travel party decoration ideas

How to Throw An Amazing Travel-Themed Party

Once upon a time in what seems like a previous life, I spent a decade working in the event industry, mostly as an event stylist. It was only natural that when someone asked me about travel themed party ideas, I had a lot of thoughts on the matter. Here I walk you through throwing a travel-inspired bash from the invitation, all the way through to the party favours.

More than just travel

Ok, you’ve decided on a travel theme but there are a few more things to consider first. There are lots of different aspects of travel to channel and it will help to narrow your theme down to something more specific. Think about who or what the party is celebrating and let that guide you. Is it a bridal shower, retirement, birthday or going away party? If so, you may need to consider that special someone’s age, gender, interests and style along with that of your guests. Here are just a few ways to interpret a travel theme:

• Vintage travel – Think old maps and leather suitcases, muted pastels and brass compasses.
• Transport – Planes, trains… Imagine a glamorous Orient Express do, or a whimsical hot air balloon theme taking you anywhere you dream.
• Focus on a destination – Create a Hawaiian Luau to a Mexican Fiesta, an Irish shindig to a French-themed fete.
• National flags – Casual vexillologists will love showing off their knowledge of world flags, a great conversation-starting theme.
• Around the World in Cocktails – A cocktail party exploring the origins of your favourite mixed beverages.
• Travel Trivia Tournament – Can be a romantic night for two or extend to a bigger group of adults.

Travel themed party invitations

The key to a great themed party is weaving the theme into every aspect, start to finish. Sometimes it’s easy and obvious, other times it takes a little more creativity. Let’s begin with invitation ideas. Your invitation will set the tone for the entire party, so consider how it works in with the overall look and feel. Don’t forget to list the following on your invites:

• Date and time
• Theme (especially if it’s fancy dress)
• Dress code (as above)
• Set catering expectations, don’t leave your guests hanging wondering if they should eat beforehand or worse, leaving early because they’re hungry (e.g. finger food provided).
• What people may bring along (e.g. BYO favourite alcoholic beverage, or bring along a dessert to share)
• RSVP date and contact details (ask people to mention any dietary restrictions e.g. vegetarian, gluten free etc)

Food & drink

First, consider the style of the party including the number of guests, space and budget. Is it going to be standing room only, in which case you’ll provide finger food on trays or set up a buffet? Will it be a more intimate, sit down affair? Do you have the seating required? Also, are you buying or making the food or a combination of both? What are your capabilities?

Now get creative. Are you going to theme the food around a particular destination? Alternatively, maybe you go for regular party food, but present it with a travel twist such as aeroplane cake toppers or served on map lined tray. Here are some examples of both:

Travel themed party decorations

When decorating for a party, you can go from 0 to 100 in less than 10 seconds, so make sure you have a budget in mind. Think about things you already own and can repurpose, or if you’re buying something new, how can you use it again? Are you a crafty DIY type who loves to make your own custom pieces, or do you just want something simple and out of the box? Here are travel themed party decoration ideas:

Here are a few sources for travel themed party decor:

Etsy are especially great for vintage-style travel party decor using maps to create items like bunting, favours and seating charts. Amazon is also towing the trend for vintage map-inspired travel party decorations. Oriental Trading takes a little more scouring to unearth their classier travel themed decorations, but there are some great pieces like world globe balloons and pastel suitcases for centrepieces.

For destination themes, check out Meri Meri for tropical decor ,  Coterie for Italian-tile inspired vibes and Sweet LuLu for a Mexican fiesta.

Don’t forget your local thrift store, Facebook Marketplace, eBay and for basic items like vases, candle holders etc. You might find a couple offloading once-used wedding decor!

Setting the mood

Music! You must have music. Create a playlist in advance so on the day, you just have to hit play. Lighting is another sure-fire way to set a mood. If your soiree is a daytime outdoor bbq, you need not be concerned. However, don’t forget lighting for night events, whether it’s lowering the lights and sparking up some candles on the dinner table or creating a festive mood with something a little more disco-esque. Get my Spotify Travel Party Playlist here…

Travel themed party favors

Do you want to send guests home with a memento? What is the age range or interests of the group? Taking home a polaroid from the photo booth might be enough, or you might want to send kids home with something sugary.

Take the time to write a short note or send a quick email to thank guests for coming, especially if they brought a gift. If you are writing a physical note, think about using a postcard or a design that will echo your invitation to round out the event.

Enjoy throwing your travel themed party, and don’t forget to drop your thoughts, questions and ideas in the comments below.

Peace, love & inspiring travel, Madam ZoZo

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How to Throw a Travel-Themed Party The Right Way

You love to travel, and who doesn’t love a good party?

Why not throw a party with a travel theme? And in this post, we will help you to plan the best travel-themed party. 

This post is written specifically to help you throw a travel-themed party that is unique and fun, and that celebrates you and your guests’ love for traveling and making memories.

Perhaps you want to throw yourself a fun and unique birthday party or need to throw a going-away party for a friend about to embark on a long trip. Or, you want to get some fun-loving people together around a collectively enjoyed theme, i.e. traveling, of course!

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A travel-themed party is a great way to celebrate this exciting and rewarding hobby and the world’s most wonderful destinations .

Travel-themed parties can also be a great way to get people talking and make the conversation flow. People who attend travel-themed parties will want to share with others the places they have been and the places they someday hope to go. 

Ideas for travel destinations and vacations can be shared, and possible travel companionships will blossom, too.

So let’s get started. 

Read on to get great themed party ideas for food, decor, and more.

Start Planning for Your Travel-Themed Party

No matter what you are celebrating, a travel-themed party should be full of travel-related decorations, finger foods, sweets, savory snacks, and even costumes, or at least a travel-themed dress code for your guests, too, right? 

So, where to start?

Narrowing your travel theme down is an excellent place to start planning for a travel-themed party, and here are some suggestions to get the ball rolling and your creative juices flowing.

Single Country/Regional Theme

Maybe you are farewelling a guest, or you are migrating to a new country; you could make the theme all about that country, region, or part of the world.

With a single country theme (or even region i.e. Central America , Asia), you could theme the whole party, including decorations, dress code, food according to that country (or region) and their culture, traditions, and even flag. 

Feel free to be creative. You may even find inflatables with personalized designs, which can be the country’s flag, map, or name letters, and place them as a unique decor in your party.

With an idea like this, you can go all out. 

There are countless ways to decorate, various foods you can serve, and many engaging activities you can plan for a travel-themed party!

Decoration Set Top Choice

The easiest way to decorate your party is by getting a set that covers most of your needs!!

Get a Travel Themed Party Decorations Set before you start your journey

Method of Travel Theme

You may want your party to celebrate travel in general, and that’s a fine idea also. 

Or, you may want to focus on one method of travel, such as backpacking or cruising. Or focus on some of the attractions and activities of a particular country or region like hiking, skiing , water sports, or even wildlife or a safari.

No matter your sub-theme, your travel-themed party will be memorable if it matches your interests and those of the people you invite. 

If some people you invite are not as into travel as others, those passionate about traveling will pass their enthusiasm to the other guests.

After selecting a theme for your party, start getting creative for your invites. This way, you can build excitement and anticipation for your travel-themed party, so your guests can’t wait for the date!

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Build Excitement with Themed Invitations

You can build anticipation for your party with themed invitations based on your overall theme selected earlier. 

Encourage guests to bring travel photos or souvenirs from their travels to share, or ask them to bring a dish of local cuisine from their favorite destination or something that matches your overall theme for the party.

A great idea would be to design invitations like plane or cruise tickets, baggage travel tags, or even planes or cruise ships.

Or check out these suitcase-shaped party invitations that you can order pre-made.

There are several options for effective invitations; some are easier than others. You can hand-make invitations, buy some at a store, or use free party invitations online to email your guests.

Invitations Top Choice

The most creative way to invite someone to a travel-themed party is using a suitcase!

Get some Travel Themed Invitation Cards with Envelopes before you start your journey

Food and Drinks

You could include in your invite for guests to bring a dish from the region or country of your theme, or if you want your guests to be impressed, organize catering according to your theme.

Whether it’s Guatemalan or Central American cuisine , Asian or European cuisine, if you plan well and hire a professional caterer, or even if you prepare the food yourself, your party will surely be memorable.

Regarding drinks, there are many options to suit your travel theme. You could include wine from France, sake from Japan, or one of my personal favorites, cocktails like the Michelada from Colombia .

Get Creative with Decorations

There are many great ideas for travel-themed party decorations .  If you focus on a specific region or country, you can base your decor on that.

If it’s a general travel-themed party, you can print out or buy travel posters, display food in open suitcases, use maps as placemats, and make airplane cupcake toppers on sticks.

You can use helium party balloons or make a cardboard train centerpiece out of old shoe boxes, really, the ideas are endless, and you are limited only by your imagination.

If you are throwing a party in your garden, you may consider getting an excellent garden furniture set . 

Play Travel-Themed Games

You can adapt many well-known party games to a travel theme. Instead of pinning the tail on the donkey, you can pin a remarkable landmark on a map.  

There are games like ‘Twenty Questions’ where the correct answer must be a destination. 

If you like drawing games, write travel-themed words on index cards, try to draw the word, and encourage other guests to guess.

You could also have fun by teaching and learning dances from other countries or asking travel-themed trivia questions. 

Word games are a great option also for example, one player names a city or country, and the next player must name a city or country that begins with the last letter of the first guest’s choice.

Use your creativity, and maybe you can create games everyone can enjoy or use some of the best road trip games !

Wrapping it All Up

There are many different directions you can go with a travel-themed party. 

In this article, we hope to have provided a really great place to start by first picking a travel-related theme and narrowing it down a bit to a specific region or country or even to a particular type of travel like backpacking or cruise vacations that can also serve as themes for the party.

From invitations to decor and food and drink, you now have an excellent place to start planning your travel-themed party so you can set a date and start sending out invites!

Maybe you will be so inspired after hosting this first party that you have more in the future. 

No matter what happens, you will have a memorable party you will never forget. And you are in the best place to start planning again in the future for another party, thanks to this article.

If you want inspiration for your party and destinations you can and should visit, check out our destinations page.

Disclosure: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission for any purchases made through the links. Your trust is important to us, and we ensure that all products or services we recommend meet or exceed our editorial standards .

Last Updated on November 20, 2023

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How to throw a travel themed party.

Blog Type Party Ideas

If your crowd is full of jet-setters, a travel themed party may be the perfect occasion to showcase all the trinkets, photos and memories picked up while abroad. What better way to pick your next destination than swapping stories with friends whose passports are as worn as yours? Above, you’ll find a lovely custom dessert table designed by Sweets Indeed that is sure to provide some inspiration for your own travel inspired party! Here are some tips to help you throw a travel-themed bash:

Invitations

Stir up the nostalgia with customized luggage tag invitations . Ask your guests to bring photos, souvenirs, foreign tender or some other memento from their travels for a little show-and-tell.

Suitcases – Place vintage-esque luggage cases in various places around the party area. You can even leave some open and fill them with snacks and travel inspired props. Check out this setup featured on Style Me Pretty .

Maps – Visit rummage and estate sales to find old world maps. These can be framed and hung as artwork that is not only perfect for your party, but is beautiful as everyday decor as well.

Make your maps a little more interactive by rolling them into cones to hold snacks like popcorn and pretzels. Above, One Fab Day shows even more creative ways to incorporate maps into your party decor.

Globes – Traditional globes are a fabulous decoration item. Not only do they add a sophisticated flavor, they can also be the perfect conversation starter, allowing guests to point out where they have traveled and where they plan to adventure next. As featured on Style Me Pretty , here is a beautiful way to complement your vintage suitcase decor with a well placed globe.

Planes – Outlines of airplanes can be printed out on colorful paper and tied together for garland. Or, if you’re feeling extra crafty, try making paper airplanes from old maps and stringing those together for pieces of garland, as seen on Run Lucas Run .

Place cards – Keep that theme chugging. If your party includes a sit-down meal, customize Place Cards  with a cute airplane or suitcase graphic, or write the menu on traveled-themed stationery.

A couple hours into the evening, have everyone sit down and share their treasures. Pass around photos and show any digital prints on phones or tablets. You could even give little prizes to the person or couple who has traveled the furthest or has the most stamps on their passport(s).

If you’ve planned far enough in advance, request that your guests bring a treat from some exotic land they have visited. They could also make a homemade dish or show patronage at a shop and buy a premade item. And you could always bake some travel-themed cupcakes, as seen here from Kara’s Party Ideas .

Beverages are also a great opportunity to showcase everyone’s travels. You could feature horchata from Mexico, wine from France, sake from Japan and tea from China.

When it’s time to leave, have gift bags filled with candy from a variety of countries ready for your guests. Or get extra creative and design a favor box with a stamp to look like a well-traveled package. Enjoy your party! No luggage necessary.

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7 Sensational Adventure and Travel Themed Party Ideas

Oh, the places you’ll go! From birthday parties to bridal showers, there are so many adventure-filled ideas you can use to inspire your own celebration. We’ve curated the top travel themed party ideas to spark your creativity! 1. Up, Up and Away in Hot Air Balloons Hot air balloons […]

Oh, the places you’ll go! From birthday parties to bridal showers, there are so many adventure-filled ideas you can use to inspire your own celebration. We’ve curated the top travel themed party ideas to spark your creativity!

1. Up, Up and Away in Hot Air Balloons

Hot air balloons are the cutest vintage touches to a travel theme. Make beautiful table centerpieces with a helium-filled balloon, string, ribbon and a basket filled with colorful flowers!

Create one stunning eye-catching display by hanging paper lantern hot air balloons from the ceiling. This is a great idea for an “Up In The Air” baby shower or birthday party!

One genius idea for a baby shower: take hot air balloons one step further by using diapers for the base!

2. High-Flying Up Inspired Decor

Looking for a fantastic birthday party theme? Disney’s movie Up is an adorable way to incorporate the beloved characters, balloons, and adventure into one fun party!

We love this creative idea! Hand out mini adventure books as favors so little guests can document their own adventures.

3. Pack Your Suitcases

Find inventive ways to present sweets and treats! Open a vintage suitcase and place tiers of cupcakes for a beautiful display.

Small suitcases are also great for displaying favors and drinks!

These adorable vintage suitcase favor boxes filled with candy make fantastic gifts to bid “bon voyage” to your guests.

4. For the Bicycle Lover

Create one fun and creative party theme with bicycles! A Party Studio combined bicycles with a pink, blue and purple color scheme for a darling little birthday party.

Bicycle place card holders and vintage-inspired bicycle favor boxes added a whimsical touch to the party.

Plus, you can spray paint the same bicycle place card holders gold for different look!

5. An International Themed Menu

From South Africa to Peru, take your party guests around the world with a variety of international eats.

6. Vintage Maps & Globes

DIY a glam globe by adding a calligraphy quote and ask guests to sign it!

Send guests off on their journey home with map favor boxes filled with a surprise.

7. Airplanes Ready for Takeoff

Get ready for takeoff! Use airplanes as the main theme mixed with maps, globes and clouds for one charming boyish birthday party.

Vintage airplane bottle openers would make unique and delightful favors to give everyone!

What other adventure or travel ideas do you love? Tell us in the comments!

Happy Planning!

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THESE ADORABLE TRAVEL PARTY DECORATIONS ARE EASY AND SIMPLE!

A travel party theme can work for so many different occasions.

And we’ve got some adorable travel theme decoration ideas to share with you.

Whether you’re planning a graduation party, wedding shower, bachelorette parties, or in this case, a ladies’ golf outing, a travel party can be a lot of fun!

In fact, what’s the first thing we determine when Matt and I start planning an event either professionally or at home?

A great theme not only makes any event more fun and interesting for your guests, it also provides a fantastic roadmap for your décor.

Following simple travel theme party decor ideas will make pulling your tablescape together a breeze!

I recently curated these vintage travel party decorations for a ladies luncheon.

The mood they created was bright, cheerful and elegant … perfect for a great afternoon with friends.

Here’s how I chose each of the elements of my travel theme party decor, step by step:

THE WORLD AWAITS!

These three words are perfect to introduce the travel theme to your guests.

It’s fun and it’s subtle … you don’t want to beat people over the head with the theme.

I found these adorable cocktail napkins that were a perfect starting point.

They offered a delightful color palette from which to build the other elements of the décor.

Muted pastel shades are so on trend right now. The cocktail napkins were simply ideal for this theme.

The khaki, teal, and yellow in the napkin works perfectly with the champagne and blush cloth table linens.

These colors have been on the runways for several seasons, so it’s only logical they are now frequently making appearances on the “best-dressed” tabletops as well!

Remember, fashion always leads!

PACK YOUR BAGS …

You can’t have a travel theme without a suitcase, right?

While these centerpieces took a little effort, they certainly made a big impact on the table.

And really, they weren’t that difficult to pull together.

I started with the suitcases , of course, which come in a variety of colors.

For this celebration, I thought the gold really went best with the color palate and sophisticated mood I was trying to achieve. 

Fuji mums paired with ivory hydrangeas were a perfect flowers to fill these centerpieces.

Hydrangeas are my favorite workhorse for a wide variety of reasons. I turn to them time and time again.

Why do I love them? First, their blooms are large so you don’t need a ton of them to make a nice, full arrangement. That also means you can make your floral dollars go further.

Second, they hold up for a really long time.

You don’t have to worry about them wilting, especially if you care for them properly. Since they are big blooms, they need lots of water.

Finally, hydrangeas are forgiving. If you do screw up and they begin to wilt, you can rescue them with this easy trick .

EVERYONE NEEDS A SOUVENIR, RIGHT?

In addition to the centerpieces, I found these adorable suitcase favor boxes.

While we have begun to emerge from COVID and are more comfortable gathering together, a few things have permanently changed when it comes to events.

One of these is party favors.

Loose, unwrapped candies in bags or boxes are definitely a thing of the past.

Think about the assembly … yuck.

These suitcase gift boxes, which contained wrapped Hershey’s kisses , were an ideal option. 

PICK YOUR DESTINATION …

One of the easiest (and in this case cutest) ways to incorporate your theme is by simply dressing up your food.

These travel theme picks were the perfect choice for our desserts. 

DON’T GO OVERBOARD.

The simple, monochromatic color palette of the table linens is by design.

There are a lot of things to look at on this tablescape.

If there were too many colors, it would be overwhelming. 

I limited my linen color palette choices to blush and beige.

The napkins and the tablecloths were the same color, as were the satin accent cloths.

IT’S ALWAYS BEST TO TRAVEL IN LAYERS … 

If I had a dime for every time my mother said that to me!

Not only is this great advice for travel attire, it’s also one of my favorite rules when creating a gorgeous tablescape.

By layering décor and linens, you create excitement and interest on your tabletop.

Since this event was held at a country club, the tables were rather large and measured 72 inches in diameter.

Layering various décor items helped to create some cozy warmth.

In addition, it allowed guests to have something interesting to look at wherever they were seated at the table.

A few of the layering items on this table include:

ADDITIONAL LINENS

Instead of just plopping the centerpiece down on the table and calling it a day, consider softening the look.

One of my favorite tricks is to use a chair sash (yup, those fabric pieces that are typically around chairs at wedding receptions) to create a “nest” on which to place a centerpiece.

This trick also works to hide or conceal the ugly bottoms of candelabras.

Chair sashes are the ideal size and shape for this task! And they are usual cheap to rent!

In addition, extra square napkins were perfect to place inside the suitcase to dress up the flower arrangement.

Both of these additional linen options are really cost effective!

VINTAGE TRAVEL POSTCARDS

By scattering these around the centerpiece I was able to include various destinations from around the world in a cute fashion that stayed within the color palate and added to the theme.

TISSUE POM POMS

I had one worry on this table.

I didn’t want someone to have to stare at the back of the suitcase centerpiece.

Tissue pom poms were the solution. In addition, they added height, texture and color to each of the tables. Perfection!

BASIC WHITE PICTURE FRAMES

I cannot tell you how many times I turn to these simple white picture frames .

Years ago, I picked up several dozen at IKEA and have subsequently used them countless times to hold table numbers, menus, drink recipes and even, well, photos!

Here are some similar frames that would be great for all of the uses I’ve just name. They are easy to store and definitely worth the investment. 

SCRAPBOOK PAPER

As I was pulling together this table, I liked it, but thought it needed just a bit more interest.

I found some adorable travel themed scrapbook paper and knew it was just the right touch.

There are lots of super cute, really fun papers out there and they are affordable enough to use just once without any guilt.

They make perfect placemats or in this case, added just the right amount of punch to the center of the table. 

Did you try this idea? Share it on Instagram with the hashtag #makeeverydayanevent and tag  @makeeverydayanevent ! Looking for additional spring table setting ideas? Discover how you can create a beautiful spring table that incorporates the colored glassware trend in three easy steps!

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At Home Travel Themed Party Ideas

A lot of us are spending more time at home than ever and not traveling as much as we’d like to (or is that just me?). In lieu of actual travel, I decided to throw a travel themed party for my family every couple weeks to feed our wanderlust.

We started with a Swiss picnic, a Swissnic if you will, in our backyard. Next up was Japan night. We rolled our own sushi and made miso soup. We regularly have Mexico night with tostadas, enchiladas, or burritos or Italian night with homemade ravioli or lasagna.

I asked some of my travel blogging friends for their travel party ideas and they shared some great recipes you can use.

The food is the main focus, but we’ve also added some travel party decorations and other activities to bring home the travel-at-home feeling.

The Set Up – Travel Theme Decor

No matter where you plan to travel during this travel dinner party, it’s nice to have some themed decor. We like to pull out souvenirs from our travels, if we have them.

To add to the festivities, it can be fun to make your own travel themed centerpieces, flagging, or wall art. Our son likes making flags, and put together a Swiss flag for our Swissnic.

You can also consider some general travel theme decorations like globes, airplanes, or flagging. Here are a few of our favorite travel party decorations.

• travel themed hanging swirl decorations
• Adventure Awaits banner
• travel party photo booth props
• biodegradable globe balloons

Travel Theme Party Ideas

We’ll show you how to make:

• Swiss Raclette
• Indian Chana Masala
• Irish Tea Party
• Mexican Fish Tacos
• French Charcuterie Platter
• Peruvian Sopa Criolla

Switzerland Themed Travel Party – Raclette Grill

Raclette is an alpine cheese popular in Switzerland. In this case, it’s melted under a raclette grill while food is cooking on top. It’s a little like fondue in the sense that you are putting melted cheese and other food together, but our kids like it a lot more because there are not other ingredients mixed in the cheese like wine and spices.

We first learned about raclette from our friends at WorldTowning . Our families met up in France and they hosted a Swiss-style raclette dinner in their patio. Once of the fun things about a dinner like this is that everyone gets to participate in the grilling and since it takes awhile you get to spend some serious time relaxing and chatting.

You’ll need a raclette grill for this recipe. We bought one upon our to the U.S. after our year in Europe and love it. It’s great for dinner parties, book club dinners, and birthday parties.

You can grill whatever you want on a raclette grill; some things are more traditionally Swiss than others, but we like to make it our own.

This is the raclette grill we have – I’m sure others are good, too, but I can vouch for this one.

Ingredients

Traditional

• Raclette cheese (Gruyère or Dubliner also work)

Non-Traditional, but yummy

• Red peppers
• Anything else you want to grill

Instructions

Quarter and boil the potatoes until they are cooked, but not soft.

Marinate the mushrooms. I like a shiitake salad dressing for the marinade, but it’s not very Swiss.

Slice the veggies and bread.

Lay everything on platters and place the cheese on a cutting board with a knife.

Everyone can put their cheese in the trays and food on the grill as they wish. we’ve found the cheese melts faster than the food cooks, so maybe hold off on the cheese until the food is mostly cooked.

Place veggies and bread on your plate and scrape or racler the cheese onto the other food.

Dry white wine, pickled foods (cornichons or gherkins, olives, pickled onions), cured meats (ham, salami, prosciutto), Swiss chocolate ( Toblerone or MilkBoy are easy to find)

Other Switzerland Themed Party Activities

Bellies full of cheese and wine, settle into the couch for a movie set in Switzerland:

• Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith (Princess Leia’s home planet of Alderaan is actually the the mountains around Grindelwald) 
• James Bond: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
• James Bond: Goldfinger
• Tom Brown’s Angels and Demons
• A Cure for Wellness

India Themed Travel Party – Instant Pot Chana Masala

— Preethi from Local Passport Family

This is a common Indian curry that I ate regularly growing up. Having it in India made by my aunties felt so comforting and welcoming. I love reliving those flavors in my own home now!

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 t ground ginger
• 4 t ground cumin
• 4 t ground coriander
• 2 t ground turmeric
• 2 t garam masala
• 2 t paprika I like to use smoked paprika
• 1 28oz can of diced tomatoes
• 2 c dried chickpeas
• 3 T lemon juice

Turn  Instant Pot on sauté setting and add oil. When hot, add onions. Cook until translucent, stirring often.

Add garlic and cook for another minute until golden.

Pour in all the spices and toast for about 1 minute, stirring. Do not let burn.

Include tomatoes and dried chickpeas and stir until well coated.

Pour in water and change setting to manual high pressure. Make sure vent is sealed and set to cook for 50 minutes.

Release pressure manually when done cooking, and add lemon juice and additional salt if needed.

Eat with rice or flatbread (naan, roti, and poori are all good choices). Curry will be even better the next day (should it last that long), and also freezes well.

Other India Themed Party Activities  

We love to think back on our trip to India and look at our photos. And it’s always fun video calling grandparents during the meal!

Read more about Preethi’s Instant Pot Chana Masala recipe .

Ireland Themed Travel Party – Tea Party

— Marta from Mama Loves Ireland

One of the highlights of all our family trips to Ireland are the pit stops for tea and cake! Ireland has a great tea tradition, tea being very much the most common and popular drink in the country, and most attractions have lovely tea shops with home made cakes and treats.

Maybe the most memorable of all our Irish tea experiences however was a fabulous afternoon tea we had at the Shelbourne hotel in Dublin. It was a long affair with multi-tiered trays, mini cake bites and small sandwiches in one of the most elegant hotels in Dublin: an unforgettable experience!

Making an Irish tea party at home is easy.

Ingredients and Instructions

• The main thing you need is, of course, tea. You don’t need a fancy china set for this however, we find that having nice cups out makes the whole experience more fun. The most common varieties of tea in Ireland are called Barry’s and Lyons , they are black teas, and they are always served with milk and, if you like it, sugar.
• For treats, our favorites are brownies, Irish scones, Irish apple cake, and banana bread. The Irish apple cake in particular is delicious with tea: it is a sponge type of cake or a ‘bread’ as they say and scones are also lovely. Irish ones are usually made with a lot of lovely Irish butter and serve with cream and jam.

Other Ireland Themed Party Activities

For the Irish feel to be complete, we like to put Irish music in the background (RTE kids radio is Irish and free online) and sometimes we even make Ireland inspired crafts to decorate the table. Flags and shamrocks are easy to make with paper and crayons and add to the atmosphere!

Mexico Themed Travel Party – Fish Tacos

— Katja from Globetotting

We lived in Mexico City for nearly six years and tacos quickly became part of our staple diet. Of the many types of tacos that we ate regularly, none could quite compare to fish tacos from our local taqueria, Tres Galeones .

Since moving back to the UK two years ago, we have been attempting to recreate an authentic Mexican taco – with some success!

• 4 skinless fillets of firm white fish. We use cod.
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 garlic glove, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 8 soft corm tortillas

Cut the fish fillets in half lengthways (so that they look like long fingers) and place in a roasting tin. Mix together the spices and sprinkle over the fish. Mix the garlic and olive oil and a bowl and drizzle over the fish. Road in the oven for approximately 10 minutes.

The tacos are best served with pickled onion (cut a red onion into thin slices and coat in lime juice), avocado, fresh coriander and chipotle mayonnaise.

Other MexicoThemed Party Activities

Since lockdown, we’ve taken to having virtual Friday night travels. Our first trip took us back to Mexico where we ate fish tacos and dressed up!

France Themed Travel Party – French Charcuterie Platter

— Chelsea from Pack More Into Life

Good food is at the heart of all French people. The French markets are full of delectable delights with fresh cheeses, delectable fruits and meats. Bakeries offer a plethora of breads to delight any palate.

The variety can suit your taste.

Start with at least two cured meats. Dry cured sausage and salami are favorites. Then add 3-4 varieties of cheese: a hard cheese, a soft cheese, a blue cheese and perhaps an aged cheese. Add a fresh baguette (warmed in the oven), picked vegetables, olives, fresh jam, nuts and ground mustard.

Other France Themed Party Activities

To continue the French theme, watch the Disney movie Ratatouille , create your own stained glass Notre Dame windows, make lavender soap, and go on a bike ride for your very own Tour de France. Find tutorials for these activities and more travel themed activities for kids here.

Peru Themed Travel Party – Sopa Criolla

— Ariana from World of Travel With Kids

In Peru most local restaurants offer a cheaper fixed Menu of the Day consisting of a soup, main course, and then dessert. So you get to try many different typical meals by ordering the Menu of the Day , which I am sure is how I first tried Sopa Criolla / Sopa a la Minuta for the first time.

Translated it means beef noodle soup which explains why it is suitable for the kids – in fact they love it! Many other Peruvian soups feature big chunks of grisly (!) meat or chicken and are on the chewy side with big beans and lots of potato.

Sopa Criolla has ground beef making it delicious for the kids – and something that is easy and delicious to make when at home.

As I lived in Peru for over 10 years, this is a recipe that I can make from memory. The key ingredient is Aji Panca – which you can’t buy in Australia.

• freeze dried chili flakes from the supermarket in moderation in lieu of aji panca , works well (though doesn’t taste exactly the same). Or purchase on Amazon .
• minced beef
• 2 Tbl tomato paste
• 4 C beef stock
• angel hair pasta
• 1 egg/person

Fry onion, garlic, aji panca or chili peppers, and oregano until soft. Then add minced beef and about 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.

Once cooked, add beef stock and then angel hair pasta, which cooks really quickly.

Technically you are supposed to poach your eggs before putting them into the soup and serving… but I just break the egg into the soup and let it cook that way. It is such an easy dish that the kids can help make it as its quick and easy.

Other Peru Themed Party Activities

If you are looking for a movie the Emperor’s New Groove is set in Peru with the lead character named Cusco! While not technically correct, the kids really enjoyed it.

You can also read Peru books for kids .

Note about the picture: My mother and I, along with my two kids are eating a Peruvian delicacy – guinea pig (cuy) plus a big plate of noodles (tallarin). Needless to say, we have never eaten guinea pig at home!

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Top 8 Travel Party Ideas

July 12, 2018 4 min read

Incorporate the romanticism of vintage modes of transportation, colorful maps, and earthy textures into your travel-themed party for a fun and festive atmosphere.

Travel-inspired decorations are perfect for an array of gatherings—birthday parties, bridal showers, weddings, or dinner parties. Here are a handful of ideas to add a charming, global touch to your décor.

Paris, Je T’aime

Uncharted Territory

Fly Away with Me

Paper Bouquet

Into the Unknown

Country Hopping

Time For Travel

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Kim and Kalee

Building a Life You Love

Around the World Themed Party Ideas | 25+ Food, Drinks & Games

Hosting an Around the World party is a fun way to celebrate all the different countries of the world. With these Around the World party ideas, you’ll have fun themes and food ideas that are perfect for hosting a great party with your friends!

From authentic recipes and refreshing drinks to fun games for guests of all ages, these easy party ideas are the best way to put together an amazing celebration.

These ideas also work well for a graduation party, bridal shower, baby shower, and first birthdays!

29 Popular Around the World Themes

Whether you’re planning a corporate event, a themed birthday party, or starting a new tradition, there are creative ways to add a lasting impression on your guests! The first way is to pick a theme!

Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing! We’ve linked to any helpful ideas for each theme, too!

• Welcome to Paris (French Theme)
• African Safari
• County Fair (hay bales, corn on the cob, etc)
• Chinese New Year
• Christmas in July
• Arabian Nights
• Tailgating or Sports Theme
• Mexican Fiesta
• Coachella/ Music Festival
• Las Vegas Casino Night
• British Afternoon Tea
• California Palm Trees & Pool Party
• Beach Party
• Egyptian / Toga Party
• Medieval Dinner
• Western (Cowboy hat, Boots, etc)
• Eat Pray Love Movie Theme
• Christmas Traditions Throughout the World
• Cheese & Wine 
• Cheers to 30 Years
• Murder Mystery (set in a foreign place)
• Roaring 1920’s Great Gatsby Theme
• A Taste of …(Pick any state or country)
• Bollywood 
• Around the World Menu (Buffet of different foods)

Special Touches for a Travel Theme Party

• You could send invitations that look like plane tickets. (Bonus points if you attach an inflight snack for your guest!)
• It’s also a great idea to decide the number of guests you’ll have before planning out your full world party theme.
• Don’t forget to let your guests know ahead of time that it’s a themed event and of any dress code options for the theme.
• Vintage suitcases, maps, paper lanterns, colorful balloons, and string lights are all great party decor ideas.
• Set up special food stations along the party venue.
• If you have server(s), they could dress up as a flight attendant!

• Consider a photo booth or post card as a souvenir from their “trip” at the party.
• You could also do a baggage claim area where guests can pick up their coats or party favors before leaving the party.

We also have specific ideas for a 50th Birthday Party for Adults or for  37 Cool Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas for Teens & Tweens you may also like.

Around the World Themed Party Menu

An around the world theme can be so much fun! Below, you’ll find amazing recipe ideas for your next party!

Sacher Torte

Your party guests will love this chocolate Austrian cake with apricot jam and a chocolate ganache glaze from I Heart Eating.

Prepare a delicious Cuban beef stew made in the Instant Pot in under one hour with this easy recipe from Eating in an Instant.

Ukrainian Beet Salad

Whip up a colorful Ukrainian side dish made with beets, carrots, potatoes, and pickles with this recipe from Savas Kitchen.

Lebanese Baklava

This recipe for Lebanese baklava from A Pinch of Adventure is a flaky pastry crust filled with sugary walnuts and topped with a rose water syrup.

Mini Roast Beef Yorkshire Pudding Bites

These mini bites from Culinary Ginger are filled with roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, making them a great option for the London stop on your around the world celebration.

Malaysian Fried Noodles

Head to Malaysian at your celebration with this recipe for Mee Goreng Mamak from Joyous Apron, a fried noodle dish with fried tofu and red potatoes.

Papel Picado Craft

Keep the kids at your party entertained with this fun Mexican paper flag craft from Confessions of an Over-Worked Mom.

French Macarons

Add a pop of color to your dessert display at your party with some classic French macarons with the help of this fool proof recipe from Partylicious.

Pierogies are a classic Polish dumpling made with a variety of filling options. This easy recipe from Spend With Pennies would make a delicious side dish or appetizer for your Around the World celebration.

Around the World Escape Room

Have some educational fun while keeping your party guests entertained with a fun printable around the world escape room kit.

PACANGA BOREGI

Whip up this recipe for Pacanga Boregi from Cooking Gorgeous for your International party menu – a Turkish snack stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, and peppers.

Japanese Rice Balls

This recipe for Onigiri from Drive Me Hungry is a fun way to enjoy some Japanese cuisine at your Around the World party.

SPANISH TORTILLA

Add a traditional Spanish snack to your party food spread with this recipe for Tortilla Espanola from Merienda’s de Pasion.

Brazilian Lemonade

The younger guests at your party will love the combination of sweet and sour flavors in this nonalcoholic Brazilian lemonade recipe from Simple Living Recipes.

German Schnitzel

This crispy pork schnitzel with alpine fondue sauce recipe from Food Worth Feed is a simple main course that allows you to add German flavors to your dinner menu.

Mexican Wedding Cake

Enjoy a classic dessert from Mexican that’s made with just six ingredients with this easy recipe for Mexican wedding cake from Persnickety Plates.

Swedish Meatballs

These classic Swedish meatballs from Sweet and Savory Morsels would make the perfect appetizer or simple main course for your Around the World dinner party.

Irish Potato Candy

Serve some traditional Irish candy to your party guests with this fun sweet treat recipe from Saving Dollars and Sense.

Make your own homemade churros for a sweet Mexican treat to serve at your party using this recipe from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt.

A mangonada is a vibrant and delicious Mexican drink made with juicy mangoes, chamoy, and chile-lime seasoning.

Prosciutto and Melon

The sweet and salty combo of prosciutto e melone from It’s Not Complicated Recipes is a classic Italian appetizer perfect for an Around the World celebration.

Korean Corn Dog

This fun recipe for crunchy Korean corn dogs from Braised and Deglazed is a fun way to bring some Korean street food to your party.

Printable Plane Tickets

Get your Around the World party started with the help of these fun printable plane tickets from Barley and Birch to pass out to all the kids at your celebration.

Around the World Trivia

Have some fun testing your international knowledge with your friends with this printable around the world trivia game.

Need more ideas? You may also like:

• 33 Fun Dress Up Party Themes for Adults
• Easy Couples Dinner Party ideas, Recipes & Games
• 99 Fun Party Quotes for Instagram

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Kim & Kalee

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Passport to Fun: Travel-Inspired Party Ideas

Passport to Brazil

How to decorate : Beautify your space with bright lanterns, banners, and strands of lights. McGrath also pays homage to the country harvest by decorating with colorful straw hats, wicker baskets, and hay bales. You can even pull out your autumn scarecrows for this event. “A bonfire is a must,” adds McGrath, “It keeps the bad spirits far from the lands of harvest.”

What to serve : Stick to a classic picnic-style menu, as simple as corn on the cob and hot dogs. McGrath also suggests abundant quantities of Brazilian sweets including pacoca (peanut butter candy), pe de moleque (peanut bars), sweet popcorn, brigadeiro (chocolate fudge), canjica (sweet corn pudding), and caramel apples. Adults will enjoy sipping on quentao (a Brazilian cider-like spiced tea) or batidas (tropical fruits cocktails). Check out recipes on the blog Flavors of Brazil .

What to wear : Festa Junina, like Brazilian Carnival, requires guests to party in costume; for this event, outfits pay tribute to the origins of Brazilians' farming heritage and beloved country music. Males dress up as farm boys with large straw hats and plaid shirts. Females pull their hair in pigtails, paint freckles on their face, and wear red-checkered dresses or peasant dresses.

What to do : Since the Festa Junina typically includes guests of all ages, plan a few games that bring out the kid in everyone: musical chairs, egg-on-a-spoon relay, and a sack race. A typical "quadrilha" square dance may be harder to pull off, but make sure to download songs that give your guests a feel for what they're missing. Friends might even improvise their own dances once the party kicks into high gear. Search iTunes for "Festa Junina," or look for these traditional songs: Pula Fogueira , Capelinha de Melao , and Quadrilha Brasileira .

Passport to France

When party stylist Chris Nease was planning her husband's birthday, she revisited a trip the couple had taken to France. The occasion gave them a chance to celebrate their love of French culture and cuisine.

How to decorate : Nease decided to avoid obvious decoration options, like miniature Eiffel towers, and aim for a more authentic Parisian feel. She created a "shabby chic" European ambiance in her backyard, using eclectic antique items strategically staged around her yard. To create a bar area, she built her own pipe-and-drape system on which she hung curtains as well as empty, antique-looking picture frames. (Instructions are available at her site celebrationsathomeblog.com .)

She also emptied a small, antique dresser and used it as a wine and champagne station, with glasses peeking out of the empty drawers and bottles perched in garden urns. Other decorative items, such as vintage suitcases, globes, pomander balls, and French books gave an old-world feel to food tables, while old-fashioned frames and cafe-style chalkboards listed menu items. Nease created a simple banner by clothes-pinning personal photographs from her French vacation to a twine rope.

What to serve : French wine and champagne makes the perfect starting point for an elegant cocktail or dessert party. Nease stuck with pretty, easy-to-eat finger foods like goat cheese tarts with caramelized onions, brie tarts with strawberry preserves, and mini quiches. She also created snack cones — filled with French fries — out of decorative scrapbook paper embellished with fleur-de-lis.

A dessert table featured fruit tartlets , palmiers, chocolate-espresso butter cream macarons and the pièce de résistance: a croquembouche (tower of pastries) that Nease fashioned from store-bought cream puffs .

What to send home : Add a classy touch with a special party favor. Nease embellished simple brown paper bags with scrapbook paper, monogram tags and a fleur-de-lis wax seal. She filled the bags with monogrammed items like note pads and note cards. Other possible take-homes could include lavender sachets and soaps or a sampling of French chocolates with French roast coffee — just enough for a petite pour.

Passport to Greece

Lori Lange, the author of the Recipe Girl cookbook and blog, loves the food and flavors of Greece: lamb, garlic, lemon, eggplant, and feta. So when it was her turn to host the neighborhood’s gourmet get-together, she settled on a Greek theme. Opa!

How to decorate : Lange used the colors of the Greek flag, blue and white, accented with shiny gold to fashion a table worth of the gods. Blue and white dishes, tablecloth, and glass beads set the backdrop. She then created centerpieces using pieces of gold lame from the fabric store and vases filled with branches of golden-yellow blossoms and rosemary.

What to wear : For a playful crowd, encourage guests to wear togas, or offer artificial laurel wreaths to wear on their heads. If your group isn’t quite as spirited, Lange suggests accessorizing outfits with flashy gold jewelry.

What to serve : Start the evening with appetizers that draw on Greece’s signature ingredients. Lange served marinated eggplant with capers and mint; goat cheese with olives, lemon and thyme, served on crisp rosemary flatbread; and dried fig souvlaki — all huge hits with her guests. She also concocted Greek mojitos , a twist on the classic Cuban mixed drink, which she made with Greek metaxa in place of rum.

A Greek meal traditionally centers around a signature lamb dish, like a roast or chops. If you’re not a lamb lover or it’s too pricey for your budget, look for a chicken recipe that calls for copious amounts of lemon, garlic , and rosemary. Lange’s side dishes included a spinach, feta, and pine nut tart; roasted garbanzo beans and garlic with Swiss chard (“a surprise favorite,” she says); and Greek potatoes with lemon vinaigrette. (All Lange’s recipes are available at recipegirl.com .)

What to do : Let your guests test their knowledge of Greek history, geology, and mythology with homemade trivia cards distributed at each place setting. Go to quizlet.com and search for “Greek” to find plenty of interesting factoids.

Passport to Asia

Party stylist Chris Nease says ideas for parties hit her at the strangest times. “There’s always an inspiration piece to get juices flowing. This time it was little, red takeout boxes,” she says. What followed was an Asian-fusion dinner party spotlighting many of the flavors Nease and her friends love. How to decorate : Nease stuck with Chinese color scheme of red, black, and gold, drawing on the takeout boxes that inspired the event. For the table centerpiece, she used a bamboo runner, then wrapped a bamboo placemat around a cylindrical vase and filled it with bamboo fronds and curly willow branches. Other accent pieces included Japanese fans, black and white river rocks, a Buddha statue she found at a discount store and a Japanese teapot her husband brought home from a business trip. Nonetheless, Nease cautions to keep the look uncluttered. “Asian decor is very sleek and minimalist,” she says. (To view her table, visit her site celebrationsathomeblog.com .)

What to serve : Asian restaurants have finger foods down to an art, so kick off the party with a selection of snacks made at home or ordered from a favorite eatery. Eggrolls, dumplings, sushi, and potstickers appeal to a wide crowd; if you want to get adventurous, consider Thai-inspired shrimp or edamame hummus on rice crackers. Instead of standard cocktails, serve sake or soju (a Korean rice beverage) or offer a selection of Asian beers, such as Sapporo or Tsingtao.

For her main meal, Nease served chicken satay and Asian noodle salad . For dessert? Chinese fortune cookies, of course — served in little red takeout boxes. Don’t forget to end the meal with a steaming pot of green tea.

What music to play : Search online radio stations, such as pandora.com , spotify.com , or grooveshark.com to find an Asian music mix you enjoy. Pandora.com, for instance, offers an “Asian Instrumentals” station whose artists give traditional Chinese and Japanese instruments a smoother, jazz-like sound.

Passport to Portugal

When her mother traveled back to Lisbon to research her family’s Portuguese roots, Lori Lange caught the heritage bug. She pored over photographs from her mother’s travels and paged through David Leite’s cookbook, The New Portuguese Table , for ideas and inspiration. Then she threw a dinner party to share this newfound knowledge with friends.

How to decorate : Lange showcased Portugal’s rustic, old-world beauty in her table decorations. She used a red tablecloth and richly patterned runner to create a warm backdrop, then added brown woven placemats reminiscent of Lisbon’s cobblestone streets. She topped off each setting with thick ceramic plates and bowls. Centerpieces included vases filled with wine corks, wrapped in raffia, and adorned with chunky candles, a visual nod to the country’s fine wines. (Visit recipegirl.com for more photographs.)

What to serve : “When I put on a party, I like to make it as authentic as possible,” says Lange, who even contacted cookbook author Leite to make sure she got the recipes just right. Her menu included appetizers of green olive dip and smoked ham with melon; a Portuguese salad made with green peppers, cucumbers and plum tomatoes; a spicy pork stew with clams and red pepper sauce; and roasted potatoes with smoked sausage and tomatoes. Guests sipped sangria before dinner and sampled Portuguese wines throughout the meal. Lange said guests raved about dessert: an orange cake (bolo de laranja) made with olive oil instead of vegetable oil. For more Portuguese menu options, visit David Leite’s site .

What to do : Lange’s dinner party conversation centered on the Portuguese culture, which Lange could describe from her mother’s travels and her own research. If you want to pre-empt any awkward silences, take it one step further and leave a conversation card with a fun fact about the featured locale at each place setting. “That way everyone can learn something new about the country,” she says. For background music, keep it classical with 12-string guitar legend Carlos Paredes or reach for a more contemporary sound, such as Rodrigo Leão’s O Mundo album.

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Best Tropical Theme Party Ideas for Adults

Tropical themed party ideas with a retro vibe for the modern host. You’ll love these decorations, food, and tips for an Island party whether you’re hosting a Luau or Caribbean theme. Plus you can grab free printables including place cards and invitations.

WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?

Tropical theme party ideas 

Today we’re going to the Tropics for some fun in the sun and delicious food and drinks! This party has a definite tropical vibe, but it’s not kitschy.

A tropical party is the ideal theme party for adults or families. And it’s a fantastic summer party idea .

I opted to forgo the grass skirt trim and flowery leis, but I did include mini drink umbrellas, shells and coral. You can also grab some inspiration from this Havana theme party full of tropical ideas with a Cuban influence.

When to use this theme

I’ve listed all the details to show you just how easy it is to pull together a tropical theme for an occasion. Here’s a list to start.

• Backyard summer party “just because.”
• A ladies night in.
• Adult birthday party.
• College graduation idea.
• Engagement party, especially if the couple is heading to the tropics for the honeymoon.

Grab your sunscreen and lets head to the islands! 

* post contains affiliate links

How to Decorate a Tropical Theme Party

Sure you could go to the party store and purchase a complete themed party set. But why not add more personality to your tropical party instead? Plus, the items you use here can be used for other occasions too.

Start with fabric that has a pattern with the right balance. Blue to emulate the sea, bright colors to reflect the beautiful flowers, and neutral/brown tones to give that rustic island feel. I found it all in this fabric pattern that feels very retro. Just lay it on the table as your base and build up from there.

Place brightly colored flowers in a tall vase and wrap it with a bamboo place mat cut to size . Total Island vibe!

Add lanterns, coconuts, and pineapples to the table for decoration. Other items include decorative corral, sea shells, starfish, and sand dollars .

HOW TO OPEN A COCONUT: To open a coconut, hold it in the palm of one hand. In the other hand use a hammer to hit the coconut with enough force to crack it. Turn the coconut slightly and hit it again until you’ve gone around the coconut full circle. It should be cracked open by this point. Make sure to have a bowl underneath to catch the coconut water when it opens up .

Create a DIY party banner with these retro style postcards. String jute twine between two garden stakes and place them above the buffet table. Use mini clothes pins to attach the cards to the twine. The post cards are so festive and add more of the retro look we love for this party.

If you want to host a sit down meal check out this green dinner party with a tropical inspired tablescape, and then see how to decorate your deck or patio with greenery for a relaxing retreat.

Use wooden serving pieces to present the food. Top them with real or faux tropical leaves and palm fronds for an  INSTANT island touch!

Insert mini umbrellas into salsa bowls, drinks, or cupcakes.

I think food plays a major role in any good themed party. Serve a menu with an island vibe. Fresh tropical fruits are great for making salsas, and mini shrimp cocktails bring the ocean to you. Other popular flavors include coconut and light sauces.

• Make a trio of tropical salsas. Here I made Mango, Pineapple, and Papaya with Avocado. I didn’t really follow a recipe, I just blended different combinations using green & red bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, red onion, black beans (drained and rinsed), cilantro, diced tomato, lime juice and salt. Serve these with rice chips or tortilla chips.
• Seems like islanders are always cooking pork on a spit so use that as inspiration for mini tacos . Combine pulled pork with Sriracha and bbq sauce. Then layer it onto soft shells with jalapeno slaw. They’re tasty and have great texture! HOSTESS TIP: Used a biscuit cutter to make smaller party size rounds in the soft taco shells.
• What’s a tropical party without seafood? Individual servings of shrimp cocktail are served in glass votive holders.
• Chicken satay is one of my favorite foods. Just thread thinly sliced chicken breast onto skewers and brush with a jarred satay sauce when grilling. They’re so convenient to pick up and eat, and they make great party food for all occasions. HOSTESS TIP: Make these Jerk Seasoned chicken skewers for more island flavor.
• Put tropical flavored bottled drinks in a tub of ice so guests can help themselves. You can also use these drinks to mix into cocktails. Just add rum! My go-to mix-in is Coconut Rum. I added it to the Kiwi Strawberry flavor and it was soooo good.

PARTY TIP: Add sea shells to the ice bucket for an unexpected touch.

Party drinks

Aside from offering easy-to-grab bottled beverages, choose a signature cocktail for the occasion. Any of these would add delicious tropical flavor.

• Mix up this easy pitcher party drink that’s got 2 kinds of rum and a fruity coconut flavor.
• This Hula Breeze Pomegranate cocktail will have you swaying with the palms.
• Don’t be fooled by the name, this blackberry moonshine cocktail is smooth and full of pineapple goodness.
• Go all in with this delicious blue cocktail that looks like the ocean and has coconut rum in it!
• If you like mojitos you’re gonna LOVE my sparkling mojito cocktail !
• Another delicious option is a pineapple martini . It’s complex flavors are easy to combine and I guaranteed guests will love it.

Tropical Themed Desserts

It doesn’t take too much effort to make some sweet treats with an island feel.

• Use my fluffy white pineapple cake recipe to make cupcakes instead. Ice them with the frosting included in the recipe, or classic buttercream. Then top them with sliced fresh strawberries and glaze. HOSTESS TIP: Make an easy glaze by warming up strawberry jelly until it’s like a syrup and easy to drizzle.
• Make mini coconut cream parfaits using packaged pudding mix. When you present them like we did here, your guests won’t know they’re not homemade! Layer the pudding with graham cracker crumbs and then top with a chocolate shell.
• These lemon & lime tartlets would also be a nice addition to the dessert table.
• You can add these delicious banana pudding mini desserts , too.

More tips & ideas

• Send out invitations at least two weeks beforehand {or more if you know people are busy}.  Download these FREE printable invitations here, and the tent cards here.
• Graham cracker crumbs or brown sugar give a beach sand effect. Use it on the table for a food-safe base. Add a fun and whimsical touch by “writing in the sand” the word “FUN .”
• Be a thoughtful hostess and provide paper fans for guests to stay cool. I found these HERE . They fold up so they’re easy to corral in a small bucket and guests can pick one up as needed.
• Simple party favors are easy to make. You can make them ahead or put out the supplies and lets guests make their own. Fill small paper sacks with tropical blend trail mix . Secure them with decorative tape.
• Want to know what to wear to a tropical theme party ? Check out these outfits for inspiration.

Add a festive playlist

Here’s a party play list with tropical vibes that will get you in the right mood!

• Bob Marley – Legend album
• Jimmy Buffet – Songs You Know By Heart album
• Carlos Santana – Supernatural album
• Girl From Ipanema by Astrud Gilberto
• Hey Mambo by Dean Martin
• La Bamba by Ritchie Valens
• Let’s Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez
• Cha Cha Slide by DJ Casper
• I Like it Like That by Pete Rodriguez
• Havana by Camila Cabello
• Senorita by Camila Cabello

What do you think?  Are you ready to host a tropical themed party?  I hope you’ll incorporate some of these party ideas!

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18 comments.

The information provided above is highly relevant.

thanks for taking the time to answer my question! I have been to three fabric shops and numerous websites searching and searching and searching… Thanks again!

No problem Aly. Cheers!

I am going to try to recreate this masterpiece of a spread!!I have looked and looked and looked everywhere for the fabric in the cute luau picture! I have checked out joann’s but no luck!! Do you remember the name or brand of the fabric?!

Hi Aly, it says “Folk Fairytale” on the fabric edge so I searched and found an Etsy seller who has it

Where did you find the retro beach cards?

Hi Alex, those were from Amazon.

This is gorgeous! Where did you find the tablecloth!?? Ohh id love to have it for my mom’s 50th birthday! Thanks!!

Leira, the fabric is from JoAnn’s. Thanks for the sweet comment.

This is the kind of party I’d like to attend!

What a great party idea….it’s like having a holiday in the backyard! I love the fabric you choose for the table 🙂

Loving this so much!! I’m planning a shower and need lanterns like you have here…where did you find yours? I’m having the hardest time hunting them down!!

Thanks Lelia. I found the lanterns at Kohl’s.

Me too! I want to come! Lol! This is Fab as always! Kudos!!

this is AMAZING, chris! i would LOVE to come to this party. you did such a fabulous job. love those postcards, the florals, the coconuts…everything!

Oh, wish you lived close so you could come to all my parties!

This party is GORGEOUS Chris! I love all your details. That vintage card banner is my fave! Those look like the perfect drinks for our block party on the 4th of July!

Thank you sweet lady!

Comments are closed.

45+ Delicious and Creative Food Ideas for a Travel-Themed Party

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on Published: January 10, 2023  - Last updated: July 1, 2023

Categories Culture

Are you looking for the perfect food ideas for a travel-themed party? Whether it’s a bridal shower, a birthday party, or even a Harry Potter party, we’ve got you covered! You can choose from so many amazing and unique recipes from around the world that your guests will be impressed with your culinary skills.

From New York pizzas to Mediterranean olive oil – and of course, there’s some delicious chocolate inspiration, too – in this guide, you’ll find all the food ideas you need to make your travel-themed party one to remember. So let’s explore some of these delicious treats that will delight any guest on any occasion!

Food Ideas for Various Party Themes

International hors d’oeuvres.

Serve a variety of small bites that represent different cuisines from around the world. Some options might be:

• Sushi is the perfect finger food, especially when served in bite-sized portions. Try sushi rolls with smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber slices, tuna or eel with avocado and cucumber slices, or shrimp tempura rolls with cucumber, carrots, ginger, and wasabi sauce.
• Empanadas – This savory pastry is famous in Latin American countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. Empanadas can be filled with meat or cheese and are baked or deep-fried until golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside. Serve them warm, which is when they taste best! Most grocery stores have frozen empanadas that are easy to prepare.
• Samosas – This Indian appetizer consists of deep-fried dumplings filled with potatoes, peas, and spices.
• Bruschetta – Prepare this Italian appetizer by spreading slices of bread with olive oil and topping them with tomatoes, basil leaves, and salt and pepper.
• Vegetarian hors d’oeuvres – many people like to eat vegetarian, so be sure to include some vegetarian options on your menu. For example, you could offer spinach pancakes or stuffed mushrooms for vegetarians.
• Vegetable platter – offers a selection of raw vegetables and dips such as hummus or baba ghanoush.
• Pita bread with tzatziki sauce – make your tzatziki sauce by mixing Greek yogurt with cucumbers, garlic, and dill weed. You can also buy it at most grocery stores.

Street Food

For a travel-themed party, you can set up a station where guests can create their own street food-inspired dishes. To do this, you’ll need some serving platters, bowls, and utensils, and you can provide all the ingredients for each dish on a table.

Set up a station where guests can create their street food-inspired dishes, such as:

• Tortillas – Tortillas are commonly eaten in Mexican cuisine. They can be served as finger foods with salsa or guacamole dip.
• Fried rice – set up a station where guests can make their fried rice. You’ll need cooking oil and rice (white or brown).
• Noodle bowls – set up a station where guests can make their noodle bowl with noodles (ramen or udon), vegetables, and protein (shrimp, chicken, or beef).

You could also set up an international food bar where guests can choose from different dishes and ingredients they like best.

You could host a Mexican night with tacos and burritos; an Asian night with pho (Vietnamese noodles) or ramen (Japanese noodles); an Italian night with pasta and lasagna; an Indian night with samosas (deep-fried dumplings filled with vegetables) and naan bread; and a French night with crepes with fresh fruit or Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread).

Travel-Themed Main Courses

You can’t go wrong with these main dishes if your party is travel-themed.

• Beef Goulash with Pasta – This recipe is hearty, filling, and meaty! It’ll satisfy even the pickiest eaters at your party! Beef goulash is perfect for those who enjoy hearty meals like burgers or sandwiches. You can serve this dish with rice or mashed potatoes on the side if you want something lighter than pasta or noodles.
• Chicken Enchilada Casserole – Another hearty dish that is very popular at parties! It has the same flavors as traditional enchiladas, but without rolling the corn tortillas into little tubes, you have to make it yourself if you make it from scratch. It’s also easy to make and reheat before serving – so perfect for a party!
• Chili con carne – Chili con carne is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes because it’s so easy and delicious! There are so many ways to make chili con carne, but this recipe is one of my favorites because it has great flavor without being overly spicy or sour (like some chilies can be).
• Vegetarian Chili – Vegetarian chili is often made with beans and other legumes but can also be meatless. This recipe uses black beans, but you can also use kidney beans, chickpeas, or lentils. Be sure to add plenty of vegetables to your chili, so it doesn’t get too dry.
• Spicy Thai Beef Lettuce Wrap s – These healthy, tasty wraps make an excellent appetizer for your meal. Fill them with beef and veggies or chicken and avocado if you prefer!
• Grilled Lamb Skewers with Greek Yogurt Marinad e – These skewers are perfect for summer parties because they’re grilled outside on the grill instead of in the oven.
• Baked Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce – This salmon is baked in foil packets, making it easy to transport and serve at a party. The lemon dill sauce gives it a delicious flavor without being too spicy.
• Baked Falafel Burgers with Tahini Sauc e is one of my favorite foods, so I decided to make it into a burger! It’s delicious, easy to make, and has excellent flavor.
• Chicken Satay Skewers – Chicken satay skewers are great for parties because they’re small and easy to eat! You can prepare them ahead of time and keep them warm in the oven until you’re ready to serve them! They also taste great dipped in peanut sauce!
• Vegetarian pasta – You can’t go wrong with a pasta dish at your travel-themed party. This is the perfect recipe to get your friends talking about their favorite travel destinations or past travel experiences.
• Quinoa Pilaf – Quinoa pilaf is another versatile vegetarian main dish that can be served alongside any side dishes or salads at your travel-themed event. This recipe includes dried cranberries, almonds, and raisins.
• Hotdogs on Skewers – Hotdogs on skewers can be served with fresh tomato slices, pickles, and mustard. The hotdogs can be purchased at your grocery store and put in long sticks from the craft store. This is a dish that everyone will enjoy!
• Baked Potatoes – Baked potatoes are easy to prepare and perfect for vegetarians. Bake the potatoes in the oven with butter, salt, and pepper. You can add some vegetables or cheese to make this dish more filling for your guests.
• Spicy Tofu Stir Fry – Tofu is an excellent substitute for meat in many dishes. It has a firm texture and absorbs flavor well, making it perfect for stir fry dishes. This recipe calls for a hot seasoning blend, but you can also use your favorite blend or make your own with sesame oil, chili paste, or Sriracha sauce.
• Roasted Cauliflower Soup – Cauliflower makes an excellent base for soups because it thickens nicely when cooked. Roasting the cauliflower before adding it to the soup adds flavor and keeps this dish low in calories and healthy!

Travel-Themed Desserts

Create a dessert table inspired by your international guests. If you invite people from different countries to your travel party, serve them their favorite sweets from their home country.

You can serve desserts inspired by different destinations around the world, such as:

• French Macarons are made from almond flour, beaten egg whites, and sugar. These little treats are colorful and delicious! They come in many flavors, but some of the most common include vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio.
• Italian Gelato – Gelato is a famous Italian ice cream made with milk, cream, and eggs. It’s often served with toppings such as chocolate French fries or nuts. It’s known for its creamy texture and lightness compared to American ice cream because it contains less fat than regular ice cream. Less air is added during the manufacturing process, making it lower in calories than other types of ice cream. If you don’t want to make it yourself, you can buy it at bakeries or grocery stores near you or find it on Amazon.
• Moroccan sweets – In Morocco, they’re known as baklava. They’re made from phyllo dough and filled with syrup or honey or nuts like pistachios or almonds or walnuts or cashews or dates or figs or raisins.
• Black forest cake consists of a layer of chocolate sponge cake filled with cherries and whipped cream and sprinkled with chocolate French fries (black forest cake).
• Japanese Matcha Cake – Matcha is a green tea powder used in Japanese cuisine and desserts. It consists of specially grown green tea leaves ground into a fine powder. Instead, you can use it in any cocoa powder or baking soda/powder cake recipe!
• English trifle : This is one of the most popular English desserts, and it only takes a few minutes to prepare. The main ingredients are sponge cake soaked with sherry or whiskey and garnished with cream and fresh fruit.
• Portuguese Pasteis de Nata : These custard tarts are very popular in Portugal and are perfect as a dessert. Plus, they’re very easy to prepare!

Easy Party Food Ideas

Cheese and charcuterie.

Party food doesn’t have to be complicated. When hosting a party, it’s always important to keep things simple and easy to eat. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still whip up something delicious and fun!

Cheese and charcuterie boards are a great way to show off your culinary skills and entertain your guests. They’re also perfect for parties because they can be prepared in advance and then placed on the table at the last minute. No one will ever know!

It’s best to put together a selection of cheeses and meats from different regions, along with sides like olives, pickles, and bread. This is an excellent option if your guests have different tastes or allergies – make sure everyone knows what’s on the board so they can avoid foods they don’t like or have restrictions for (e.g., vegetarians).

Travel-Themed Snacks

Provide a snack mix with international flavors, such as wasabi peas, spicy nuts, and Sriracha-flavored popcorn.

• Beach-themed snacks – have tropical drinks on hand for guests to sip while they mouth beach balls made of cheese or pineapple slices with toothpicks.
• Theme park snacks – serve pretzel necklaces and animal crackers shaped like roller coasters for the kids and hot dogs for the adults.
• Music festival treats – serve fruit skewers with marshmallows on sticks, mini doughnuts dusted with powdered sugar, and mini sandwiches cut into triangles that look like water bottles with your favorite band’s name on them.
• French fries and dips – serve your favorite salsa with French fries or offer different dips like hummus or baba ganoush.
• Candy bars – wrap candy bars in colorful cellophane bags and tie them together with colorful ribbons for an easy DIY party favor.
• Pretzels – bake homemade pretzels in the oven and serve them with dipping sauces, like honey mustard or chocolate ganache.
• Gingerbread – bake a batch of gingerbread cookies and decorate them with sprinkles for an extra festive touch.
• Popcor n – popcorn is one of the easiest party foods to make (and eat!). You can even make caramel popcorn and decorate it with nuts or candy.
• Hummus and Pita French fries – serve this classic Mediterranean appetizer as part of a snack spread – it goes with just about anything!

Drinks for a Travel-Themed Party

Set up a station with a variety of international drinks, such as:

• Sake – The Japanese rice wine sake is served warm or cold in the winter and at room temperature in the summer. Sake has been drunk in Japan for over 2,000 years!
• Chai Tea – Chai tea is a traditional Indian drink made from black tea leaves, spices such as ginger and cardamom, milk, and sugar. It’s usually served steaming hot but can also be enjoyed cold or iced in the summer.
• Horchata – This sweet drink is popular in Mexico and Central America, especially in Mexico City.
• Cocktail station – set up a cocktail bar where you can mix drinks like lychee martinis or Moscow Mules.
• Wine and cheese bar – set up an area with various cheeses, crackers, and wines for guests to enjoy.
• Beer Garden – Set up a beer garden with tables and chairs, umbrellas, and potted plants.

Inspiration for Your Lunch or Dinner Party Decor

You can host your travel-themed party by decorating your home with travel-related items. You can also make a travel board game for your guests to play. For example

• Travel posters are easy to find online or in a local store. They come in all sizes and colors, so you can choose what you like best. They look beautiful on the walls of your home, especially when combined with other travel-themed decorations like balloons, etc.
• Travel books – you can display books on different travel themes, such as adventure, culture, nature, fancy places, etc., to add depth to your party theme.
• Balloons are inexpensive to decorate your home for any occasion and look fantastic when combined with other decorations such as posters, etc. You can use different colors, such as pastels if you want a feminine touch, or if you want something more vibrant, opt for bright colors like orange, red or green, yellow, etc., that will give your party a vivacious atmosphere!

Ideas for Party Games on the Theme of Travel

Party games are a fun way to get people talking and laughing. But if you’re planning a travel-themed party, why not incorporate games that help guests learn about the places they’ll be visiting?

Here are some ideas for games that will entertain your guests while helping them learn about your destination:

• Geography trivia game – ask guests to name five countries connected to their destination by land or water. For example, if you’re going to Mexico, ask them to name three countries that border Mexico. If you’re traveling to Europe, ask them to name five countries that border one of the European countries.
• What is in my bag? – Fill the bags with items related to different places in the world. Then give each guest a bag and ask them to guess which country each item is from without looking in their bag. This game is both educational and fun!
• The most significant difference between two cities – Get two groups together (one for each city) and have each group list three differences between their city and the other (e.g., one city has more skyscrapers than the other). Have each group share their answers so everyone can see how similar or different these cities are!

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70+ World Travel Themed Home Decor Ideas

Pretty soon, I’ll have my first place of my own (I’ve moved out before, but I was always in some sort of dorm), and I’m super excited to buy all the furniture, decor, and everything else that goes with getting your own place. Given my very obvious travel addiction, I thought it would make sense for a lot of the home decor in my new apartment to be travel themed. I can’t make EVERYTHING travel themed (my boyfriend would kick me out before we even moved in), but let’s just say people won’t have to guess what I had in mind when decorating our new place. So, if you are moving into a new place, or just looking to do some redecorating, check out these world travel themed home decor ideas!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Find more information about affiliate links on our policy page .

• Living Room
• Dining Room
• Other Decorations

Travel Inspired Living Room Decorations

Travel throw pillows.

Pillows are a great way to add just a touch of travel decor to a living room. They’re not overly obnoxious, but still obvious. Plus, since they come in so many different colors, it’s not too terribly difficult to find one that would match your couch!

Stacked Travel Chests

I found out real fast when looking at furniture that end tables are surprisingly expensive. So, when I saw these on Amazon, I thought it was a really cool idea. Instead of the traditional end table (that may or may not have a small drawer to put things in), why not get suitcase styled chests? They’re stack-able and can store way more than your traditional end table.

Suitcase Shelves

I found these in one of the home decor stores I had visited and thought it was a cute idea. Instead of the traditional wooden shelves, get creative and use shelves that were decorated to look like suitcases. They’ll match your suitcase end tables!

Travel Coasters

If you don’t already have some souvenir drink coasters from your various trips around the world, you can get some world map drink coasters to make sure your new, nice tables don’t get ruined by condensation from drinking glasses.

World Map Tissue Box Cover

I don’t think too many people use tissue box covers anymore, but I thought it was one of the more unique travel decor ideas. If nothing else, it’s a conversation piece!

Traditional Globes

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of travel decor? A globe of course! You can’t decorate your new place with a travel theme and not have at least one globe around.

Travel Themed Dining Room Decor

Travel placemats.

Like I mentioned above, once you get that nice, new table, you don’t want it to be ruined from moisture from cold drinks or hot plates. Placemats are an easy and common fix to that problem. If you’re going to be buying placemats anyway, might as well make them travel themed, right?

World Map Table Runner

If dinner placemats aren’t enough, why not complete the look with a matching table runner?

World Travel Bedroom Decor

Travel lamp.

Looking for something cool and unique to show off to all of your friends? Then you have to check out this floating globe lamp! It uses magnets to make the globe levitate and it even spins around like a traditional globe! It has LEDs built into the frame to make it light up and look even cooler! Of course, you can always go with the more traditional travel home decor too…

World Map Bed Comforter

Do you dream of traveling the world? I thought so! Why not go to sleep surrounded by a map of all the places you dream of visiting?

Travel Pillow Cases

Of course, you can’t have a world map bed comforter and not have matching pillow cases. You just can’t do it.

Travel Themed Bathroom Decor

Travel inspired shower curtains.

Since most showers require some sort of shower curtain (unless you don’t mind lots of water getting all over the floor), having a travel themed shower curtain is an easy way to add a touch of travel to your home life. It’s simple, and separate from the rest of the rooms in the house (in case you don’t want your guests overwhelmed by travel decor the moment they walk into your new place).

World Map Towels

If you are looking to make the entire bathroom travel themed (instead of just having a touch of it), you can also get bath towels that are travel themed. It’s especially nice if you have a rack where you can sort of hang them on display when not in use.

Travel Inspired Kitchen Items

Travel themed alcohol items.

Even if you’re not into the “travel decor” thing, you can still add a bit of travel to your home life. You can break out these glasses when you’ve brought home some souvenir drinks from your most recent destination.

World Map Plates

If you don’t have a big dinning room table, or aren’t really the type of person to use placemats and a table runner, you can still add a bit of travel decor to meal time with these cool looking plates!

Travel Inspired Napkins

My mom always gives me a hard time because I have a bad habit of wiping my hands on my jeans instead of using a napkin (especially when eating greasy or salty foods), but if I had these napkins, I might be a little more inclined to use them (hint-hint mom: these would make a good moving gift).

World Map Cutting Board

Cutting boards are another one of those more subtle items that don’t necessarily get put on display. Since most traditional cutting boards are typically pretty bland, you can spice yours up by getting a travel decorated one.

Travel Themed Office Decor

Push pin cork globe.

My boyfriend and I are to turning our second bedroom into an office since both of us have computer desks. It’s the perfect place to put a tiny globe like this one. Plus, it’s exciting being able to put a new pin in it every time we go someplace new.

Globe Book Ends

I LOVE books. Unfortunately I don’t have as much time to read as I used to (which I think is a shame given how much I really loved it), but I’m really proud of my bookshelves and all the books that sit on them. Plus, I’ve always loved the feel of sitting in a library (especially those rustic ones you see in movies). I figured why not combine some of my biggest passions and add a little travel decor to my bookshelves?

Book Box Covers

If you’ve never heard of book boxes, don’t feel guilty. I hadn’t heard of them either until I started shopping for home decor! Book boxes are great for those book lovers (like me) that want their books to remain in mint condition. You can put your favorite books in book boxes to protect them from dust and moisture. Plus you can give your bookshelves more of a universal look (like the rustic library I mentioned above).

Pencil Holder

Because no desk would be complete without a pencil or pen holder.

Travel Wall Decor

Decorative world maps.

This is what usually comes to mind when you think of travel decor (and usually some of the first results when looking online). You can always go with the traditional, school-like world map, but there are some really cool looking world maps out there if you’re looking for something a little more unique.

Scratch Off World Maps

In more recent years, scratch off world maps have become more popular. They’re a great way to showcase all of the different places you’ve been! My mom got me one for Christmas and I absolutely love it. However, all of the places I’ve been are pretty small, so it doesn’t look like I’ve scratched anything off, but I’m working on it!

Wall Clocks

This is another one of more simple travel decor ideas. It’s a common household decoration and easy to customize to your style. Plus, there are lots of different options out there, so it isn’t too difficult to find one you like.

Word Art and Hangings

You can find all sorts of quotes that have been turned into travel decor. I feel like almost every home decor store that I’ve walked into has had some sort of wall piece with an inspiration adventure quote on it. Even if you’re not looking to go all out with the travel theme, they’re something small and nice you can hang on the wall to express your passion for travel.

Other Travel Decorating Ideas

World map welcome mat.

What better way to welcome guests than to welcome them to your adventures? No better way to set the travel theme than to have it be the first thing you see!

Light Switch Covers

I don’t know if I would replace every light switch cover in my new place with a travel inspired one, but I thought it was a unique way to incorporate travel into home decor. At this point though, the rest of the place is already travel themed, might as well make the light switches travel themed too.

Outlet Covers

If you’ve got travel themes lights switch covers, it only makes sense that you have travel inspired outlet covers too. If you have one, you just have to have the other!

And that’s it for my long list of travel themed home decor! What did you think? Will you be including any of these items the next time you decide to do some redecorating? Let me know in the comments below!

Further Reading

• Useful Gifts for Travelers

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Fun Dinner Party Themes to Level Up Your Next Event (or Holiday)

Forget the everyday dishes and get creative with these thematic menus, dinner party decor, and DIY ideas.

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The holidays and entertaining go hand in hand, but it doesn't have to be the holidays to throw a dinner party or get creative with it. Whether you're throwing a formal dinner party or doing some casual entertaining, dinner parties are a fun way to bring people together.

If you need a little inspiration, these creative starting points will guide you to the perfect dinner theme idea—there are even some specific themes (and recipes!) in each category that you can run with for your own culinary adventure.

Dinner Party Themes Ideas

If you're getting ready to host friends and family for a dinner party, picking a theme might feel overwhelming. First, consider your surroundings or situation. Be sure to consider factors like the occasion, time of year, weather, and location when deciding on a theme. With this in mind, here are some dinner party themes to explore.

Pick Destinations Around the Globe

Pick a favorite vacation destination (or something from your travel bucket list), research a menu from there (don't forget dessert!), and perhaps go a little further by playing music or watching movies from that country.

Don't be afraid to travel to more than one destination either; you can offer a trip around Asia with a dish from each destination, or opt to serve different cultures' versions of dumplings as appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Mexican food with mojitos
• Indian curry or a vegetarian masala
• Fish and chips and English trifle
• Italian lasagnas (and affogato!)
• Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches
• French crepes and clafoutis
• Greek-style orzo and shrimp with avgolemono soup
• Japanese okonomiyaki and udon
• Korean bibimbap and bulgogi with cucumber kimchi salad
• Middle Eastern falafel and hummus
• Chinese dumplings and fried rice

Want to keep it all American? Consider choosing delicacies from places you've visited or lived. Here are a few suggestions:

• New Orleans Cajun or Creole fare
• Chicago-style deep-dish pizza
• New York cheesecake
• New England lobster rolls
• Tex-Mex fajitas and enchiladas

Set Up a DIY Food Party

If you're looking for a fun dinner theme idea that's low-effort, high reward, choose a menu theme that's really interactive. Setting up DIY food bars may require a bit of prep and presentation, but your guests (or your family) will take it from there to build customized creations.

Bonus: This is an excellent option when your fellow diners have dietary restrictions or are simply picky eaters, as they can skip over any ingredients that don't work for them. Some make-your-own-dinner theme inspiration includes:

• Tacos , burritos, or nachos
• Mac-and-cheese (with fun toppings!)

You might even choose to turn your next dinner into a Chopped -style competition, where you give a set secret ingredient, open access to the kitchen or DIY bar, and offer a time limit to produce something awesome.

Think Outside the Dinner Box

Sometimes, the best dinner isn't actually dinner. Consider dining options that aren't usually served in the evening (or as a full meal). Some options to consider include:

• Breakfast for dinner (think egg dishes or waffles)
• Charcuterie boards (add enough veggies and fruit alongside the meat and cheese, and it's a meal)
• Hors d'oeuvres as a meal

You can also look for ways to minimize (or maximize!) your menu to have a little fun with your dinner. Consider serving all miniaturized foods (think sliders, French onion soup bites , mini hot dogs, and mini desserts ) or supersize (giant cookie for dessert).

Consider Time Travel

Take a trip back in time, whether you opt for retro favorites from a bygone era. Or maybe you want to take it way back to medieval times or the Victorian era. Dinner parties like this are even better if costumes are involved—think disco costumes and a menu with a 1970s vibe. A few dinner menu theme ideas include:

• 1970s style with cheese fondue , old-school casseroles, and a 1970s-style icebox cake
• Medieval with meat pies, hearty stews, and desserts with fruit and honey
• 1920s with deviled eggs (invented in the 1920s), tea sandwiches, canapés, and oysters with Roaring '20s cocktails like Tom Collins and French 75

Celebrate Minor Holidays

Obviously, there are the big holidays like Thanksgiving, New Year's, and the 4th of July. If your dinner party falls around the holidays, it might be fun to go with a holiday theme. But honestly, any day can be a celebration. Get inspiration from those fun food holidays like Ice Cream Day on July 16th, or National Hamburger Day on May 28th. Celebrate minor holidays (like creating a red, white, and blue something for Flag Day on June 14th). You can even make up your own holiday and make a menu perfect for it.

Be mindful of the presentation. The presentation of your dishes (and decor) can really enhance the guest experience—and it's half the fun for a holiday-themed dinner party.

Get Pop Culture Inspired

If you're plotting dinner party associated with a binge watch or movie marathon, take inspiration from what you're showing. Your book club may also love having a book-inspired menu. (I recently hosted my book club's discussion of Lessons in Chemistry, and I opted for a chicken pot pie and brownies , as they were featured in key plot points in the book.)

Or maybe you'll want to find a theme with a twist, like only serving TikTok famous recipes. (A dinner party is the perfect opportunity to revisit the viral baked feta pasta, cowboy caviar, upside-down puff pastry, or whatever TikTokers dream up next.)

Stick to the Season

Consider having a seasonal theme for your next dinner party (or do a dinner party every season!). A season theme offers you the opportunity to celebrate the flavors of the season with the freshest ingredients.

For instance, a summer dinner party might be a picnic theme with refreshing cocktails, barbecue, and vibrant salads with ripe tomatoes or even strawberries. Incorporating seasonal elements into the decor, like fresh flowers (perhaps with edible flowers as well!) for the spring or warm vanilla candles in the winter, adds to the memorable experience for guests.

The seasons don't have to do with the weather either; you can also consider sports seasons. For example, if it's football season and you're gathering for or before a game, a tailgating theme may also make sense for you.

Opt for creative menus, decorations, and mood music to match. Perhaps even what you wear can be part of the whole experience.

Pick a Color

A color dinner party theme might sound silly, but it can be lot of fun to get creative with different foods of the same color. For example, you might have a pink-themed dinner party to celebrate the birthday of your friend who loves the color pink.

For a pink-themed dinner party, you might have smoked salmon canapés or pink radish soup. A purple theme might incorporate veggies like graffiti cauliflower, beets, purple potatoes, or fruits like grapes, plums, blackberries, and elderberries.

For a color-themed party, experiment with food coloring. Make the cake for dessert blue. Top the brownies with green icing. Use red sprinkles on the ice cream. Whatever color you choose, there are tons of ways to get creative with adding it to your dishes.

Entertaining Preparation Tips

There are plenty of ways to make any dinner—regardless of the theme you choose—more fun. Here are some tips to keep in mind when thinking about your dinner party menu.

• Offer a range of options to suit all dietary restrictions. For example, you might include vegetarian or gluten-free options depending on your guests. Ask your guests if they have any allergies and label any dishes that contain allergens like eggs, nuts, shell fish, and other common kinds.
• Aim for a balanced meal. Your dinner party menu should include a variety of flavors and textures to create an exciting and satisfying experience for your guests. This might also mean including drinks that pair well with each dish.
• Choose dishes that you can prepare in advance. If that's not possible, at the very least, choose dishes that require minimal last-minute preparation. This way, you can spend more time enjoying the meal with your guests (and entertaining them) than cooking during the event.

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Woman&Home

Garden party ideas: Transform your outdoor space with these inspiring design tips

Posted: May 2, 2023 | Last updated: June 20, 2023

These thoughtful garden party ideas are the best way to turn any outdoor gathering into a special occasion

Whether throwing a family gathering, graduation party, birthday celebration, or a simple summer soiree, the right garden party ideas can elevate outdoor spaces and backyards into an impressive party setting.

From outdoor lighting and garden bar pop-ups to fabulous garden decoration ideas and tropical garden party themes, with a few easy steps, you can welcome guests into a beautifully styled space made for entertaining. 

If you're entertaining regularly, or want to invest in your outdoor space, think about drawing on some of the hottest garden trends and include some of the more permanent outdoor living room ideas in your backyard, like ambient lighting or a stylish fire pit. For one-off parties, sophisticated table styling and subtle decorations can really help to transform your space in a flash. Whatever the occasion, see our inspiring garden party ideas to inspire how you style your next social gathering. 

BY TAMARA KELLY. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM AMY HUNT

1. Choose a decorating theme

Any party can benefit hugely from a theme to make decorating a breeze. Be it a festival-inspired do or a Hawaiian theme inspired by the beach, there are so many fun decorations out there to help you achieve the look you're after. 

Adopting a color scheme or theme can help to instantly make an outdoor space feel stylish and ready for a special occasion. The latest sage green color, can then be used throughout the space, from outdoor cushions on seating to the tablecloths and napkins on the table. 

Speaking of the latest trends for garden party color schemes Devin Shaffer, Lead Interior Designer at Decorilla explains: "Fashion trends influence color themes for both indoor and outdoor spaces and it can sometimes take a year for the color themes to hit the decor scene. For example, summer fashion catalogs from a year ago are now having a huge impact on garden party design color schemes." 

"Both pastels and exaggerated vintage (antiquated) motifs made a big wave in fashion last year and because of that we're seeing a very 'Bridgerton-inspired' demand for those planning garden parties."

2. Decorate with flowers

Our hero suggestion of a theme leads us nicely onto our second idea of filling your garden party with flowers. Take inspiration from your favorite flowers and the best garden plants to add further blooms to decorate tables. 

With the trend for bohemian styling, flowers are the key ingredient to effortlessly adding color, interest and even fragrance to your garden decorations. A mix of ceramic jugs and glass Kilner jars are ideal for displaying fresh or faux flowers for an effortlessly laid-back look. The trick when decorating with flowers is to keep it simple, let the flowers do all the work.

Devin Shaffer offers his insight to how this garden party idea looks this year: "Last year, clients were hyper-focused on live flowers however, this year's outdoor party settings are filled with oversized artificial flowers such as white peonies, baby blue hydrangeas, and yellow roses." 

3. Serve drinks from a garden bar

No garden party idea would be complete without a garden bar to serve up some deliciously refreshing Cosmopolitan cocktails and traditional Pimm's. Fun and fashionable, Tiki bars are a great way to welcome a Hawaiian-inspired garden party theme. 

Repurposing the shed is another growing trend, where the side features a hatch that can be dropped down to fashion a bar. Alternatively, you could simply cover an outdoor table with a tablecloth and serve beers from ice buckets stacked alongside barware on the table. Whichever you choose, all you need to do is supply the drinks!

4. Create an atmosphere with music

Music is a powerful tool to get any party started. Whether you opt for a soft jazz soundtrack to provide background noise, or a disco party playlist to get everyone dancing, music is a must-have for any social event. 

For a garden party, a simple outdoor speaker is enough to do the trick - you are not looking for festival-style loudspeakers because you do have neighbors who might not be so keen on the playlists. 

You can even source outdoor, wireless speakers that add light to double up on ambiance. A speaker that doubles up as outdoor light is the perfect companion for making garden parties more fun and functional. With the lamp’s soft glow and long battery life, it means you can keep the good vibes going long after the sun goes down. 

5. Set up outdoor games

Let the games begin! Playing games is a great way to break the ice at an outdoor gathering to make it a little easier for people to mingle and get involved instead of standing on the sidelines. Outdoor games are also perfect for a garden party idea when kids are in attendance because they will be looking for ways to stay entertained and involved. 

From playing a game of croquet on the lawn or throwing the Hoopla ring toss to stacking giant Jenga there's a wealth of inclusive outdoor games to suit all ages, providing fun for all. 

6. Introduce on-trend lighting

Festoon lights are the outdoor lighting craze to follow, offering a playful twist on the much-loved fairy light. Festoon lights feature bulbous bulbs, more like the style of indoor light fittings. By their nature, they make more of an impact 

Speaking about the latest garden trends for lighting Ian Austick, at LED & Power says: "Festoon lights have shown to be a popular choice as they offer a modern spin on outdoor lighting, creating a beautiful look. Proving to be a popular choice for weddings and events, as well as gardens. We suggest that you opt for warm white festoon lights to bring a cozy feel to your surroundings, or to create more of a party atmosphere use color-changing bulbs.”

Follow the styling rules of the team at Nest to suspend your festoon lights over a dining table. To create a cascading effect hang a line of string above the table—it could even be the washing line—to drape the lights over. When dressing for your party, be mindful of plugging into the mains if your set of festoon lights are not solar powered.

7. Forget the furniture

For a more informal garden party idea, you might choose to keep it simple, like opting for a picnic blanket on the floor to save the need for extra furniture. Dig out your best blankets and cushions to layer the look with soft, inviting textures. These can also prove useful if the temperature drops after sunset. 

“Furniture isn’t always needed to make the most of the outdoors," agrees Clotilde Passalacqua, Interior Design Manager at IKEA. "Some cushions, throws and blankets can help to create a relaxed picnic in the garden. Tactile accessories will effortlessly add an element of comfort to your outdoor space, helping to create an inviting environment for you and your guests to enjoy time outdoors."

We love how the styling team at Dekoria (above) have used simple wooden palettes as a makeshift table, providing purpose for outdoor dining.

8. Style a buffet table

Party food is essential when hosting a daytime soiree, because you're more than likely spanning lunch and dinner time, and you don't want your guests going hungry. Incorporate a styled element to your catering by introducing different height displays and an assortment of serving platters to add a little finesse to finger foods and picky bits. 

The current trend for grazing tables is a great way to jazz up a buffet area and lunch ideas for entertaining friends. Just be mindful that when outdoors you're inviting pests to take a pick of the food too, so best not to leave it all uncovered for long periods of time. 

"When styling your buffet table, start with a focal point you can build everything else around" advises Wayfair’s Resident Style Advisor, Nadia McCowan Hill. "This could be a large rustic wooden board or an elegant cake stand, sitting in the middle of your table as a centerpiece." 

"Serveware is key for a stylish grazing table, choose various heights for added interest. Decide on a theme as this will help you to both choose items for display and the food itself. For example, a Mediterranean-style grazing table will incorporate natural woods, greenery and fresh lemons alongside a mezze of focaccia bread, olives and dips. If you'd prefer a contemporary English garden party theme, then scones are a must, with plenty of floral touches using seasonal flowers in pretty pink, lilac and cream."

9. Keep warm with a fire pit

After the sun has gone down it can sometimes get chilly, so it's important to introduce an element of heat. And what better way to do that than to light up an on-trend fire pit? It not only provides the heat but also creates a campfire vibe, acting as a warming focal point to gather around.

As an outdoor heater, a fire pit will keep you and your guests cozy even if the temperature drops. After all, outdoor gatherings needn't be confined to the summer months! It's also an idea to offer guests plenty of cozy blankets to keep warm once the sun goes down, which also adds to the campfire ambiance. 

“If you are hosting guests in your garden in the evening, make sure the fire pit is lit before guests arrive" advises Jonny Brierley, CEO at Moda Furnishings. "This creates a wow factor as they step into the garden, and also helps them to relax more quickly. Firelight is said to create a more intimate setting, allowing guests to relax and talk, letting their guards down at the end of the day. The fire provides a visual, psychological comfort from which you and your guests will benefit.” 

10. Set the scene for memorable photos

Did the party even occur if there aren't amazing photos to prove it? Make your garden party all the more memorable with the addition of a DIY photo booth, complete with novelty props and old picture frames to capture great photographs.

The treasured snaps will be especially good if you can dig out that old polaroid camera! Team comical glasses and headbands with your best glittery festival jacket and you're ready to snap away as you party.

11. Illuminate the garden with solar power

Make sure your garden party continues effortlessly into the evening with plenty of ambient outdoor lighting. Seek solar power for a smart outdoor lighting solution, with designs that offer pretty presentation but also a practical sustainable living idea. Handy solar-powered garden lights are brilliant because they spend all day charging in the sunshine to then omit a warm glow as the light fades. 

Plus, solar lights are super easy to install – there's no need for wiring or extra batteries. Simply insert solar stake lights into the soil then press the switch, and let the light do the work for you.

"Solar lighting is a brilliant way to add some extra warmth and light to your outdoor space, without having to worry about extension wires or a garden power source" says the team at Wayfair. "A brilliant practical purchase for some added safety, line pathways and frame garden borders with slim solar stake lighting or some contemporary outdoor lanterns. Free to run, outdoor solar lights are an economical addition, with no need for batteries or electricity. Super energy-efficient, integrated LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours, making them a long-lasting garden accessory which will cast a warm white glow." 

12. Hang decorative bunting and lanterns

Kit out your garden with some fun and brilliantly colorful decorations to add an instant party vibe, because who doesn't love a pop of color?! Lightweight lanterns and bunting are ideal for hanging from pergola structures, up in the trees or suspended along a string above tables to elevate decorations, to ensure the staging is seen from all aspects of the garden.

These reusable lanterns will inject cheery color to brighten a garden party theme during the day and conjure up ambient magic when lit up after dark.

13. Seek shade

For those times when the sun is just that bit too hot, or when you realize you've been sitting out for too long, some form of shade is a must. From makeshift awnings to generous parasols, there are many ways to welcome shade to your outdoor living space. 

Look for a solution large enough to encompass multiple guests. If freestanding, choose lightweight so it can be easily moved around the garden but ensure it's durable enough to withstand any wind. "A parasol will not only add some extra shade to an outdoor space, but can also quickly refresh the overall look of your garden" says the style team at Wayfair. "Combining practicality and style, choose a parasol with personality to add a splash of color to your patio. Creating a covered space for dining and entertainment, a parasol can also help to zone an area, adding height and structure."

You can also buy a canopy that offers UV50+ sun protection, worth looking into if you want maximum protection from harmful rays. And of course wear plenty of the best SPF sunscreen, even when under said  shade, because there will still be times throughout the day when your skin is exposed.

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