13 LUXURY GRADUATION VACATION IDEAS

Your graduation or your son’s / daughter’s graduation day is one to remember and marks the coming of age as one transitions into the adult world, moving from campus life to real life.  We have some great college graduation vacation ideas and school graduation trips here which are really just extended graduation parties that are another rite of passage for anyone who has successfully lived through college or university and achieved the qualifications they have worked so hard for.  So if you really want to treat your son/daughter to the graduation celebration they deserve, take them on a luxury school graduation trip to give them lasting memories of life’s most momentous turning point and help see them into adulthood with an unforgettable vacation experience. Or if you’re looking for the perfect way to wind down after your exams, book a trip of a lifetime with your best university pals and go somewhere exciting and exotic for your grad trip to celebrate your freedom. LTR are expert travel advisors who can organize graduation travel packages designed specifically for the graduate and friends incorporating all their own trip ideas. Here are 13 luxury graduation vacation ideas and travel tips for the UK and Europe so that you can start planning.

Family Vacation in a French Castle

If you really want to make your son / daughter feel special after graduating from university, celebrate with an extra special family trip and stay in Chateau de la Barre, a beautiful French Chateau in the Loire Valley region, an area which is famed for its many chateaux, abbeys and architectural gems – great for history lovers or fairy-tale dreamers. Our featured property sleeps up to 10 guests so you can invite extended members of the family to celebrate together. And located close to numerous vineyards as well as having its own fine cellar of more than 170 quality wines, you’ll soon be on your way to teaching your graduate one of the most important skills of adult life, the skill of appreciating a good tipple and understanding how the best wines are made.

Amalfi Coast Road Trip

Whether you surprise your son / daughter with a road trip vacation for them and their friends, or plan a big family road trip with luxury car hire and stunning villa accommodation along the famous coastline, the Amalfi region is an unforgettable corner of the world and a place where you can create amazing travel memories with the ones you love. If you’re looking for a super glam, super stylish way to congratulate your son or daughter for their graduation, book a road trip break in this glamorous Italian destination and make sure they get a chance to explore the sights of Sorrento, the historic town of Amalfi, the striking cliff side village of Positano, the amazing designer shops and boutiques of Capri Island, the great food and nightlife of Salerno or the off-the-beaten-path village of Ravello. Plus Naples and Pompeii are easily reached from the coastline too, so it’s a fantastic vacation for culture vultures.

Pool Party Break in Tuscany

Book a luxury villa with a pool and surprise your son/daughter to his / her own private villa, a great place to throw an awesome pool party to celebrate with their best friends. If you’re planning travel after graduation on a budget, it could be a great idea to spread the cost with other parents as a joint gift or give them some graduation money towards their own vacation villa. Tuscany is a fantastic location too because it offers a glamorous and beautiful setting with the rolling countryside, iconic Renaissance-era art and architecture in the major cities, and superb food and wine for food-loving adults. Our featured, Villa Cetinale, a Roman Baroque villa, sleeps up to 23 people, features a stylish outdoor pool and we can even help you arrange house staff and/or a private chef to rustle up some of the best dishes made with local ingredients.

Adventure Vacation in Scotland

For those who love the adrenaline, why not start planning an adventure vacation to Scotland for the perfect release for all that stress from exams and assignments? Great for family vacations or group getaways alike, Scotland is the perfect place in the UK to celebrate graduating from university. It’s a fantastic destination that can offer everything from adventure walks and hikes to surfing, wild swimming, canoeing and kayaking to even crazier activities such as aqua-lining, bungee jumping and skydiving. We have a number of luxury staffed properties in Scotland available for private hire and we can help you create a bespoke vacation for you and your graduation party. Whatever it is that you want to get up to for your Scottish adventure break, we promise there won’t be a dull moment!

Island Hopping in Croatia

One of the best vacation destinations for graduates and school students is Croatia – especially the islands! Croatia is an up and coming party destination, best known for its many boutique music festivals and its various party beaches. But the general atmosphere is relaxed with just as much fine dining and gastronomy, sightseeing and history, shopping and wine tasting to keep everyone entertained. So if parents are coming along too, Croatia has something for everyone. Some of the best islands include Hvar, Korcula, Vis, Brac, Pag and Mljet – all of which offer a great mix of pebbly or sandy beaches, great nightlife and festival entertainment.

Bordeaux Wine Vacation

Graduations mark the path into adulthood and what better way to celebrate growing up than to learn to drink like a grown-up? If your son or daughter has just graduated and you’re looking for travel inspiration for an amazing family vacation and graduation trip with wine and food tours, one of the best places in Europe has to be Bordeaux, France. This fabulous city on the Garonne River in the Aquitaine region is best known for its spectacular food and wine, and we can help you find dream accommodation with some of the best tours for tasting. We can help our clients build a bespoke Bordeaux Wine Experience which will take them to different vineyards and chateaus in and around the city. Visit in the summer to make the most of the hot weather or go in the autumn time to experience the vineyards as the grapes mature in time for gathering and pressing.

Luxury Ibiza Villa

The famous White Isle is known for being a party island but it also offers amazing food and fine dining, great shopping and sightseeing plus amazing walking trails so there’s plenty to do for people of all ages – making it the perfect post-grad destination for celebrating with the entire family or just for hanging out with mates. To be close to the action and just 15 minutes’ walk from the bustling Eivissa (Ibiza Town), the area of Figueretas is a beautiful place to stay with palm fringed promenades and quiet bathing areas; for peace and quiet and paradisiacal beaches with powdery soft sands, head to Talamanca; or for family luxury and total seclusion away from the hustle and bustle of the main island, find an exclusive 5 star private villa on the sister island of Formentera. Of course, if you’re ready to party, the beaches of Playa D’en Bossa or San Antonio’s Ocean Beach are open all hours.

Tour South West Ireland

If you’re looking for a fun-filled experience, make sure you check out our South West Ireland experience, a vacation experience which will take you to Waterford, Cork and Tipperary; three of the region’s finest destinations with outstanding options of luxury accommodation and plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained – you could even stay in a castle! With beautifully rugged mountain landscapes, a breath-taking coastline and great wooded walks filled with streams, glens and waterfalls, this tour is ideal for outdoorsy types who love reconnecting with nature and is a great place to travel after graduation. It’s also a top region for fun activities such as golfing, canoeing, deep sea fishing, shark or salmon fishing, quad biking, cycling and horse riding so there’ll always be something for every age group. Whether it’s a family getaway or a graduation celebration with friends, South West Ireland is outdoor paradise with just as much history and culture to go around.  Have a look here at our list of luxury things you need to do in Ireland.

Vacation in the Cotswolds

When it comes to countryside breaks in England, there are fewer places quite as gorgeous as the Cotswold region. This largely flat area offers amazing wildlife walks, hiking trails and nature trails and is home to the spectacular Cotswold Waterpark area; a network of peaceful lakes which feature lakeside chalets and cabins, together with a huge choice of fun water sports and lake activities. The lakes in the Cotswolds make the perfect place to test out your kayaking skills or to try to cool, hip, up and coming sport of paddle boarding, and it’s also an ideal spot for fishing fanatics. With so many self-catering options in this stunning region, you can enjoy a fantastic vacation on a budget or you can splurge with all the Michelin star restaurants in the area. Michelin establishments not to be missed include Lords of the Manor, Buckland Manor, Harrow At Little Bedwyn and Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham. To find out more about taking a vacation in the Cotswolds, be sure to read our guide on The Best Villages to Visit in the Cotswolds and the  LTR Cotswold Experience.

Relaxing English Country Manor

After graduating from university, a bit of relaxation is in order. If the thought of adventure sports is all too much and if sightseeing seems a little too on the strenuous side, a relaxation retreat in a stylish country manor could be just the ticket to help you recharge your batteries after a semester of tough exams and assignments. We have a huge choice of luxury accommodation set in the stunning English countryside from the amazing Lake District to the pretty Cotswold region, a well-deserved post-university treat which is designed to help you take it easy. Whether it’s a relaxing getaway for you and your graduate friends or you’re treating your son / daughter to a family retreat to reward them for their hard work, we can help you build a bespoke vacation experience.

City Break in Edinburgh

If you’re looking for a city break, Edinburgh is a great city destination with something for everyone. It’s ideal for a short break if you don’t have much time to spare – or it’s just as fantastic for a week long adventure if you want to enjoy a fun-filled UK vacation with amazing food and drink, interesting sightseeing tours, limitless shopping and restaurants, a huge choice of bars and nightlife that never sleeps. Edinburgh is also famed for its whiskey tours so if you like to learn more about your favorite tipple, this is the perfect city for a graduation vacation. For families travelling together, there are some great featured properties with Loyd & Townsend Rose, including this luxurious 18^th Century Scottish Castle which is located just 2 hours from Edinburgh and sleeps up to 13 guests or the exclusive, Gilmerton House, a Scottish Georgian mansion featuring 10 luxuriously appointed guest rooms sleeping up to 20 adults with a huge dining space and located 40 minutes away from the city.

Rent a Scottish Castle

Did you know it was possible to rent out an entire castle for your celebration? If you want to get everyone together, this is the perfect place for it. Glenapp Castle, located in Ayrshire, Scotland is a magnificent building, with majestic furnishings and 36 acres of ground. This will truly be a vacation to remember.

Canoeing Holiday in Wales

For a fun adventure outdoors, we think that canoeing a kayaking in Wales can tick all the boxes. A canoeing vacation is great for all ages and it allows you to explore the countryside in a way you’ve never done before. Plus it’s a great workout whilst still being relatively relaxing for those who are looking to take it easy on the water. You don’t need white water to enjoy a good kayak experience and for family graduation vacations, a great place to paddle is Snowdonia National Park, on zero current scenic lakes such as Llyn Geirionydd. For an iconic flat-water paddle, head to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at Llangollen.

For more ideas on college graduation trip ideas and travel inspiration, give us a call on + 44 (0) 1835 824642 and speak to one of our travel advisors or email info@ltrcastles.com.  We would love to plan a graduation celebration for you.