My daughter and I are touring Ireland in September to celebrate birthday #70!

I hear it's VERY expensive, so if you have any tips to save money, we would be very receptive.

We've traveled together before, and always have a wonderful time, just us girls!

Posted By Martha Boothe on May 5, 2008, 8:15 PM

My good friend and I are taking a trip across the US. L.A. to New York with a bit in between. Very music themed.

Any tips are welcome.

Posted By Darcy Sullivan on May 5, 2008, 8:58 PM

One of my best friends, myself and her mother are all leaving for a trip to Alaska in a few weeks! Just the giddy anticipation of this vacation has inspired us to make a twice yearly "girl getaway" a new tradition.

This month, Alaska1 Later this year, Kansas City!

Posted By Sandra G. on May 5, 2008, 9:14 PM

Three of my girlfriends and I are heading across the big pond for five weeks of "No Husbands, No Kids (all are at least 19) and no fetching for the family. We are going to Paris, Brugge, Amsterdam, down the Rhine and Romantic road to Innsbruck. We are also spending 2 days in Florence and doing an Accidental Tourist cooking class. We have an apartment in Rome, a villa in Positano for a week. Then to Athens and the island of Evia. We have rented apartments in Brugge, Rome, Positano and Athens and on the Island of Evia. Five weeks is a long trip but it has actually turned out pretty reasonable. Sharing expenses of housing makes a large difference in the budget. I could not afford to do this by myself and pay for these lodgings for my whole family. Traveling as a group is allowing each of us to expand our trip without breaking the bank. Karen

Posted By Karen on May 6, 2008, 9:14 AM

I have a group of girlfriends that have vowed to take a weekend getaway a few times a year to a new city - so far we have been to Portland, NH, Providence, RI and NY, NY. Our goal is to find time to coordinate a trip outside of the Northeast.

Posted By Susan on May 6, 2008, 10:56 PM

My girlfriends and I make sure we have a girl's trip every year! It is incredibly fun! No matter where we go, we eat out, hit the spa, shop, and gossip into the wee hours! Even this past year since 3 of the 7 are pregnant, we stayed in our own town and had a major slumber party!

We go back to our families and husband's refreshed and renewed! I love our time together!

Posted By Carly Killpack on May 7, 2008, 11:45 AM

My bunco girlfriends are going to Savannah Georgia in October of this year. We plan to walk a lot in the historic district. Shop, Eat and Drink on River Street.

Posted By Karen Carter on May 8, 2008, 1:01 PM

A great friend and I are escaping the daily grind and heading up to Atlanta, GA for a weekend of eating, shopping, and gossip without interruption from our pesky families at the end of May. We can't wait!
Can already taste that Vortex cheeseburger in Little Five Points!

Posted By Sarah on May 8, 2008, 1:04 PM

My childhood friend & I are celebrating our 40th next March by trekking to Fairbanks, Alaska and heading into the wilderness to see the northern lights. It's always been high on our list of things to do and there's nothing like a milestone birthday to make it happen!

Posted By Martrese on May 8, 2008, 1:26 PM

I'm actually leaving on Monday the 12th for a two-week trip to Paris and Mallorca with two girlfriends for my 35th birthday!

Posted By kerry on May 8, 2008, 1:31 PM

My German girl friend and I (from China) are planning to visit CHS this coming long weekend since neither of us have been there but we both heard it's a very nice city in the States.
We are exicited about this trip. We would like to tour the city and stay in Folly Beach for some cool drinks and enjoy the sun.

Posted By Jackie Miao on May 8, 2008, 1:33 PM

My girlfriends from college get together every year for a girls' weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks (we all went to school in Missouri). We all pile into a lake condo and gab, eat and shop the whole weekend. It's such a great refresher. Well, this year I wasn't able to attend the weekend back in Feb., but we are all booked on a Royal Caribbean cruise in September. We are so excited, we can't stand it! These are the best girls in the world, and I'm so blessed to call them my friends.

Posted By Samantha Cardwell-Ward on May 8, 2008, 1:38 PM

Seven-and-a-half months after returning from Greece, we're off again. This time it's Spain. We leave on May 29 and we're very excited to be spending 4 nights each in Madrid, Barcelona and Torremolinos before we return stateside. To keep the price down, we took a tour with only 1 sightseeing excursion in each city. The rest we're going to to do on our own -- that's part of the adventure. Oh, yes...and we're looking forward to lots of tapas y vino...Olé!!

The Traveling Sisterhood
(a private travel group of friends and friends of friends)

Posted By Joan Nova on May 8, 2008, 1:42 PM

In Oct. my mom, my aunt and an older cousin and her daughter an I are going to the New England States for a 6 day tour to see the fall foliage. Our ages rang from 73 all the way down to 38. We are from Louisiana so were really excited.

Posted By Tina on May 8, 2008, 1:45 PM

We are headed to Vegas for 4 days and staying at my timeshare at the Wyndham Grand Desert!

Posted By Debbie on May 8, 2008, 2:00 PM

In June my best girlfriend and I are taking a trip to New York. I've been many times before, but it will be her first so i get to show her my favorite hidden gems! We are staying in upstate NY at a country house on Copake Lake for the first couple days then heading into NYC to spend the remaining time in Manhattan. We're both 24 years old and have never traveled out of state together. She's my best friend in the whole world so i know we are going to have a FABULOUS time, i can't wait.

Posted By Zoe Byrne on May 8, 2008, 2:00 PM

My high school girlfriend and I are leaving 5-19-2008 for a 13-day Greek deal, Mykonos,Santorini,Crete then Athens. No Rhodes, so we added another 6days. Real excited about it. Also we're going in July-Aug. to Edinburgh then London then Prague, back to London for a total of 34days. We're not taking any of the tours offered for Greece, but we may book one after we're there. London,Edinburgh and Prague we booked ourselves and the schedule and cost is better than the agents. We're flower children from the '60's so we're not hiking, but watching our step as we go. This is the first trip we've taken together, and my friend is more like a sister, so we'll have a good time, as long as we still have our sanity after dealing with the airport(s) stumbling blocks.

Posted By Georgina on May 8, 2008, 2:05 PM

Two of my dearest gal friends and I are heading for the Cinque Terre in late September for hiking, eating and drinking, then on to Venice with an apartment overlooking the Grand Canal and finally into Florence for five days of glorious wandering and exploring. Could there be anything more wonderful?!

Posted By Kathryn McGeorge on May 8, 2008, 2:10 PM

At the end of August, I'm going to Turkey with 8 of my fellow girlfriends from NYC for about 10 days. We plan to visit Istanbul, Bodrum, do a gulet sail along the turquoise coast, go paragliding over Oludeniz lagoon, stay overnight in the treehouses of Olympos, and explore the caves of & take a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. There will be plenting of sightseeing, eating local food & shopping along the way. We are an extremely adventurous group that will give almost anything a try. Can't wait! I also have girlfriend trips planned for Seattle, Vancouver & Montreal in the next 2 months. I am so lucky to be friends with such an amazing group of girls who all share a passion for traveling. The Turkey trip will by far be the one with the most girls in attendance. Usually we can get at least a few girlfriends together. Collectively, we've taken girlfriend getaways to Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Maine, Rhode Island, Charleston, Savannah, Las Vegas, Paris, London, Buenos Aires, Greece, Cancun, Spain, Australia, South Africa, Egypt, Atlantic City, Amalfi Coast & Cinque Terre in Italy and much more just in the past few years.

Posted By Cindy on May 8, 2008, 2:20 PM

Well , we were counting on YOU to help us "ole ladies" (7 of us high school girlfriends heading toward our 80's...shhhh..don't tell 'em I told ya!) what/ where we should do/go for the first time we've done this "girls only" getaway! Most of us are on a budget......some live in the South, some in the North..we're thinking...November, early. Some don't fly, so must be on an Amtrak route. How 'bout THAT for a Travel Budget challenge?

Posted By B. Whitehair on May 8, 2008, 2:28 PM

Ten of us "girls" will be visiting Fernandina Beach, FL. We will be staying at Katy's Lighthouse, a delightful attachment to Elizabeth Lodge. It is in the shape of a lighthouse. We will be coming from Houston, Orlando, and Jacksonville for the weekend from Friday (June 27-June 29th). We will eat, walk the beach, talk, relax, and shop in Historic Downtown Fernandina. We will also eat supper on Saturday night at Florida House - an inn that President Grant frequented during his term of office. Dinner is served family style - and other friends/family will be joining us that evening.

Posted By Lynn on May 8, 2008, 3:04 PM

My sister and I are heading to Amelia Island Plantation, just outside of Jacksonville, FL, for 3 nights (our annual sisters retreat) to walk on the beach, do the spa 'thing', work out together and just catch up. These yearly days on our own nourish our souls and bring us closer together and I'm in a wonderful count-down mode.

Posted By Sheila Englebardt on May 8, 2008, 3:25 PM

Heading to Santa Fe! We are five in total and will be 'crashing' at the one who lives there so with the money we save on hotel costs, we are planning nice things for ourselves (wine, food) and with her hot tub in working order, I expect it to be great fun!

Posted By Sherry T on May 8, 2008, 3:46 PM

Seven of us take a trip every year. This year is our 11th trip. We are spending a long weekend at one of the girl's lake house outside Chattanooga, TN. We'll eat, drink, gossip, fish, read, bitch, relax, and eat some more. Before we were all married with kids, we would hit a party city like Miami or Atlanta. Now that we're "mature" we're going places like Sedona and Banff, for outdoor activities and general togetherness. This is our seventh year in a row that someone will be pregnant, which always makes things interesting. The new thing we're doing is having personalized "trip favors", like little momentos of the trip. Last year it was embroided shirts for each of us with the trip location and our individual nicknames. I'm in charge of the favors this year and need some ideas - fancy fishing lures???!!?!?

Even though we argue at some point during the trip every year, we end the trip closer as friends than before we arrived. Girlfriends are the BEST!

Posted By Carrie on May 8, 2008, 4:13 PM

A group of 14 older ladies who are divorded, widowed, or just single in a group called "Sassy Singles" is taking a seven day cruise to Novia Scotia in September. This will be my first cruise and being with a group with similar interests and likes makes it more comforting. Plus the planning and anticipation of the experiences we will have adds to the fun. We are planning further cruises and a train tour across Canada. Girl's getaways of any kind are so different than with guys and families and less stressful without the need to please someone else.

Posted By Wanda Salyer on May 8, 2008, 4:23 PM

My daughter, her two teen-aged daughters and I are going to Aruba in July. We figure beach, excellent spas, water sports and horseback riding ought to keep us busy. We'd love your suggestions for less obvious things to do, places to explore.

Posted By Tina on May 8, 2008, 4:35 PM

What a great reminder that traveling with a good friend is as good as it gets! My favorite traveler-girlfriend and I rendezvoused last summer at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. We shopped, got glorious spa treatments, and sampled some amazing chefs' restaurants. She travels all the time, especially NYC and Europe... but has never been to Birmingham! I'm crazy about Birmingham, Alabama antique and decor shops, the people, history, museums and divine Highlands restaurant ... so we've booked air and rooms for October. (She lives in Florida; I live in Oregon.) We'll rent a car for a day trip to historic homes in Eutaw and spend the rest of our time exploring a terrific destination. Next year ... Santa Fe or Napa. We organize our time to do as much as possible according to our shared interests and make sure we have space to relax alone in our rooms. It's perfect!

Posted By Zenzien on May 8, 2008, 5:16 PM

A few girlfriends and I are headed to St. Martin this August. We'll probably lay on the beach, shop and hit a few nightclubs. I also just got back from a girlfriend getaway in Vegas. Girlfriend getaways are something my friends and I have been doing for years now, since early college days. Everyone makes it seem like its a new trend but its not.

Posted By Chantelle on May 8, 2008, 5:46 PM

I run private soul-based trips for women to India through my company www.AffordableIndia.Com. I take no more than 8 people at a time throughout India, experiencing the Eastern path of life in yoga, meditation, ayurveda, tantra and hinduism. We always have a great time and most of my tours are less than $1300 per person per week. A steal by larger company standards! Check us out ladies!

Farrah Nayka Ashline
www.AffordableIndia.Com
301-789-2503

Posted By Farrah Nayka Ashline on May 8, 2008, 6:47 PM

My mother and I travel every year together -- we've been to Florence, Paris, London, Hawaii, Spain and the Czech Republic. I also travel with a girlfriend every year -- this year headed back to Florence for a week to celebrate our 40th birthdays.

Posted By Stephanie Marchant on May 8, 2008, 6:52 PM

My new French girlfriend and I have promised one another to go to Santa Fe. We'll be sure stop in to see one of my best friends who lives in Santa Fe. It sure is nice to have best friends living in such beautiful towns like Santa Fe (and Paris!).

Posted By Chris aka Parisgirl on May 8, 2008, 7:18 PM

Next weekend I will head to Rehoboth Beach, DE with my best girlfriends(my mom, sister, sister-in-law, and aunt) for our 3rd Annual Girls Getaway. We spa, shop at sidewalk sales, outlets & boutiques, dine out at favorite spots without the 2 hour peak-season waits and inspect rental properties for our annual summer family beach vacation.

Posted By Sharon on May 8, 2008, 7:44 PM

FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS, MY 3 DAUGHTERS AND MYSELF HAVE GONE TO LAS VEGAS. WE DRINK(A LOT),SIGHTSEE(A LOT),GAMBLE(A LITTLE) AND GO TO SHOWS. WE AWAYS HAVE A BLAST AND CAN'T WAIT TO GO AGAIN THIS YEAR..
P.S. YES, I'M OVER 60 BUY ACT 25.

Posted By DRUCILLA on May 8, 2008, 10:23 PM

Eleven of us two generation family girls are going to Puerto Escondido, Mexico,from May 21 to the 28.
We will stay in a beach house, visit Zicatela, the famous surfing beach and ride horses in the sunset.
The next day will take massages and facials in front of the beach and visit Temascal.
This will be our second getaway. The first one was in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico and we had a blast!!!

Posted By Janice on May 9, 2008, 9:45 AM

Three girlfriends and I are leaving California in October 2008 to go to Boston and the upper northeast for the fall color show and eating lobster in Maine. This group has been traveling together for 4 years; New York, Seattle, France and now New England. We get along very well and love to eat and sight see.

Posted By Nancy in Santa Barbara on May 10, 2008, 2:58 PM

Many women might not think of going to the Civil War battle icon of Gettysburg, PA -- which is why I created the Gettysburg Girlfriend Getaways, to take you beyond the battlefield into activities that take you deeper into women's history, deeper into yourself, and deeper into the region. Two "edutainment" programs are offered with 3, 4 and 5-day itineraries: "Hearth & Home" and "Body & Soul". Take a look at: www.gettysburggirlfriendgetaways.com Thanks! Paulette

Posted By Paulette Lee on May 10, 2008, 3:24 PM

Not all girlfriend getaways are about old friends, some are about new friends!
I am traveling the end of May with two good friends who have never met to the wedding
of a third Italian friend that I met on a flight from Italy. I can't wait to bring three of my favorite people together!
We are traveling to the Maremma region of Tuscany for the authentic Italian wedding right down to the
Tuscan Villa owned by the groom's family,
and then continuing our adventure in a house rented
in the small Amalfi Coast town of Praiano far from
all the crowds.
We will be doing lots of hiking, island hopping (Giflio, Capri and Procida) and socializing with
old friends and new!

Posted By Wendy Dreaney on May 10, 2008, 9:54 PM

My friends & I leave in August for a 7 day Hawaiian Cruise then off to Las Vegas to visit the Grand Canyon. Last year we spent 12 days in Europe. Starting in Venice, through the Amalfi Coast and ending in Rome where at least one of us maxed out a credit card shopping!

Posted By Wanda Brown on May 11, 2008, 6:13 AM

My mom, sister and I are heading to New York City for our girls trip this year! My sister has never been so of course we will do 'some' touristy stuff but what I really want to find is some great areas to do shopping in that are totally representative of true New Yorkers! Cute, artsy, unique, one-of-a-kind items in local neighborhoods.

I would also like to go to one fun broadway show that three women would love to see and share in !

Posted By Candace P on May 11, 2008, 1:01 PM