Regardless of your age, there is nothing quite like a well-deserved holiday. Rather than settle for the more predictable destinations that are no doubt saturating your Instagram feed, we tasked bespoke travel company Pomalo Travel with picking an Esquire alternative for every stage of a man’s life.
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Age: 21 – You’re old enough to be a grown up, but are yet to be saddled with all the responsibilities.
Obvious holiday: Backpacking in Thailand
The Esquire holiday: Challenge your survival skills in the Guyana jungle with an experience within South America’s indigenous communities. You will be guided by a team of ex-special forces and CIFRA that will immerse you in the sights and smells of the jungle. Push your limits and swoop from a helicopter into the jungle canopy below, climb the giant ancient trees and be extracted from cliff edges. You will come across the path of fascinating and dangerous animals, which will give you shivers for the rest of your life such as anacondas, caiman and piranha. Sleep high up in the jungle roof; it is a rare experience that few are ever exposed to.
Age: 25 – You’ve landed your first proper job, but that post-university partying spirit still runs strong
Obvious holiday: Partying in Ibiza
The Esquire holiday: For the first time in your life you have a disposable income, so why not throw your net further afield and take to Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The city of Cancun is famous for its wild parties, but you can turn on the luxury by staying at either the Nizuc Hotel and or at Thompson Hotel in the town of Playa del Carmen. Or if you’re more of a yoga mat and gluten-free kinda guy, the barefoot, hippie relaxation town of Tulum is for you.
Age: 30 – Work, work, work means that holidays should involve the exact opposite
Obvious holiday: Mykonos
The Esquire holiday: It’s bucket-list ticking time. Stop waiting around and start planning that road trip across the American mid-west and, while you’re at it, you might as well pop-along in to the middle of Nevada desert to see what all the fuss about the legendary Burning Man festival is about.
Age: 35 – The mid-thirties sees you balancing a healthy lifestyle (you are probably a member of a sports team) and your urge to party hard. Although with plenty of partying behind you, you’re looking for something with authenticity and originality.
Obvious holiday: Cuba
The Esquire holiday: The often overlooked South American country of Colombia has an embarrassment of great beaches. Book a surfing holiday in Cartagena, and as you’ve made the trip try following the footsteps of Colombia’s most infamous personality, Pablo Escobar on a Narcos tour.
Age: 40 – With a young family, the focus of holidays over the last few years has been on seeing extended family and making sure everything is kid-friendly. Well, why not break the mould and do something a bit more adventurous (but safe) that gives the kids plenty of school-yard bragging rights.
Obvious holiday: Sailing on the Amalfi coast
The Esquire holiday: A sense of exploration is hugely important on a family holiday. There is almost no chance that the family will get bored on an expedition ship, travelling to some hard-to-reach places like the Galapagos islands or the western shores of Alaska.
Age: 45 – Mid-life has hit hard with the work-life balance being about as even as a Mickey Mouse fighting Conor McGregor in the octagon. Inject some excitement back into your life.
Obvious holiday: Las Vegas
The Esquire holiday: The New Zealand town of Queenstown is a global capital for adrenaline junkies. Bungee jumping, sky-diving and glacier hiking are all seeming part of everyday life. Failing that, you can easily opt for helicopter rides above some of the world’s most stunning scenery – remember Lord of the Rings?
Age: 50 – You’ve work far too hard, for far too long not to treat yourself to a bit of luxury. That said, a luxury spa resort by the beach just wont cut it this time. It’s time to add some deeper experiences into your luxury.
Obvious holiday: Japan
The Esquire holiday: Cambodia, and specifically to experience Aqua Mekong, with its floating luxury, daily excursions, in-depth cultural interactions, and top quality food. Or perhaps visit Song Saa Private island for some barefoot relaxation, and don’t miss visiting Angkor Wat, where you should stay in the nearby, luxurious Amansara.
Age: 60 – The big 6-0 is an age for big events: retirement, silver wedding anniversary, children getting married etc. While you could hunker down at home and celebrate, we’d suggest being a bit more adventurous…
Obvious holiday: Hosting friends and family at home
The Esquire holiday: You only live once, so for whatever event you happen to be celebrating, go nuts. The brilliant Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico allows you to stay in refurbished haciendas and enjoy hosting parties privately at the ruins of the historical structure. You can even surprise your guest by bathing in a private cenote (sinkhole).
Age: 65 – Boom! You’re out. Retired, the family takes care of itself and you are left with a passport with plenty of pages to fill.
Obvious holiday: European sea cruise
The Esquire holiday: Think bigger. It’s time to visit all the places that you’ve always wanted to go to, but ended up convincing yourself out of going. Grab your passport, and book an exclusive around-the-world Air Cruise that will cover destinations like Rio De Janeiro, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, French Polynesia, Auckland, the Great Barrier Reef, Hanoï, Mandalay, the Taj Mahal and Petra.
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Esquire Middle East worked with the expert minds at Pomalo Travel. To create or book your own bespoke holiday visit pomalotravel.com
