Are you about to turn 15 and don’t know how to celebrate the big day? For Hispanic teens, turning 15 is a milestone that marks a girl’s transition to womanhood, so make sure to celebrate this momentous occasion if you can! Although finally being a quinceañera is exciting, there’s a lot of stress and time that comes with the planning of the celebration. Oftentimes, as soon as you are close to turning 15, you are bombarded with questions such as “What are you doing for your quinces?” Since quinces take a lot of planning, you have to know what you want: some decide to celebrate by throwing a party (which is the most traditional option), going on a cruise or going somewhere abroad – but are some of these options even worth it?

Option #1: Let’s Start the Party:

The traditional party is a memorable experience for a quinceañera. A party that makes you feel special is really important to some people. If you enjoy being the center of attention, then what are you waiting for? Go and start planning your party now! Although some quinceañeras already know from a young age that they want a party, a lot of girls feel pressured to have a party because it’s the traditional way of celebrating your quinces. It should be noted that having a party is very important to some families because they have been celebrating quinces that way from generation to generation, and what family doesn’t want to see their little girl all dressed up on her special day? If you are having a party, make sure that you are doing it for yourself and not to please others because at the end of the day it’s your day!

“[In addition to this], quinceñeras run in the family and I’ve always wanted to be one since I was little because I grew up with my older cousins doing the same thing,” junior Ginia Gonzales said.

Option #2:  A party at Sea:

If you love the water and the sand beneath your toes, then start planning your cruise adventure to get your party started. Some girls choose this option because you can have a party with family and friends at sea while getting to travel as well. If you are worried about having too much on your plate while planning a quinceañera, there are agencies that would do it for you. Additionally, if you are an outgoing person, then the cruise can be the maritime party of your dreams! As the quinceñera, you get a gift every day and you are provided with different interactive activities. Each day is different and if you enjoy going on new adventures, then a quinceañera cruise is perfect for you! Overall, turning 15 is all about experiencing new things and what better way to do it than by going on a 7-day cruise.

Option #3: Going All Around the World:

If you enjoy cultural experiences and traveling, then traveling may be the way to go for you. While going to places like Europe can be costly, you have the option of going to more inexpensive places where you can find all-inclusive deals like Mexico and Costa Rica. Not to mention, traveling can be a good option because you would spend the same amount of money that you would normally spend by having a party, and instead of celebrating your quinces for four hours, you can do it for a week or more. Deciding whether going abroad is a good option or not depends on what you enjoy doing, but if you love traveling and exploring, then traveling abroad might be a unique way for you to celebrate your birthday.

“[Although, I went abroad to Europe for my 15’s,] I did think about having a quinceñera because I am Cuban and all we do is party, but I thought that it would be more worth it if I spent the money on traveling and seeing new things instead of a pretty dress and venue,” senior Mailyn Rivera said.

All in all, enjoy your big day and do what makes you happy. Other people’s experiences will be different from yours, so just make sure that you are making the right decisions based on what you like because it’ll help you treasure your quinceañera experience for the rest of your life. No matter what you do, just enjoy the adventure that is turning 15.