5 Tips to Make Your Next Girls Getaway Even Better

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Do you know that feeling?

The one where you drive away from the house feeling a little lighter.   As you pull out of the neighborhood you let out a long sigh after spending hours pouring over plans and detailed instructions for everyone to follow in your absence.    You made certain the refrigerator was stocked and your bases are covered.   Sure,  you will probably come home to more laundry than you can wrap your head around (I mean… why!?!)  but you are going to worry about that later.   Because in this moment you are feeling a little lighter.   You are heading out on a getaway with your girlfriends and there are few things better for the soul than these upcoming days.

I love going on trips with my girlfriends!   We managed TWO last year and I can’t wait to get our next one planned.  We have a group of 8 ladies and our connections weave back to almost 20 years ago and I count my blessings daily that I have these gals in my life.   I know that these women truly care about me and my family and we have been able to grow even closer over the past couple of years by using the Marco Polo app.   If you don’t have it… get it!  It’s a video app where you can communicate with one person at a time or with a group.  You record videos, your friends watch them and then record one back.  It’s kind of like Facetime but one-way which allows you to catch up and record them when you have the time instead of all being together at the same time!  Life-changing.  Literally.  We have moved 6 times since we were married and it used to be hard to stay connected with the friends we would leave behind.  Marco Polo makes the world a little smaller.

Anyway, back to the trips!  Early last year we did a long weekend in Palm Springs.  Those who followed our 2 years in California know that Palm Springs is my happy place.   Soaking in the sun all day and then listening to the band play hits by Van Morrison (and other legends) on the patio at Las Casuelas just sets my soul on fire.   Our other trip came in September when we all met up in Union Pier, Michigan for another long weekend.  Three or four nights is always perfect and leaves us excited for the next one.

On these last two trips we fell into a routine and today I want to share 5 things that we do to make the most out of our trip!  Let me know if you do any of these or plan to!

1. Stay in a Vacation Rental

If you are still booking multiple hotel rooms on a group trip you are missing out.  Think about booking a vacation rental home for your next trip.  Staying in a home allows everyone to relax and spread out a little more and often ends up costing about the same.  But the best part is that it allows for those late nights full of good wine and robust laughter.  And also those mornings around the counter, enjoying coffee and great conversation.  While there are countless places to find a vacation rental the most popular two are AirBNB and vrbo.  Both have huge inventorys and easy to use search features that allow you to find something perfect for your group!

2. Download Splitwise

I had no idea this app existed until we went to Palm Springs and one of the girls suggested we download SPLITWISE.  It is a game-changer!    Within the app, you can create a “group” for that specific trip and track and split expenses as you go.  For example, if the rental home is $2400 the person who pays for it adds it in SPLITWISE and splits it between everyone leaving everyone as “owing $300” to her.  Then as someone else picks up the grocery bill she can add that and split it.   Someone else did a big wine pickup at Costco and split it between only 5 of us because two of our friends have babies on the way.  So exciting!  It makes paying at dinner or for that quick round of drinks at the bar across the street easy and eliminates all of those awkward money moments.  Then at the end, you can “settle up” and it says who owes who what.  It even links to Venmo!   Even if you aren’t planning a girls’ getaway this will come in handy for all sorts of things!

3. Favorite Things Party

This is my favorite tip and since these are in no particular order I put this in the middle.   On our last two trips, we did a Favorite Things Party and it has become our most anticipated evening.   It’s simple.  You set a budget and buy everyone something that you personally love.  Everyone gets the same thing from you!  We have done both a $20 and $10 budget but will say that it’s easier when it’s a larger amount.  People have gifted everything from candles to underwear, dry shampoo to snacks.  And since it’s a favorite thing everyone ends up loving it all and you come home with new goodies!  It can be perfume, a book, lip gloss, you name it.  We even wrap them up cute and take turns handing them out.  Everyone opens them and we tell them why we love it!  It’s so exciting!  And let me tell you a secret.  No one gives great gifts like your girlfriends and some of these have become my new favorite things!

4. Take a Long Walk

Work a little bit of exercise into your vacation.  In Palm Springs we did the Taquitz Canyon Trail hike and took in an amazing waterfall at the end!  However, in Michigan, we simply put on our tennis shoes and walked into town.   Don’t overthink or over plan it!  A long walk with a group of friends gives everyone an opportunity to chat.  Often breaking up into pairs or smaller groups along the way you can let the conversations flow as you enjoy the fresh air.

5. Charcuterie Boards

On a three-day weekend trip we typically plan for one brunch out and one dinner out, opting to eat at our rental for the other meals.   My friends are way more talented than me when it comes to food prep!  One night (usually Favorite Things night) someone will take the lead on an amazing Charcuterie Board for dinner.  We snack all evening as we enjoy wine and friendship.  Laughter flows and nobody is stuck doing a bunch of cooking or cleaning up.   I would probably hit up Pinterest in advance for the perfect one, and then make a list so that you can run in and quickly grab the ingredients.  Typically a great Charcuterie board will be overflowing with cured meats, a variety of cheeses, crackers,  nuts, olives, jellies, spreads and more.  And they aren’t just for dinner.   Pancake boards are becoming a thing!