The inside scoop on planning the girls’ trip of a lifetime

The Inside Scoop on Planning the Girls’ Trip of a Lifetime

You’ve spent weeks counting the days until you can stuff your Kate Spade carry-on with travel-sized shampoos, conditioners, and airplane-friendly hairsprays. Whether you’re indulging in girl talk, updating your ride-or-dies on the details of your life, or treating yourself to a much-needed laughing fit over recent ex-boyfriend run-ins, a girls-only getaway is likely the cure to work burnout and boredom-filled winter blues.

Not only will the opportunity to reconnect with long-distance friends and former college roommates ease your stress, but these staycations will also give you something to look forward to as you trudge through back-to-back Zoom meetings.

Are you longing for hours of much-needed laughs and long-awaited gossip sessions? Consider blocking off your work calendar with a week-long girls’ trip. If you’re willing to dip into your PTO stock, the first step you should take when planning the ultimate girls’ trip is to decide on the location. Unfortunately, scheduling these getaways isn’t as simple as pressing “book now.” Depending on the number of women attending this girls-only vacation, putting your heads together and finalizing the location of your getaway might pose a challenge.

Fortunately, bustling beachfront locations like San Diego or Puerto Rico offer a popping social scene, delectable food and drinks, and popular shopping spots. In contrast, more adventurous, action-packed vacation spots like Grand Canyon National Park or Joshua Tree are more outdoor-activity-based.

Wherever you decide to vacation, you’ll want to exceed attendees’ expectations by planning the finer details of your long-awaited getaway. That way, you can jam-pack your weekend full of Instagram-worthy moments.

Organize transportation for attendees

Instead of piling into an Uber and monopolizing precious space in your budget to cover transportation costs, consider shipping your vehicle to your extended girls’-only getaway. That way, you can trim your transportation costs and spend that extra cash on a weekend shopping spree or luxurious spa trip. Enclosed car transportation is an excellent option for those vacation-goers treating themselves to luxurious month-long girls’ trip. However, air travel is your best bet for time savings if you’re only going to sneak away for the weekend.

Book housing that allows you to stay together

Booking separate hotel rooms will leave your group disjointed. Instead, opt for a housing situation that allows you and your closest friends to congregate in joint spaces while still being able to retreat to individual hotel rooms at the end of a long beach day.

After all, you’re planning this trip to enjoy quality time with the ambitious career women in your life who rarely have time for a Facetime date, let alone an extended vacation. Examples of group-friendly housing include beachfront villas, a cabin, large condos, or hotel suites. Ideally, your crash pad will have a kitchen and open spaces like a living area, porch, or deck, so you can easily distinguish between group bonding time and alone time.

Establish personal budgets

Talking about money can make any girls’ trip attendee squirm, but your vacation’s success depends on these difficult conversations. Generally speaking, setting the budget parameters is a girls’ trip must. Not everyone has access to the same cash flow, and the last thing you want is to spend way more than you can afford or force your closest friends to navigate a sticky financial situation.

Communicate with each other about the kind of budget you have and plan your activities and accommodations accordingly. Maybe one night you can try out an expensive new restaurant and choose a low-budget activity for the same day, like hanging out at the beach. Remember, there’s always room for compromise during the trip of a lifetime.

Give a set number of options

As much as you love your friends, brainstorming ideas for travel activities can be a bit of a hassle. To help keep things simple, narrow down your options and offer a handful of suggestions. Narrowing down your options will make the planning process run without a hitch while still giving everyone a say in the plans. Plus, with adequate planning, you can spend more time focusing on relaxation and less time worrying about the plans coming to fruition.

Make room for new experiences

There’s no better time to try something new than a trip with your number-one supporters. Whether you plan to experiment with unfamiliar foods or conquer your fear of heights, stepping outside of your comfort zone should be a number-one priority when embarking on your girls’ trip. After all, your friends will be there to root you on without judgment.

Instead of draining your savings account in the name of athletic wear and iced coffees, consider splurging on an extended girls’ trip. After a week of sipping blended cocktails, you can tackle work projects with ease and qualify for that promotion you’ve had your sights set on.