Group Travel Discounts

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This past weekend I went on a spa vacation with my girlfriends. As we were ushered to the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort in my friend Michelle’s Honda Accord I asked the girls, “So when did women start leaving their men at home when they went on vacation”?

“When we realized what a pain the ass they are!” shouted my friend Marlo from the backseat. It was giggling hysterics for the entire 3 hour road trip.

It’s true, but it’s a stark contrast to a decade ago when it was viewed as strange to go on vacation without your boyfriend or husband. However today girls are planning vacations sans men for the following reasons:

• They give us opportunity to bond – Women are social beings and they need to bond with other women to truly feel complete.
• It’s a stress reliever that’s better than sex…shhhhhhhhhh! - Being a part of an intimate group of women that we trust, let’s us put our guards down and truly and be ourselves.
• They serve as psychological cleanses and confession – Once you take the testosterone out of the room, women become shrinks and confessionary outlets for each other.
• They’re self-esteem boosters – Girlfriends provide each other with the strongest support systems. I always feel stronger and more confident after a night with my girlfriends.
• Spa vacations let us be ultimate girly-girls – This is the time when we can indulge in all of our girly cravings – sumptuous desserts, shopping and the ultimate beautifications -that our significant others would just think were foolish.

Impulse Research recently polled 1,500 women and found that 50% had indulged in an all-girls vacation at least once in the last 3 years. Further driving the point home, 88% of the women polled had a women’s-only vacation in the works.

More and more travel agencies and spas are wooing women with an array of women’s only packages. You can find everything from all-inclusive Hawaiian spa vacations – complete with hot stone massages in mineral baths heated by live volcanoes to a Desperate Housewives weekend getaway - similar to the one my girlfriends and I escaped to this past weekend in Whistler,
British Columbia.

We have television shows like Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives to thank for these no-guilt getaways. Pop culture fuels the girls-only travel niche so much that a women-only vacation is not only a want - it’s downright vital to our nature as the passion-filled, complicated sex.

I make it a habit to go on regular girls-only weekends with these same friends because it gives me the excuse to spoil myself a bit with a manicure, massage and pedicure, but more than that it lets me come home rejuvenated. Let’s face it, women spend so much time trying to impress men that they deprive themselves of indulgences – they say no to desserts, martinis, wearing grungy old comfortable sweats, dancing like fools and just letting their hair down and being themselves. However when we’re with our girlfriends we share our deepest, darkest secrets and give each other honest feedback that makes us stronger and more confident women and love partners.

You might only get to escape with your girlfriends once a year, but when you do here are some of my tips for making your girls-only vacation one that you’ll always remember:

1. Set the date in advance – If you are above 30, you know that it’s hard to find time between work, kids, hubby and all of your other obligations to take time with your girlfriends. That’s why if you set your vacation months ahead you’ll stick to it.
2. Create a girlfriend vacation fund - Everyone chips an even amount in for food, hotel and spa vacations. That way you can all truly enjoy yourselves without feeling like you have to spend more and more come vacation time.
3. Share the responsibilities – Bachelorette parties work out so well because everyone shares in the planning to help things come together. Put one girlfriend in charge of a day of planning each, or break up the travel, meals, and hotel and excursion bookings evenly.
4. A good friend compromises – Be willing to try things your girlfriends are up for – even if you’re not. You might just have a blast!
5. BYOB – Stands for bring your own blender! Make sangria, martinis, margaritas or daiquiris on your balcony. This could be the start to a very girly sleepover – come on you’re never too old for a sleepover!
6. Don’t forget the memories – My girlfriends and I make our vacations a time to reminisce about the fun we had in university. We dig up year books, photo albums and video to laugh over.
7. Make new memories – Take lots of photos and videos of each other. Make a scrapbook and bring it along to next year’s girls-only trip.

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