10th anniversary getaways turn milestone celebrations into memorable experiences

In a 2024 anniversary-gifts survey, 50% of respondents said experiences are their favorite type of anniversary gift, and 60% said they prefer to celebrate alone with their partner instead of with the kids. Tin or aluminum still anchors the milestone, diamond jewelry remains the modern fallback, and the anniversary palette leans blue or silver with a daffodil as the flower. The smartest 10-year present is often the one that buys uninterrupted time together.

Why the tenth year wants a bigger plan

This is the rare anniversary that can carry a real decision: go big, go simple, or split the difference. A getaway keeps beating another object for the shelf. The Knot updated its 10-year trip ideas in May 2025 with U.S., abroad, budget-friendly, and all-inclusive options, while Fora Travel’s January 2025 guide stretched the map from Europe to Africa, the Pacific, and the U.S.

If you want the full milestone treatment, book the trip

A major trip makes sense when the anniversary is as much about marking time as celebrating romance. The Knot’s 10-year itinerary ideas include places like Quebec City, Montreal, Dubrovnik, Costa Rica, Iceland, and Sedona, plus city breaks such as Chicago, Scottsdale, New Orleans, Santa Fe, and Carmel-by-the-Sea, so you can choose between cobblestones, desert air, and coastlines without defaulting to the most obvious honeymoon repeat. Fora’s January 2025 guide also includes African safaris, Caribbean escapes, and culture-heavy trips in Europe.

Insight Vacations lists its Romantic Britain & Ireland guided tour from $7,459, down from a listed price of $8,775, and runs 20 days across 34 cities in 5 countries; the Romantic European guided tour starts from $7,895 and spans 19 days, 15 cities, and 9 countries. The trips work for couples who want the logistics handled and prefer premium dining, 4- and 5-star hotels, and a built-in itinerary over planning every train, transfer, and dinner reservation themselves.

If you want the emotional payoff without the planning tax, do a DIY memory plan

This is the sweet spot for couples who care more about the feeling than the itinerary. Tinggly sells anniversary boxes including Happily Ever After at $139, Happy Anniversary at $199, Fun Together at $199, Weekend Getaway for Two at $359, Relaxing Stay for Couples at $599, and Once in a Lifetime at $549. Tinggly puts it bluntly: “Instead of another item for the shelf, you’re giving time together.”

The DIY version is the move when you want to personalize the anniversary without committing to a giant trip budget. A gift box gives you the flexibility to decide later whether the win is a spa day, a wine tasting, a local hotel night, or a full getaway, and that makes it especially good for couples with messy calendars, kids at home, or a habit of postponing plans because they have not fully committed.

If you want something symbolic plus a getaway, pair the gift with the trip

A symbolic gift plus a getaway is a thoughtful way to handle the tenth anniversary without turning it into a production. A tin or aluminum keepsake still nods to the traditional material, and a diamond piece satisfies the modern expectation. For couples who already have travel on the calendar, Virgin Voyages’ Splash of Romance package adds a romance-forward layer for an introductory rate of $250 and includes priority boarding, daily cold-pressed juices, two 3-hour thermal spa passes, a champagne toast, chocolates, and a romance cocktail event.

Couples Resorts’ Jamaica deals currently include a four-nights-plus-fifth-night-free offer, and its LoveAway Plan lets couples start with a $100 deposit while locking in rate and room; the brand also leans hard into the romance-travel niche with adults-only oceanfront resorts, included airport transfers, free golf and scuba diving, and properties like Couples Swept Away, which sits on Negril’s Seven Mile Beach and features 312 suites.