You can throw a party. You can write a check. But the most memorable way to celebrate a graduation is by traveling.
A great graduation trip is more than just a vacation. Choose a destination that’s personally meaningful, or somewhere the graduate has always wanted to see. This is also a special opportunity to take a multigenerational family trip before life pulls everyone in different directions.
Wherever you plan to go, travel insurance is a must. You should know that Allianz Global Assistance recently made changes to some of our most popular travel insurance plans to include epidemic-related covered reasons (benefits vary by plan and are not available in all jurisdictions).
The new Epidemic Coverage Endorsement adds covered reasons to select benefits for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic. To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
Even if your specific travel protection plan does not include the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, certain limited-time COVID-19 claim accommodations may still be available. Read our COVID-19 coverage alert for details.
Onto the important question: What are the best graduation trip destinations in the U.S. and overseas?
Graduation Trip Destinations for Pure Relaxation
Graduation — from high school, college, technical school or graduate school — marks a passage into a more challenging phase of life. Why not take a break and travel somewhere with a slower pace?
- Key West: Key West’s free-spirited vibe is the perfect antidote for a year of study and exams. Far more than just a party destination, Key West offers something for every interest: bicycle tours of Old Town, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, snorkeling in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and more. Read more in our Key West destination guide.
- Costa Rica: This Central American nation is heaven for adventurous travelers and beach bums alike. You and your grad can go surfing, explore the cloud forest, hike to stunning waterfalls or just share an Imperial beer together. Read more in our Costa Rica destination guide.
Heritage or Ancestry Travel Destinations for Graduation Trips
Let your own history guide your graduation trip plans. Tracing your family tree via DNA-testing services or on a genealogy site can reveal fascinating facts about where your ancestors came from. Ancestry trips are highly personalized, of course, but some popular destinations include:
- Italy: An Italian heritage tour can mean more than just sightseeing. Some tour companies offer the services of a professional genealogist to help you connect with distant relatives, guides to show you the town where your family lived, and even cooking classes to learn regional recipes.
- Ireland: Between 1820 and 1975, 4.7 million Irish immigrants settled in the United States. As a result, about 1 in 10 Americans today have Irish ancestry, making Ireland a top destination for ancestry travel.1
- West Africa: Many American travelers of African descent are exploring their heritage by visiting nations such as Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. "By making a pilgrimage to these West African countries, seeing the sights, hearing the personal accounts of our African ancestors directly from their surviving descendants, we have a cathartic connection,” Eric Martin, cofounder of Black & Abroad, told Travel & Leisure.2
Read more: 6 Tips for Planning Ancestry Travel
Graduation Road Trip Destinations
A road trip with a new graduate can be a memorable chance to bond — and finally, they’re old enough to take the wheel.
- A national parks road trip through the Southwest: Skip the crowds at Yosemite and Yellowstone. Instead, explore the expansive scenery of Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks in Utah, then the saguaro deserts in Arizona and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.
- A once-in-a-lifetime cross-country road trip: After graduation, life picks up speed, and it can be hard to dedicate time for a long road trip. Take this opportunity to drive cross-country, whether that’s north-south or east-west. Road Trip USA has some excellent recommendations, including the classic Route 66 journey from Chicago to Los Angeles and the Great Northern road trip from Acadia National Park in Maine to the Space Needle in Seattle. Read more: Planning the Ultimate Cross-Country Road Trip
Dream Vacation (aka Bucket List Trip) Destinations for Graduation Trips
The COVID-19 pandemic made us all realize that life can change in a moment, and that a trip you’re planning “someday” may never come to pass. It’s wise to take those bucket-list trips as soon as possible, rather than waiting. Older travelers may be more likely to experience a medical emergency while traveling, or to develop a health condition that limits activity.
- El Camino de Santiago: In the Middle Ages, Christian pilgrims made the trek from their homes to a shrine of Saint James the Great in Galicia, Spain. Today, this network of pilgrimage paths has become a popular way to see France, Spain and Portugal. Registered pilgrims may stay at dedicated hostels or refugios.
- Ballpark Tour: Eating a Dodger Dog at Dodger Stadium. Seeing a splash hit land in McCovey Cove at Oracle Park. Standing atop the Green Monster on a tour of Fenway Park. Traveling to a favorite baseball stadium with your graduate can make memories that last forever. Some Allianz Travel Insurance plans include access to our concierge services, which can help you plan your trip and snag good seats.
- New York City: One of the classic, great graduation trips is a weekend (or longer!) in the Big Apple. Splurge, if you can, on a grand hotel, fancy dinners and a Broadway show. A New York City graduation trip can also be executed on a budget: Stay outside of Manhattan, get a CityPASS or other sightseeing pass, and opt for the subway over cabs.
As soon as your book your trip, protect it with travel insurance! Find the right-fit plan today.
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