Pre-Covid, if I wasn’t cooking or drinking wine then it’s safe to assume that I was on a flight. I love traveling with my close friends and I’m often volun-told to oversee the vacation itinerary. In every girl group, everyone has an unofficial role and I’ve long ago accepted the title of “travel planner”. While some people may hate the responsibility and pressure that goes into planning, I welcome the challenge. Finding fun ways to explore new places while adding a little spin on common things we all like to enjoy, totally gives me a rush. Not to mention, when my friends gush with excitement about all the fun we are having, total bragging rights!
For the past 3 years, I have planned ultimate girls’ trips for my birthday celebration, and they have been a big hit! Seriously, my friends even joke that they would totally pay big bucks for me to plan family trips and romantic vacations for them. Yep, I’m that good. While that may be a service I offer in the future, you guys can get the cost-free inside scoop of my 5 tips to planning the perfect girls’ trip!
Tip #1: Advance Notice
The more information you give to your guests, the less headache you will have when you’re actually on your vacation. If you don’t commonly create event itineraries for your trip, I would suggest starting. I find that itineraries help to ensure that we make the most of our time and help avoid aimlessly wondering what to do. Your schedule shouldn’t be super jammed packed but any event that costs money or that has a set time such as dinner reservations or appointments should absolutely be on the itinerary. I include the price of each event, as well as the website to any event/activity planned. You know, to give them the opportunity to answer any last-minute questions without having to ask you.
Tip #2: Relaxation
Vacations are supposed to be a break away from the normal hustle and bustle of our daily routine. Anytime I am creating a vacation itinerary I always include one activity that is complete relaxation. Whether it’s a few hours to visit a natural spring sauna or in-home massages, one relaxation activity is definitely a must!
Tip #3: Plan the food
This may seem like a silly thing to plan but trust me, add it in. Have you ever been having so much fun or moving around so much that you forget to eat? I certainly have and if your trips are anything like mine, lots of alcohol and late nights, skipping meals is a big no-no. Not to mention, I get super hangry when meals are skipped, so hungry Ashley should be avoided at all costs. Since I am the cooker of the group, I usually create a menu of what I plan to cook for brunch, lunch, or dinner around times when we do not have any off-site activities planned. If we are out and about, I try to look up eateries that have great reviews and that are near the activity location. Doing this ahead of time avoids you all spending tons of money on bad food or allows you to pack a lunch if local options aren’t favored by your group. When my girls and I were on the water for hours, I made sure we had pinwheels and chips packed so we didn’t have to head to land when someone wanted a snack.
Tip #4: Sightseeing
Whether you are in the states or abroad, exploring the local attractions is something every tourist should do. Now sightseeing doesn’t have to mean tons of walking, binoculars, and museums. It could mean taking a dinner cruise around the closest body of water or taking a margarita bike ride around the downtown district. There are tons of cool ways to enjoy one of the local attractions and it’ll be fun for you and your girls to see what makes your vacation spot unique.
Tip #5: Winery
As a wine enthusiast, at least one winery visit is pretty standard for each trip I take. Wineries are super classy, gives everyone a chance to get cute, and are generally rather affordable. We always learn something new, find a new wine, and get pretty tipsy so it’s a WIN-WIN- WIN all around.
(Optional) Tip #6: Night Life
Before COVID I always planned one night on the town. My girls and I would get a private section at one of the hottest clubs and just party the night away. With the current safety precautions, I was not comfortable planning a trip to the local night clubs during my last birthday celebration. Instead, we were able to turn our rental into our own private party. We had loud music, tons of alcohol, and lots of laughs all within the comfort of our own home. Bonus points: no uber or designated driver needed.
Thanks to my 5 tips to planning the perfect girls’ trips my vacations are always one for the books! Try out these tips and let me know how your next girls trip goes! I would love to know what activities you incorporate into your celebration!
