Are you ready for a girlfriend getaway? In this post, we’ll explore planning tips and ideas for a girls trip! Here’s a sneak peek of what’s inside: how to save money on travel, the easiest girls trip to plan, things to do, and a simple checklist you can follow…
There are very few things that get me more excited than the idea of spending time with the important ladies in my life…
Can anyone say GIRLS TRIP?!? Woohoo!!!
Traveling or vacationing together really deepens your connection, and is the perfect way to keep your relationship strong. Plus, it’s just a blast doing all the girly things your significant other might roll his eyes at.
If you’re the kind of gal that’s always up for brunch and loves a bit of adventure, keep reading…
Ideas For A Girls Trip
The options are endless when planning a fun girlfriends getaway.
There are so many great cities in the U.S. and even affordable destinations abroad. This post will help you gather ideas so you can plan a girls trip of your own!
We’ll focus on the type of trip and activities instead of the destination. That way you can apply these ideas no matter where your girls trip takes you!
1. Take A Road Trip
On a budget? A road trip is a great (and affordable!) girls trip option. All you need is a car and a sense of adventure.
Road trips are great because you can avoid spending money on flights and go with the much cheaper option of driving. They’re also easy to customize, which is great if you only have a few days for your girls trip.
All that time in the car makes for great conversations and storytelling. It’s truly quality time with minimal distractions.
A couple years ago, a close girlfriend of mine was in Los Angeles, just a few hours away from where I live in San Diego. I was so excited to hang out with her, so we met in L.A. and drove down to San Diego together.
Thinking back now, my best memories of that trip were from the 3 hours we spent in the car talking! It was the simplest thing, but also the best thing.
TAKE A ROAD TRIP IF… You’re on a budget, are planning a short trip, or prefer not to fly.
2. Meet In The Middle
In a perfect world, all the ladies in your life live close to one another in one geographical area. For me, that’s definitely not the case. My sister, mother, and I all live in different states and my girlfriends mostly live in the midwest while I live on the west coast. Ugh!
Honestly, it’s been a struggle to see each other as often as we would like.
If you can relate and are trying to coordinate a trip where everyone lives far apart from one another, it’s possible! One of my favorite ideas for a girls trip is to meet in the middle (at a location that you can all easily get to).
This is a great option because it doesn’t require anyone to be stuck with the majority of the travel. You’re basically splitting it down the middle.
For example, say you live in Austin and your friend lives in Atlanta. Why not pick a location in the middle like New Orleans? Meeting in the middle also works for larger groups, or groups of friends who are scattered around the country.
MEET IN THE MIDDLE IF… You and your gals live far away from one another, or you have a large group of friends.
3. Go On A Cruise
If the thought of planning a girls trip and coordinating all the details stresses you out, a cruise might be the perfect solution.
There’s no need to spend tons of time searching for hotels, flights and rental cars – instead you just find the cruise that meets your criteria, and set sail. Cruises are mostly all-inclusive, so food (and of course transportation) are already arranged.
If you live in the U.S. and can get to the coastline relatively easily, a cruise would be a great girls trip to take. There are major ports in Seattle and Los Angeles on the west coast, New Orleans and Tampa in the south, and New York and Boston on the east coast. That’s just to name a few!
Cruises are a unique and fun way to travel and are pretty affordable too. They’re a great way to explore destinations like Mexico, Alaska, and abroad. The options are endless, and cruises depart year-round from the U.S.
CRUISE WITH THE GIRLS IF… Trip planning stresses you out, you want something all-inclusive, or you want to enjoy the ocean.
4. Be Adventurous
It’s true what they say, going through an exhilarating experience with someone else really bonds you closer. Why not get outside your comfort zone and do something adventurous? Or try one of the 100+ incredible things to do before you die?
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
- hiking/rock climbing in the wilderness
- skiing, snowboarding, or tubing on a wintry escape
- camping, canoeing, or kayaking at the beach/lake
- ziplining through the forest
- white-water rafting in the rapids
- surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, or riding jet skis
There are so many ways to be adventurous, and they don’t all have to involve extreme outdoor activities. Here are a few more outside-the-box ideas…
- take an art or cooking class
- sign up for a guided tour of something you know nothing about
- visit an “escape room” or try ax-throwing
- try a cuisine you’ve never eaten before
TAKE AN ADVENTUROUS GIRLS TRIP IF… Your gals are up for a challenge and you want to shake things up.
5. Relax At The Beach
Sometimes the best way to connect is just to relax and unwind. If you and your girlfriends are looking for an escape, why not escape to white sands and blue ocean water?
Ahhh… I’m relaxed just thinking about it…
If you’re envisioning warm weather and sunshine, this is the trip for you!
Beach days with your girlfriends are the best! Catching some sun, reading a good book, telling stories and catching up… sounds awesome, right? A beach girls trip is relatively easy to plan. Just choose a beach location that works for you (I recommend San Diego or St. Simons Island GA!)
Have you tried Airbnb? Why not find a cute Airbnb beach cottage! Check out my post here for how to find the best Airbnbs.
TAKE A GIRLS BEACH TRIP IF… You want to slow down, you need a break, or you and your friends want to simply relax.
6. Keep It Local
Who says you need to travel miles and miles to have a fun girlfriend getaway? Well, not me.
It’s totally possible to have a phenomenal bonding experience close to home.
Maybe your girlfriend can only take a few days off work or doesn’t want to be away from her kids for too long. No matter the constraints, you can keep it local and still get the feeling of a getaway.
Start checking into what’s nearby. Often, we don’t explore our own hometown like we could! Be a tourist for a day or two and visit local attractions that you’ve never been to. Your girls trip might only be a day or two, or just one night away, but it’s still a great chance for some quality time together.
KEEP IT LOCAL IF… Your girls trip is only 1-3 days or you’re on a limited budget.
7. Go To Disney!
I didn’t think I was a Disney kind of girl… and then I went to Disneyland a few years back and it turns out I am! For more of a whimsical girls trip, a trip to Disney World or Disneyland is so much fun. It’s a chance to act like a kid, ride the rides and just be playful.
Disney tickets can get pricey, but if you live within driving distance of one of the parks this could be an affordable trip that you could do in 2-3 days. Plus nowadays, Disney isn’t just for kids. I’ve noticed in Disneyland California Adventure they have events like food and wine festivals that cater to adults.
GO TO DISNEY IF… You want a playful, whimsical trip or want to check this off your bucket list.
8. Visit The City
A girlfriend getaway to a nearby city is always fun! If you’re envisioning drinks, dancing, and lots of shops and restaurants to explore, this one might be for you. There are TONS of great cities in the U.S. (San Diego, Seattle, and Chicago are a few of my favorites) to explore.
A trip to a nearby city is easy to organize, especially if you and your friends live in relatively the same geographical area.
Cities typically have lots of things to choose from: comedy clubs, museums, special events, etc. so a city trip is great if you want to do several different types of activities. Get out there and explore and have a night on the town!
VISIT THE CITY IF… You want variety or want to get dressed up and go out with your girls.
9. Small Town Charm
While the city can bring excitement and hustle and bustle, if you’re looking for a relaxing escape, why not visit a small town? This option may not be an obvious one at first, but can be a fun way to explore at a slower pace.
You may just find a hidden gem, and experience some small town charm! To get inspired, here’s a fun read on the most beautiful towns in the U.S.
If you’re looking for an under-the-radar beach town, I would highly recommend St. Simons Island, GA. Check out my post to find out why my family has been vacationing here for over 30 years!
TRY A SMALL TOWN IF… You want a slower pace, relaxation is what you’re after, or you want to avoid the crowds.
10. Go Somewhere New
Still drawing a blank?
Another idea is to simply go somewhere no one in your group has been to before. It’s such a great way to get outside your comfort zone and experience something new as a group. Never been to Montana? Check it out. Always wondered what it’s like in Conneticut? Go there.
You can even do this on a grander scale and go abroad! Canada and Mexico are two countries that are super easy to visit from within the U.S. An international trip does take a bit more planning ahead of time, so if you decide to go this route, be sure to check out my international travel checklist.
GO SOMEWHERE NEW IF… You want a new and unique experience, or nothing else appeals to you.
Add Years To Your Life
There you have it, my 10 best ideas for a fun girls trip! I hope this list got you inspired to spend time with the important women in your life.
I recently read an article about how spending time with girlfriends literally adds years to your life.
It’s so true! And it’s important to invest time to keep your relationships strong.
Get Started Planning:
Here’s a simple and quick checklist you can follow to get your girls trip planned…
- Start by choosing your group and getting everyone’s agreement that they’re interested
- Pick a time of year that works for everyone
- Agree on a length of the trip (3 days, 5 days, etc.)
- Set a budget that the group is comfortable with
- Decide who will be responsible for booking hotel/flight/car
And before you go, here are a few of my most popular posts that I think you’ll like:
- Keeping Your Sanity on Long Flights
- What To Pack For A Trip: The Genius Method You Need To Try
- How To Travel Cheap
- What NOT To Bring on A Plane
