When you reach a certain age, you begin to appreciate vacations that actually offer a dose of rest and relaxation. Yes, I’m still interested in trying new restaurants, experiencing the outdoors, and taking part in activities. But when it comes to hotels and resorts, I also value things like quiet pool areas, tranquil spas, and accommodations where I can get a good night’s sleep.
I’m an empty nester now, so waterslides and kids clubs aren’t necessities anymore. The amenities I’m looking for now are less busy and boisterous and more mellow and mature. If you’re looking for the same kind of vacation vibe, these are my top picks for luxury resorts and hotels for adult-friendly getaways for travelers over 50.
Barnsley Resort
Adairsville, Georgia
It’s only about an hour from Atlanta, but Barnsley Resort really does feel like it’s worlds away. The 3,000-acre luxury resort in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers a choose-your-adventure type of getaway, with activities that include canoeing, kayaking, archery, axe throwing, and catch-and-release fishing. More than 10 miles of hiking trails wander the expansive property, which you can also explore on horseback.
Got a competitive streak? There’s disc golf, lawn games, and six new pickleball courts. If you’re a golfer, tee off at the resort’s par-72, Jim Fazio-designed 18-hole course, or practice your short game at the new 18-hole Himalayas putting course. Lodging options include rooms at The Inn at Barnsley Resort, but I recommend one of the resort’s ultra-charming cottages, which recently underwent a top-to-bottom redesign and now ooze with Southern charm. Three on-site restaurants mean you never have to leave the resort if you don’t want to, but the Blue Ridge Mountain towns of Adairsville, Cartersville, and Rome are nearby and worth exploring.
Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Since 1918, Barcelona’s Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona has been warmly welcoming travelers, including celebrities, artists, and politicians. Situated in an elegant French neoclassical building in Barcelona’s Eixample district, the hotel puts you just footsteps away from luxury shopping, restaurants adored by locals, and masterpieces by Gaudí and other Spanish architects.
The Majestic espouses a traditional luxury hotel style without feeling stuffy or pretentious. Guest rooms and suites blend classic and modern touches, with standout marble-clad bathrooms. Restaurant SOLC shines a spotlight on local cuisine, with a Sunday brunch that draws raves. But my favorite spot when I stayed there was La Dolce Vitae rooftop bar and restaurant, where I sipped a coffee one day and a glass of wine another while gazing at the Sagrada Familia and other city sights from a truly spectacular vantage point.
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
Marco Island, Florida
Wellness and longevity take center stage at JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, where the activity schedule includes sunset and full moon yoga sessions and sound bowl meditations under the stars. Spa experiences include a hydrotherapy circuit with a steam room, sauna, and cold and hot plunge pools, as well as massages and other treatments. There are 12 dining outlets across the resort, and the use of nutrient-dense ingredients like sea moss and sea asparagus in dishes and cocktails supports its focus on longevity and a “food as medicine” philosophy.
Whether you want to spend your days listening to the waves at the beach or paddling a kayak through the Ten Thousand Islands, the Florida luxury resort can help you make the most of your vacation, too. Book a room in the adults-only tower to enjoy views of the Gulf of Mexico, beach butler service, and adult-exclusive rooftop pool access.
The St. Regis Deer Valley
Park City, Utah
I still dream about my stay at The St. Regis Deer Valley, where the days started with coffee service delivered by our butler. Views of the Wasatch Mountains can be taken in throughout the property, but I recommend a ride on the resort’s funicular or one of the complimentary guided hikes. Some time at the spa is also a must, where a natural water feature travels from an outdoor waterfall through the length of the spa. Companion Suites offer a special treatment experience for couples, with fireplaces, soaking tubs, and outdoor patios.
Dining options at the resort include the impressive and much-lauded RIME restaurant. At The St. Regis Bar, sip a 7452 Mary, the hotel’s signature Bloody Mary with a black lava salt rim and wasabi celery foam that’s been served to guests more than 350,000 times. The daily Champagne Sabering ritual marks the transition from day to night at the resort, and complimentary s’mores are another good way to celebrate the end of a vacation day. If you’re visiting during the winter to ski, the resort’s ski valet service manages all of your equipment and logistics.
Baoase Luxury Resort
Willemstad, Curacao
As the only true luxury resort on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, the intimate family-owned Baoase Luxury Resort offers up the opportunity for a serene retreat. With only 23 rooms, the resort was designed with privacy and relaxation in mind. Think private plunge pool villas overlooking the water, a “massage gazebo” by the beach for soothing spa treatments, private yacht experiences, and the resort’s own beach club on private Bida Island.
There are even special buttons located throughout the resort that you can push when you need a beverage or other service. The much-lauded resort is family-friendly, but its owners strategically juggle how many families are on-site at one time so that adult guests can still have the kind of romantic getaway or tranquil escape they’re looking for.
Sand Valley
Rome, Wisconsin
Sand dunes might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Wisconsin. But the Badger State’s Sand Valley resort does in fact sit on 12,000 acres of rugged dunes in the Central Sands region of Wisconsin, an area that was covered by the waters of Glacial Lake Wisconsin for thousands of years. Today it’s the ideal setting for five world-class golf courses offering links-style conditions, as well as other resort amenities like grass tennis courts, hiking and biking trails, and lakes for fishing and swimming.
You can embrace your active side here by trying out activities like sandboarding and fat-tire biking. Or you can take it slow with some bird-watching or yoga. Accommodations range from traditional lodge-style rooms to spacious estate-style homes, and multiple on-site dining options make it easy to move between the day’s activities and meal time, with farm-to-table dining experiences that spotlight the flavors of Wisconsin.
Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina
O‘ahu, Hawaii
Situated along O‘ahu’s rugged western coast, Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina makes for a no-passport-needed tropical escape. Among the amenities? Tennis and pickleball courts, a spa and wellness center where therapies incorporate local botanicals and traditional Hawaiian techniques, four pools (including an adults-only option), and direct beach access. Eight on-site restaurants and bars include Mina’s Fish House from James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina and Dr. Mai Tai’s, a swim-up bar at the edge of the resort’s infinity pool.
This Four Seasons resort also offers a variety of special experiences for guests, including private pickleball and tennis lessons, guided hikes, and sound baths, all of which can be tailored to your experience level and ability. Truly one-of-a-kind offerings include a World War II aviation tour in Hawaii’s only U.S. Navy SNJ-5C Warbird and a sunset paddle in a double-hull canoe where you’ll learn about ancient Hawaiian seafaring traditions and celestial navigation.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
When the Ocean Course opened at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in 1928, it was the very first golf course in Northeast Florida. Today you can still play that historic course, along with the resort’s par-70 Lagoon Course. But you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy a stay at this AAA Five Diamond-rated resort. Oceanfront guest rooms allow you to step from your patio onto the sand, where lounge chairs and umbrellas await on the beach.
The Racquet Club features 12 Har-Tru Hydro Courts, and staff offer clinics and helps coordinate matches. After spending time on the courts or golf course, a full-service luxury spa can help you recover with more than 100 treatment options, from full body exfoliation incorporating Florida honey to pink Himalayan stone massages. Mealtime means a simple stroll to the eight on-site dining outlets and bars. But if you want to get out and explore, the many attractions in St. Augustine and Jacksonville aren’t far away.
