Your annual girlfriend getaway is finally approaching, and you all have the dates reserved on the calendar. Now you just have to find a spot to accommodate your party. It needs to be relatively close to home, it should offer a mix of relaxing and more adventurous activities, and it obviously has to have great food and wine. Here are some fantastic spots that cater to large groups, so they’re perfect for girls trips or even family reunions.
Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Best for A girls vacay or a family reunion
Details This all-inclusive hot spot literally has something for everyone: There’s a 16,000-square-foot water park, seven freshwater pools, a fabulous spa, a nightclub, beach butler service, bars and a next-level promenade filled with shops and restaurants. It’s not far from the airport, and a wide range of accommodations is available. Choose between swim-up suites, adults-only accommodations, suites with hydromassage pools and more. I’ve been to more than my fair share of resorts, and I was blown away by how much every type of guest was taken into consideration.
More information Lopesan.com
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee Greensboro, Georgia
Best for A luxurious girls trip that’s a mix of relaxation and adventure
Details There’s so much to do here in terms of relaxation and adventure that you and your gang will be able to bond, learn and chill. Activities on-site include kayaking, golfing, tennis, paddle-boarding, cycling, hiking and more. Not up for so much movement? Relax poolside, along the lakefront or at the spa, sauna, steam room or cold-plunge pool. You and your friends can stay together in a 5,400-square-foot lake house, which has four bedrooms and its own outdoor pool, or lodge in a cozy three-bedroom cottage. The entire resort seems to have been created for girlfriend getaways.
More information Ritzcarlton.com
Winvian Farm Litchfield Hills, Connecticut
Best for A totally restorative girls vacay
Details Choose from 18 cottages, each designed with a unique theme, ranging from a library cottage (my personal favorite) to a greenhouse to a tree house. The cottages sleep up to five people, and they come with soaking tubs, rainfall steam showers, fireplaces, complimentary bikes and breakfast. If you can tear yourself away from the spa (I had a very hard time doing this), there are many activities on the farm, including horseback riding, axe throwing, swimming, hiking, golfing, boating, glassblowing and painting.
More information winvian.com
Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire Bonaire, in the southern Caribbean
Best for Adventurous beachy vacationers
Details Bonaire, a Dutch Caribbean island, is the world’s first blue destination, a.k.a. a destination that’s committed to the sustainable use of ocean resources for social and economic development. It’s also known for having some of the best scuba diving in the world, offering more than 85 dive sites with over 350 types of fish. Even as a novice scuba diver (I dove once before checking out Bonaire), I was greeted with the best instructors, who introduced me to the most beautiful underwater world. But diving isn’t the only thing you’ll be able to explore in Bonaire. There’s a donkey sanctuary housing around 800 of these animals, and there’s super-creative (and yummy!) food, including iguana soup (way better than it sounds). The Delfins Beach Resort is especially great for groups because the rooms range from villas to apartments to studios to penthouses, so they can accommodate many different-size parties.
More information DelfinsBeachResort.com
Saybrook Point Resort & Marina Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Best for Very large groups
Details Putting together a big reunion? This is the place to go. It has two large guesthouses that can accommodate 12 and 16 guests, respectively (plus other smaller villas and rooms). One guesthouse has a rooftop deck and a firepit, and the other has a game room and backyard boccie court. The resort complex features a spa, restaurants, live music at the marina bar, two heated pools and complimentary bikes, plus there are kayak rentals nearby.
More information saybrook.com
The Langham Chicago Chicago, Illinois
Best for A city-focused girls trip
Details The Langham Chicago is conveniently located in downtown Chicago. Everyone can fly into O’Hare International or Midway International airport and they’ll be at the hotel in under an hour. Up to four people can stay in a junior or regular suite. Treat yourself to a club room, which includes access to the Langham Club, where’s there’s free breakfast, snacks and alcoholic drinks throughout the day. Honestly, this is one of the best deals around. I stayed in a suite with my family recently, and we saved a lot of money by eating a large breakfast in the club, and by having drinks and snacks there throughout the day. This hotel is in walking distance of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Center, the Art Institute, theaters, the Magnificent Mile’s shops and restaurants, and the “L,” which will take you anywhere you want to go in the Windy City.
More information Langhamhotels.com
Opener photo credits: Courtesy Delfins Beach Resort; Courtesy Ritz-Carlton; Courtesy Langham Hotels; Courtesy Saybrook Point Resort & Marina
Inset photo credits: Courtesy Lopesan Costa Bávaro; Courtesy The Ritz-Carlton; Courtesy Winvian Farm; Courtesy Delfins Beach Resort; Courtesy Saybrook Point Resort & Marina; Courtesy Langham Hotels
Thinking about going solo on your next cruise? Then read this.
What's the last girlfriend getaway you went on? Let us know in the comments below.
