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Travel

Girls Trip Getaways for Every Type of Occasion

By Maya Kachroo-Levine on January 17, 2020

Whether planning a luxe bachelorette party or a reunion among best friends, these are the best trips for a ladies-only escape.

© knape/Getty Images

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Departures is published by Meredith Corp. and owned by American Express. While American Express Card Member benefits are highlighted in this publication, including through the links indicated below, the content of this article was independently written by the editorial staff at Meredith. Other Departures content paid for by American Express is explicitly marked as such.

Planning a girls-only trip is a tall order when it comes to suiting every travel palette. However, it’s also an opportunity to focus entirely on pleasing yourselves, without catering to the interests of children, family members, or spouses. Whether you’re sourcing bachelorette party ideas as the maid of honor for your closest friend or are planning an annual girls getaway, there are plenty of options for the cultured, well-traveled women looking for a great escape with friends. Here, we’ve compiled the best bachelorette party ideas or all-purpose ladies getaway plans, for the wine lovers, adventure travelers, wellness queens, and more:

 
Courtesy Inns of Aurora

For a pampering, off-the-beaten path escape

Aurora, New York is a charming lakeside village 40 minutes north of Ithaca where your group of girlfriends can escape to the high-end Inns of Aurora. Luxury accommodations are enhanced with 24/7 service from resident innkeepers who prepare cozy inn amenities like wine and cheese hour in the afternoon. Groups can privately reserve inns on property, such as Zabriskie House which officially opened this January, for a more exclusive experience. Put together a wholly relaxing, rustic-chic itinerary including a restorative yoga session with the in-house Director of Serenity, culinary classes at Aurora Cooks! Demonstration Kitchen, and body treatments in The Loft. After dinner with the girls at 1833 Kitchen & Bar, serving regionally sourced cuisine, spend the evening enjoying local wines and gourmet s’mores by a lakeside fire pit or parlor fireplace for serious après-no-ski vibes.

Jason Dewey/Courtesy Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Napa Valley

For the ultimate foodie and wino girls getaway

The old adage may claim that Paris is always a good idea—but so is Napa. Napa has always been the wine capital of the U.S., but has become just as appreciated for its exceptional cuisine. For the foodie bachelorette party, locals will tell you to start at the restaurant at Las Alcobas Napa Valley—an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property. Not only is Acacia House making one of the best margaritas in the U.S., the menu is by Top Chef Masters favorite Chris Cosentino and the restaurant is housed in a regal, Georgian-style manor at the front of the property. You’ll also want to reserve a table at Archetype in St. Helena, for high-end California fare, and Compline, a hip, local-favorite wine bar in downtown Napa serving great eats at an unbeatable price. As for wine tasting, you’ll need to secure reservations ahead of time for your girl gang. Start by tasting the single-vineyard wines at Trinchero Napa Valley—pro-tip: reserve the wine and food pairing in their chic Legacy Lounge. Next, head to Tank Garage Winery in Calistoga, which brings culture and bold flavor to the Napa wine scene. Insiders know to book a tasting in their back room, for a prohibition-style tasting experience. Finally, conclude the wine tasting at HALL Wines, known for its impressive selection of curated art, adjacent to the chic St. Helena hotel, Harvest Inn.

Rasmus Hjortshoj/Courtesy Noma

For the culture traveler—from fashion to architecture

Searching for bachelorette party ideas that prioritize haute culture, like some of the best food and fashion in the world? Look no further than Copenhagen. Post up at Hotel Sanders, where the architecture lover will find her bliss. Sanders’ rooftop is part-greenhouse, part-chic hangout where a guest DJ shows up on the first Friday of every month to kick off the weekend. noma is, of course, still the reservation to get in Copenhagen. However, Amass is an equally spectacular choice—the seasonal menu and wine pairing is an experience guaranteed to wow your group. And they have a fire pit where you can walk out to sip your wine between courses. Weave some Copenhagen culture into your group’s itinerary; for the design-minded bachelorette, plan a visit to the Design Museum Denmark, and for fashion lovers, visit the boutiques on Strøget.

Courtesy Hyatt

For the detox-retox ladies getaway

Cabo done right is pure luxury with just the right mix of hitting the town, pool time, and wellness endeavors. The Cape, a Thompson Hotel is a perfect bachelorette party venue. First, the hotel offers a sophisticated take on the famous Cabo nightlife scene—with its very own sixth-story rooftop lounge, craft beer garden, fresh seasonal Baja cocktails, and nightly live acoustic music timed to the sunset. And on the detox front, the resort recently rolled out Wellness Retreats for 2020 (dates to come) complete with regionally inspired spa treatments, like their Cacao Breathing Ceremony, a wellness marketplace with local artisans, and beach-centric fitness activities. For your group, book The Cape’s signature Surfer Villa, a two-story, three-bedroom luxury suite with a pergola outfitted with an outdoor grill and an adjacent plunge pool.

Eifel Kreutz/Getty Images

For the adventurous bachelorette

A coastal Maine bachelorette at Acadia National Park is perfect for the outdoors-woman looking for adventure and beautiful scenery. Stay at Bar Harbor’s new boutique luxury hotel, The West Street Hotel, right on the waterfront. Their two-bedroom oceanfront suites are perfect for the group of women keen on enjoying downtown Bar Harbor, hiking in Acadia, and indulging in the five-star hotel’s amenities. Within Acadia National Park, the Beehive Trail is a classic introductory hike to the park. It’s two miles, but strenuous with steep inclines and cliff-side exposure. For an easier hike, Ocean Path runs two miles from Sand Beach to Otter Point. Regardless of which trail you choose, book a spa afternoon following the morning hike for your group at The Spa at Bar Harbor Club.

AllaLaurent/Getty Images

For the women who want it all

An international bachelorette destination that goes all out but isn’t more than a five-hour flight from New York City: Iceland. Heading to Iceland, specifically the area surrounding Reykjavik is perfect for the girls’ getaway looking for a taste of everything. The relaxation and pampering, of course, is found at the Retreat at Blue Lagoon. Your group will want to escape to the Blue Lagoon and adjacent Retreat Hotel for at least 48 hours. Book a chic-minimalist suite (or two, depending on your group size) at the Retreat Hotel, or perhaps consider a guided Blue Lagoon floatation package booked through the hotel. While soaking in the lagoon, your group of gals can enjoy the mask bar, where skin care enthusiasts can chose restorative algae and silica face treatments. The Blue Lagoon is less than an hour drive from Reykjavik. You’ll want to spend a couple days soaking up the nightlife and urban scene in the city proper, too. Visit Le Chateau des Dix Gouttes, a chic French bar serving Icelandic wine, and Slippbarinn for a peak into Reykjavik’s relatively new cocktail scene.

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