15 Nostalgic Travel Destinations for Anyone Who Grew Up in the ’70s

If you grew up in the ’70s, there are some travel locations that will take you right back to the good ol’ days. The travel industry was booming, long-haul air travel was just catching on (at least for the rich), and almost every home had a car, meaning anyone could travel!

This period was also before the time of climate change, and the “urban sprawl” (meaning that everything looked a lot prettier than it does now). There were lots of famous travel destinations in the ’70s, but here are places that will make you feel like you are right back in your childhood.

1. Haiti

Haiti became a top travel destination almost overnight when the rich and famous started traveling here. Some of the biggest names to travel here in the ’70s were Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Mick and Bianca Jagger. This drew a lot of eyes to this little island paradise in the Caribbean, and people started flocking to it.

Nowadays, Haiti is not seen with the same wonder and beauty. However, there are still incredible beach spots and beautiful landmarks you won’t want to miss! Port-au-Prince is known for being pretty dangerous, so if you can, fly into this city and stay at one of the many beach resorts around the island.

2. Tehran, Iran

This city was part of what was called the “Hippie trail”. People would usually start their trip in Europe, buy a van, and drive across Asia, ending in Bangkok or Sri Lanka. Back then, people were still taking gap years and using them to travel all around the globe, letting them experience places never before seen by American eyes.

In 1977, Iran Air had non-stop flights from New York to Iran, with the main destination being Tehran, the capital of Iran. It was the number one tourist spot in the Middle East and was known for its wine, belly dancers, and bottomless tins of caviar. You could come here and live like a king on a pretty small budget!

Travel to Tehran is not as safe as it used to be with tensions in the Middle East fairly high. However, if you want a little piece of your childhood, Tehran is open to tourism and welcomes you!

3. London, UK

London has been on people’s bucket lists before the term “bucket list” even existed! Americans have been traveling to and from the UK ever since we separated ourselves from them in the 1700s. In the 1970s, you could either take a two-week transatlantic boat or take a flight that only took about 8 hours. The main difference between the two was the cost. A flight was around $550 ($4,450 today), and a room for two on a boat was $380 ($3,080 today or $1,540 per person). Crazy how cheap travel has gotten!

There are still places in London today that haven’t changed a bit from how they were back in the ’70s. Bars like Bandra Bhai, Bobby Fitzpatrick, Sweeties, and many more can be found all around the city that instantly transport you back to the ’70s, shag carpet and all!

4. Myanmar (Burma)

This country in Southeast Asia was one of the most adventurous places you could travel to back in the ’70s. Even today, Myanmar is rarely traveled ato nd skipped when people travel and make the rounds of the hot spots in Southeast Asia.

Back in the 1970s, there were only 30,000 km (18,641 miles) of roads in the entire county of Myanmar, most of which were dirt roads that could only be accessed by off-road vehicles. There are now 148,690 km (92,392 miles) of roads and a booming tourist industry.

However, if you want to get off the grid in Myanmar and feel what it was like to travel here in the ’70s, head to the Chin State. You can fly into the Mandalay, rent a motorbike, and take the 10-hour drive west to the Chin State. You’ll be greeted by tiny tribal villages, empty mountain roads, and little temples that dot the landscape.

5. Cuba

During the ’70s, Cuba opened up for tourism, but only briefly from 1977 to 1982. The Cuban Missile Crisis had come to an end, and US citizens were ready to give Cuba a chance. There weren’t many people traveling to Cuba, but the ones who did really enjoyed it! The beaches were incredible, the weather was great, and everything was cheap.

If you go back to Cuba today, you’ll see that it hasn’t changed much. There are still historic vehicles that line the streets of Havana, beautiful secluded beaches, and cheap food and alcohol. Getting to Cuba is also easier than ever. Multiple airlines fly back and forth from Cuba daily, and there are even cruises that will take you to this island paradise.

6. Kauai, USA

Travel to Kauai in the ’70s was definitely different from today. The entire island used to be almost deserted except for a few beach bungalows and resorts. In the ’70s, it was known as the “least-known island” and still is today.

When most people travel to Hawaii, they go to the main island or Maui. In the ’70s, about 426,000 tourists visited the island annually. Now there are around 1,417,000 visitors annually, so about three times the amount in the ’70s.

If you want the Hawaiian experience that you remember having as a child, then head to the north of the island during the offseason. You’ll find empty beaches, cute little shops, and beautiful scenery. There aren’t many Hawaiians who live here, but there’s still a local feel.

7. Acapulco, México

Acapulco was all the rage in the ’70s. It was no longer just a place for millionaire Americans, and became a vacation spot for middle-class Americans and even middle-class Mexicans. Accommodation and transportation to this little beach town were now affordable and people were flocking to it for its pristine beaches, great food, and relaxing atmosphere.

However, going to Acapulco today is a little different from back then. The cartel has taken over the city and has made it an unsafe place for Americans. If you do want to go to Acapulco, then make sure you are staying at a resort and try not to leave it. You’ll still get the amazing beaches and food, even without venturing into the city.

7. California, USA

Young people from all over America were making their way to California during the ’70s. It was basically a mecca for anyone who considered themselves a hippie and wanted to be surrounded by like-minded people. San Francisco, Hollywood, Disneyland, Joshua Tree, and Palm Springs were the most visited places, full of life and good vibes.

Now, San Francisco has been taken over by homeless people and robbers, Hollywood is a hellscape that everyone should avoid like the plague, and Disneyland is packed year-round and costs an arm and a leg. However, Joshua Tree and Palm Springs are still pretty vibey.

You can rent a ’70s Airbnb in Joshua Tree, and it’ll feel like you are right back in the disco era, or stay at the Caliente Tropics Resort in Palm Springs and be transported back to simpler times.

8. Guadalajara, Mexico

In the 1970s, Guadalajara was Mexico’s second-largest city but still had the charm of a small pueblo. If you were looking for authentic Mexican culture, Guadalajara was the place that you wanted to visit. Sure, the beach towns were good, but they didn’t have what this city had.

The ’70s were also a great time to visit Guadalajara because the cartels had not yet taken over the city. That happened in the ’80s. People who were in Guadalajara in the ’70s say it felt a lot like Tijuana today, with lots of Americans and expats from around the world living here.

9. Sardinia, Italy

Costa Smeralda in Sardinia was all the rage in the ’70s. It was popping up on all the magazine covers, and everyone who was anyone was booking a trip to this incredible beach paradise. It was mostly a place for the rich and famous, but fast forward 50 years, and you can book a flight for way less than you could back then and stay at the same Costa Smeralda Resort, which is still standing today (it’s been upgraded since then, of course).

Sardinia is a little more commercialized today, but is still one of the most incredible beach destinations in the world. White sand, crystal-clear water, and perfect summer weather bring thousands of European travelers here a year, but Americans tend to leave Sardinia off their travel itineraries. If you want a European summer you’ll never forget, head to Sardinia.

10. Orlando, Florida

When Disney World opened in 1971, Orlando became an overnight sensation. Before Disney, Orlando was a military town with a population of about 50,000. It was mostly swampland and a military base, but after Disney World, things quickly changed. On its opening day, the park brought in about 10,000 visitors who paid the $3.50 (about $30 today) entrance fee and had a magical day riding rides and eating $0.45 hot dogs.

Disney has changed since then, but many people still come here to reminisce about the past, see the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel ride that has been here since opening day, and pay a month’s salary for tickets and food.

11. Saint-Tropez, France

The reason Saint-Tropez became so popular in the ’70s was a 1950s film called “And God Created Woman,” starring Brigitte Bardot. The film was set on the stunning beach of Pampelonne, which immediately brought this small beach town in the South of France international fame.

You can visit this three-mile stretch of beach today and feel just like the movie stars of old. You might even see a current movie star chilling at one of the beach clubs, like Club 55 or Gigi Ramatuelle. Saint-Tropez is still a place that is reserved for the rich and famous, but if you want a budget option, you can book a Nice to Saint-Tropez ferry ticket and spend the day wandering the small coastal town and lounging on the beach before making your way back to Nice.

12. Bali, Indonesia

From the ’70s to today, Bali has been a world-class surfing destination. Surfers worldwide would come to Bali to surf the perfect tubes in Uluwatu and stay in one of the beach bungalows on shore with no electricity, surrounded by beach bums and hippies. In the ’70s, there were about 140,000 visitors to Bali per year. Now, there are over 6 million per year!

To escape the crowds of Kuta and Ubud, head south to Uluwatu. Yes, it’s much more commercialized and has 5-star beach resorts. However, you can still find little surf huts just like back in the ’70s, where you’ll be surrounded by other surfers and modern-day hippies.

13. New York, USA

If you weren’t heading west to California in the ’70s, you were going east to New York. It was known for its booming nightclubs, vibrant music scene, and towering skyscrapers. Today, it’s basically known for the same things, just more expensive and less funky discos.

If you want a taste of New York from the ’70s, then head to the Copacabana Club. They have a disco theme on special nights and serve delicious Latin American food, like empanadas. Other than that, just walk down the New York streets and check out your favorite places you used to frequent. Who knows, maybe they’ll still be there!

14. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Last up, we have Puerto Vallarta. Back then, it was known as “the preferred destination of eccentrics, alcoholics, and raffish individuals”. It first became famous when the movie “The Night of the Iguana” (1964) was filmed here, making it an overnight must-see destination.

Today, you’ll see the same lush mountains and beautiful beaches as back then, only now there are a lot more tourists, hotels, and clubs. My wife and I lived here for a few months, and the booming bass coming from the nightclubs kept us up most nights, and we were living about five blocks away from them. Just like in the 1970s, if you come here and stay to the south of “Gringo Gulch,” you’ll thank me later.

What Do You Think?

Are there any travel destinations from the ’70s that I missed? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!