When we read about SuperShe Island, a private, 10-person retreat in the Baltic Sea where men are not allowed, we couldn’t help but picture a modern-day Themyscira, Wonder Woman’s female-only island where a girl can do whatever the heck she wants and we all look like Gal Gadot.
It also got us in the mood for a good, old-fashioned girlfriend getaway. So, grab your girl squad and start planning one of these XX-only escapes — when you are vaccinated and able to do so, of course:
Set sail on a Lady Cruise
Does a private gourmet chef, daily pampering, French wine and beautiful 24/7 views of the water sound at all enticing? Then a chartered Sunday-to-Saturday barge cruise on the canals of France is for you.
Barge Lady Cruises lets you grab up to 11 of your BFFs and set sail on the three-star Luciole, gliding through the bucolic French countryside and past medieval towns with stops for shopping, pain au chocolat sampling, bicycling, spa time and more. Back on board, nibble (or gorge) on artisan cheeses, rustic breads and decadent dessert.
The cost is $5,000 per lady (yes, the cruise is truly sans hommes) for seven days and six nights, including all food, open bar, daily excursions and round-trip chauffeured transfers to and from Paris. Barge season is April-October.
Good times, tan lines
Head south with your amigas for an unforgettable Mexican vaycay with the
Thompson Playa del Carmen, located on La Quinta Avenida, Playa’s two-mile, pedestrian-only shopping and dining district. The hotel is stocked with girlfriend-ready amenities like a Mezcal and Meditation experience; bicycle rentals; sunset/sunrise yoga; complimentary Frida Khalo Museum tickets; and a partnership with a local luxury adventure company. (Think: day trips to Tulum; culinary excursions; swimming in giant, mountain-encircled sinkholes called cenotes.) When a group of 33 women recently rented out Thompson’s smaller Beach House property to celebrate someone’s 50th birthday, their typical day included 4 p.m. champagne in the pool; spa treatments at sunset; and a belly-dancing class.
The hotel also has a three-day Good Times and Tan Lines package — including daily use of an exclusive, rosé-outfitted poolside cabana with a $250 food and beverage credit, two 24K gold-infused facial treatments and daily breakfast for two — starting at $449 per night for a double queen room. (Obviously wear sunblock, though, because while tan lines were fun in our 20s, they’re now basically just a way of begging for wrinkles.)
Sunny California
Farm-to-fork food and supremely sippable wine beckon from Mendocino County, located 114 miles north of San Francisco. You’ll find 90-plus wineries, as well as hippie farmers, highbrow brewmasters, two dozen state or national parklands, historic villages and outback adventures (like snapping a selfie with a majestic giraffe) along its 90 miles of Pacific coastline. Events include the
Mendocino Ocean & Seafood Fair, where you’ll celebrate rock-star local seafood like abalone and sea urchin (Oct. 6, 2018), and can catch up on sleep afterward at a cozy inn.
More of a festival gal? Head south to Palm Springs. You just missed Coachella, but honestly, seeing hordes of 19-year-olds in crochet bikinis and frayed blue jean underwear will only make you want to call their parents, so it’s probably for the best. A more relaxing option: Positioned at the gateway to the world-renowned national park, the biannual
Joshua Tree Music Festival (May 17-20 and Oct. 4-7) is billed as a “global music experience in the magical Mojave.” The performers aren’t household names yet, which means you’ll be treated to an eclectic mix of up-and-coming musicians … everything from the Shook Twins (folk music-singing sisters) to the Desert Rhythm Project (neo-roots, reggae, funk and soul). There’ll be art installations; a “Positive Vibration Station” where you can dabble in chakra balancing, drum circles, qiqong, and sound baths; and a world market. While in Joshua Tree, get your rock climbing on; try camping (OK, glamping); breathe in surreal views of Dr. Seuss-like Joshua trees; and more. A four-day pass for the spring festival costs $180; the fall festival 4-day pass, $170. (Note: Men and kids do attend this festival.)
Courtesy Thompson Playa del Carmen
