Retro Travel: Iconic Vacation Experiences from Each Decade
Fashion, food, and music often draw inspiration from bygone eras—why not travel? Discover our guide to vintage holidays through the decades, with modern ways to recapture those glamorous (or quirky) times.
1910s
As the 20th century dawned, overseas travel was a luxury for the elite, evoking grandeur powered by steam trains and ships. This marked the golden age of ocean liners, with companies vying for supremacy in speed, size, and opulence. Cunard's Mauretania, launched in 1907, held the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing for 20 years.
Recreate it today: Cruises thrive, but only Cunard's transatlantic voyages from Southampton to New York echo the era's purposeful journeys. Aboard the diesel-powered Queen Mary 2, sail the weekly schedule. Fares start at £699, including a return flight.
1920s
Post-World War I, the Roaring Twenties pulsed with jazz, cigarette holders, and Riviera glamour. Elites flocked to Nice, Cannes, or St-Tropez for G&Ts, Mediterranean swims, and lavish parties—far from the looming Depression.
Recreate it today: The French Riviera remains a glamorous draw, now more accessible. Fly budget to Nice, a key hub, and base yourself there. Stroll the timeless Promenade des Anglais for instant nostalgia.
1930s
Zeppelin airships defined long-haul air travel. The legendary (yet doomed) Hindenburg carried 50-72 passengers, stretched 243 meters—over three times an Airbus A380's length—and took 68 hours from Germany to Recife, Brazil.
Recreate it today: Spot airships in California with Airship Ventures' San Francisco Bay tours and beyond. Flights start at $375 for 45 minutes.
1940s
Tourism stalled amid war, but U.S. trains boomed pre-automobile era. Sleek services like the Pioneer Zephyr and 20th Century Limited offered high-speed luxury with polished silverware and gourmet meals aboard shimmering cars.
1960s
The jet age sparked mass tourism, luring Northern Europeans to sun-soaked Spain. Quiet fishing villages morphed into bold resorts, with straw donkeys as tacky souvenirs.
Recreate it today: Choose your costa via packages, budget flights, or self-catering. Straw donkeys? Still only available in person—no online sales.
1970s
As families hit the Costa del Sol, hippies trekked the Overland Trail to Kathmandu through the Middle East and Central Asia, amid kaftans, smoke, and yoga.
Recreate it today: Plan carefully for Iran and Pakistan; Kabul has changed. From Istanbul to Nepal, Kathmandu's Freak Street still offers chocolate cake, dreadlocks, and tie-dye.
1980s
Youth embraced gap-year adventures via InterRail or Eurail passes, crisscrossing Europe on budget rails, forging global friendships amid rolling parties—hygiene optional.
Recreate it today: InterRail endures as a top Europe explorer. Pair with budget flights; purists savor the free Italy-Greece ferry under Adriatic stars.
1990s
The world unlocked: post-Soviet states and Central America beckoned. By decade's end, better links made travel safer and more brag-worthy via reliable calls home.
Recreate it today: Hong Kong blends eras—from British cream teas at The Peninsula to China's high-speed rail and soaring skyline.
2000s
Pre-low-cost carriers, flights meant checked bags, assigned seats, meals, and central airports. Then budget airlines reshaped short-haul, with distant airports as the norm.
Recreate it today: Weekend in underrated Eastern Europe spots like Bydgoszcz, Poland, or Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Beat the drag from remote airports with Lonely Planet's Globe Tripper—our travel trivia game for iPad and iPhone.
