any longer.
Having been friends for the best part of 15 years, we’ve each seen our fair share of bereavements, heartbreak, and life's ups and downs between us; such is the nature of life and the joys of ageing, and in this moment, I think we were all pretty moved. And being together after more than six months apart made my heart soar. After taking in the temple’s surroundings and learning more about Bangkok’s intriguing past, we retreated to the sanctuary of the villa, where coconut-laden birthday cake, Thai massages and refreshments served in pretty silver tumblers were enjoyed immensely.
We were so well looked after by the staff that we all felt more adored and cared for than we had in a long time, a feeling that’s very hard to come by if you’re staying in a cookie-cutter hotel. As we succumbed to the slower pace of Thailand and the hum of the Buddhist chanting wafting in from the nearby temple, we delighted in snacks of fluffy homemade bread served with pandan custard and cast off the ties of home, feeling lighter, brighter and full of joy.
For our last night in the city, we headed to Nusara, one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, headed up by chef Thitid Tassanakajohn and sommelier Tam Chaisiri Tassanakajohn, who expertly pair interesting plates with drinks ranging from a crisp Thai white wine to a local deep red rice wine known as sato. Sitting directly across from the enigmatic Wat Pho, affording some of the best views in the city, we were taken on a journey through Thailand’s vibrant cuisine during our time in the restaurant, which sits over three floors and includes a small course being taken in the kitchen.
Featuring perfectly seared Thai wagyu, blue swimming crab, guwa Malayan curry, and desserts whipped up from a variety of mangoes, sago and young coconut, each plate of Nusara’s tasting menu looks like a mini work of art. Back in the comfort of Siri Sala’s bedrooms, just a short cab ride away, flasks of herbal tea awaited each one of us as we tumbled into our beds well before 11pm, full to the brim and happily content.
The next day, over a breakfast of pa tong go (deep-fried churros-like dough), tropical fruits and great coffee, we joked that if any boyfriend had ever treated us as well as the staff at Siri Sala, we would have married them in a heartbeat.
Retreat to the beach before home time
The coastal area of Hua Hin provided the location for part two of the big birthday adventure, where we dined on fresh seafood at low-key beach restaurants with plastic chairs, watched magical sunsets turn the sky from tangerine orange to vibrant pink and sipped far-too-sweet cocktails while reminiscing on years gone by.
With this group of friends, everything is easy and fun, and there’s something so magical about being able to be truly authentic with no pretence or show; it’s one of the things I miss most about not living in the UK anymore, and having to make friends anew.
For four extremely chilled days, we rarely rolled off our sun loungers at our tropical suite villa set within coastal Ace of Hua Hin, just under three hours from Bangkok. But when we finally did stray from the loungers, it was either to loll around in our private plunge pool or the infinity pool overlooking the ocean.
Some days we’d take a short stroll along the beach, pick up coffees from a nearby cafe or get up to mischief at the local night market (what happens in Thailand, stays in Thailand). Plenty of books were read, long, lingering hours were spent over breakfast each morning, and chit-chatting and dilly-dallying became part of our cute new routine. No boyfriends, no deadlines, no children. Just an unadulterated escape from our regular daily lives. Dua Lipa and Becks are really onto something.
Details
Siri Sala is available to book in its entirety through Oliver’s Travels, from £4,574 per night including breakfast, lunch, afternoon delights, Thai massage and airport transfers (sleeps up to twelve). From £4,574 per night, Oliverstravels.com
The Tropical Suite at Ace of Hua Hin can be booked through Oliver’s Travels, from £1,076 per night on a B&B basis (sleeps up to five). From £1,076 per night, Oliverstravels.com
Fly direct from London Gatwick to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport with British Airways.
Three more milestone birthday-friendly homes to book now
A Sri Lankan idyll: The Sa House
With three double bedrooms, set in the most exquisite surroundings, filled with endemic birds and beautiful fruit trees, newly opened The Sa House caters to groups of nature lovers and good home cooking close to Sri Lanka’s south coast. The villa is one of Sri Lanka’s best hotels and comfortably sleeps up to six (minimum three-night stay), from £888 per night, including breakfast.
Book from £888 per night at sah.lk
A Mexican glass house: Casa II
High in Mexico’s cactus-dotted Highlands near San Miguel de Allende, Casa II is a breathtaking retreat brought to life by artist Prashant Ashoka. With soaring glass walls, red cedar interiors, and a tranquil plunge pool, this mountain sanctuary invitesa low-key birthday celebration just for two.
Book from £290 per night at casaeterea.com
An Icelandic oasis: Eleven Deplar Farm
Set deep within the untamed beauty of northern Iceland, Deplar Farm is a sanctuary for those craving adventure and those elusive northern lights. Once a humble sheep farm, this extraordinary retreat now welcomes up to 26 guests in 13 beautifully designed bedrooms, available individually or for exclusive use.
Book from £3,500 per night at elevenexperience.com
