If you have the time and the money to get away, why wouldn’t you want to spend a fabulous vacation with your best girlfriends? Safety and fun are both big components to a successful girls’ getaway, and the 12 cities profiled below excel in both categories. We’ll tell you about what to expect in these cities (and in some cases, islands) so you can make the most out of your trip with your BFFs. You’ll also see galleries of additional destinations that will hopefully inspire you to book your next girls’ getaway with Tripmasters!
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is one of the safest capitals in Europe, which is great for an all-girl getaway. There are so many things for you to do when you get here. First off, did you know that there are over 70 museums just in Amsterdam alone? They are accessible to English speakers so you won’t miss out on a second of the culture. Other things that are accessible to English speakers are ATMs and train ticket kiosks. You will never have to worry about getting lost in this beautiful city because if all else fails, you can ask a local for help. They will understand you and be able to help! Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions: the Dutch are open-minded and their kindness will put you at ease quickly, allowing you to make new friends and vacation the Dutch way! Some extra outings we recommend for a girls’ trip: rent bicycles and take a ride, or rent a boat with some champagne and drift down Amsterdam’s numerous canals with nary a care.
Speaking of the Dutch, another great girls’ getaway is Aruba, a Caribbean island which is one of the four constituent nations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. If you want the most bang for your buck, consider arriving in May, just before work and school summer holidays. Aruba is the perfect place to experience both Caribbean and Dutch culture no matter the time of day. Whether you are strolling the streets of colonial-era Oranjestad or partying the night away at one of the many beach clubs, Aruba has cultural and entertainment scenes to rival all other Caribbean islands. Many of the resorts in Aruba are all-inclusive, which is a great way to make sure all of your friends’ food and drink needs are covered. Enjoy the beach, have a girls’ day at the spa, or even get massages beachside! Whatever your desire, the generous and cheerful hospitality workers of Aruba are at your service.
When people think of South Africa as a tourist destination, they might have some concerns about safety. One place where you won’t have to worry much about that is beautiful Cape Town, situated on the western coast. Cape Town is the safest of the large cities in South Africa, with all tourist attractions situated in areas of the city that have low crime levels. Cape Town is known for its exciting outdoor activities, like hiking trails that are mere minutes from all the action downtown. It’s also well-known for its luxurious spas, easy access to clinics that offer Botox and other skin treatments, top-notch shopping, and some of the best hair salons in the country. For group activities, consider having high tea at the legendary 5-star Mount Nelson Hotel, or a trip to the wineries in Franschhoek, just an hour’s drive east of Cape Town. On the way there, make a stop in the charming town of Stellenbosch!
Nat’l Park, CA
All five are great places to have a fun girls’ trip!
Cartagena, Colombia is an awesome place to have a girls’ trip. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Caribbean coastal city was where The Real Housewives of New York City took their 2018 girls’ trip. They stayed in the Old City, which is a great place for travelers to stay since they will be right in the center of all the action. Cartagena was once a walled city in the 17th century, and the walls are wonderful to explore especially as the sun sets over the sea. If you’re looking for delicious restaurants, coffee shops, and cafés, check out Calles 32 to 36, which are just north of the Plaza de la Aduana. The nightlife scene is clustered around Playa de Bocagrande (pictured), less than a mile south of the Old City. Landmarks you should definitely take the time out to see include the Museo Histórico, where you and your friends can learn about the city’s colonial and modern history, and the breathtaking Santa Catalina de Alejandría Basilica. If you want to have a girls’ trip in a delightful tropical paradise with colonial ambience, Cartagena is the place to be.
Key West, located about three hours southwest of Miami at the end of the Overseas Highway, is party central and has been for decades. Whether you want to celebrate a bachelorette party with your friends or you just want to get away for a fun-filled few days, Key West has every option for a fabulous vacation available to you. Accommodations range from “moderately-priced budget” hotels to high-priced luxury resorts, all close to the various landmarks of Key West. You can walk most anywhere on the island, although most people take taxis or rent mopeds to get around. Duval Street is where the most popular bars and restaurants are located, and there is no girls’ trip without stopping down this street at least once. We also recommend that you and your friends visit Mallory Square (pictured), where you can watch magicians and buskers perform as the sun sets over the water.
Oh my gosh, where do I start with Las Vegas, Nevada? It is the most popular destination in the world for bachelorette parties. Literally hundreds of brides-to-be celebrate their upcoming “big day” in Vegas every day. Stay at a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip so you are close to food, fun, and luxury. Many of the top casino-hotel resorts have fabulous pools and spas; make sure you allot both a pool day (with cabana) and a spa day! Drinks can be expensive in Las Vegas, but places such as Paris Casino and Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesar’s Palace offer very large drinks for competitive prices. Now for the bachelorettes and brides-to-be, there are a number of “male burlesque” stage shows that play to crowds each night in Las Vegas, many of which almost require audience participation. You know what they say, whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, and countless girls’ trips abide by this code.
Jamaica
The Bahamas
Málaga is the gateway to the Costa del Sol, but this beautiful city in Spain‘s Andalucía region isn’t just known for sun. It is also known for its history, which is on display in places like the Moorish Alcazaba, the best-preserved of its kind in Spain, and the Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta (pictured). (Fun fact: As Málaga’s popularity as a beachside resort destination grew, construction began on the dozens of high-rise apartments and hotels around the bullring.) If you want a spa day, you can choose a state-of-the-art experience or the traditional Arabic baths; you can’t go wrong with either! For nightlife and wonderful restaurants, head to Muelle Uno, right on the water and west of Playa de La Malagueta. If you’re at Muelle Uno during the daytime, check out the Centre Pompidou, one of the crowning jewels in Málaga’s cultural oeuvre. If you and your girlfriends love being active, make sure to schedule a day where everyone hikes up Mount Gibralfaro!
It makes sense that one of the world’s biggest cities, New York City, would be a favorite for women travelers as it also is for male travelers. The subway system is very extensive, connecting all five boroughs and the suburbs, allowing you and your group to go pretty much anywhere you want to go without having to rent a car. (Taxis and ride-sharing like Uber are available for nighttime trips.) There are so many great things you can do as a group: you can attend a Broadway show, visit the Statue of Liberty (pictured), window-shop along Fifth Avenue and in Herald Square, and that’s just Day One! Some common sense safety tips will go a long way here: Be cognizant of your surroundings at all times, keep walking with purpose even if you are lost and dip into a shop if need be to ask for directions, and keep an eye on all of your property, especially while riding the subway. The AirTrain connects JFK Airport to Manhattan, while the M60 Select Bus connects LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan, making it easy to get into the thick of the action.
Beautiful Paris, France‘s capital, is a destination that we’re conditioned to believe needs to be seen on a honeymoon or with a significant other. But we’ve seen in pop culture from Absolutely Fabulous to Hot in Cleveland that Paris is fun for girls’ trips as well. If you’re looking for heady nightlife, visit the area in the third arrondissement south of the Les Halles Mall. You can start your evening with some shopping, and end it at an intimate jazz club or the dance floor of a chic nightclub. (Of course we can’t forget about the Moulin Rouge in the 18th arrondissement…you have to stop there too!) For those who love culture, you can spend entire days visiting landmarks like The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower (pictured), and the Cathédrale de Sacre-Coeur. The cherry on top of any fabulous Paris vacation is a day trip to the decadently luxurious Palace of Versailles, located west of the city.
Czech Republic
Iceland
Flying halfway around the world for a girls’ trip is a big task, but Phuket, an island located off the western coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, is 100% worth the time and effort needed to get there. For those who want to be one with nature, Phuket is the best place to go, not least because you can stroll down and sun yourselves on miles upon miles of beautiful beaches. The northwestern coast of the island is a protected area called Sirinat National Park, and many resorts and golf courses are situated along the perimeter of the park. Phuket City (on the southeast coast) is a great base for island-hopping, to places like the Phi Phi Islands and Koh Lanta, both situated southeast of Phuket. Finally, from Phuket City to the hinterlands, you and your friends will love exploring and visiting all 29 of the Buddhist temples (wats) of Phuket Island. (Pictured: Promthep Cape on the southwestern coast of Phuket.)
Awareness of Korean popular culture is growing with each passing year, as Americans become acclimated to television dramas produced in Korea, and listening to music from such popular bands as BTS and BLACKPINK. Seoul, South Korea‘s capital and most populous city, is ready for all travelers who might have just happened to fall in love with Korean culture. Traditional culture can be experienced in countless places, from ornate Gyeongbok Palace in the northern part of the city to the open-air Korean Folk Village in the suburb of Yongin. Seoul’s shopping and culinary scenes converge on Myeong-dong (pictured), the place to see and be seen. Seoul’s mass transit systems are clean and efficient and now rival Japan’s systems in terms of speed and interconnectivity. (If you have extra time and wanted to see more of Korea with your friends, the KTX high-speed train can take you all the way to Busan!)
Vancouver, British Columbia is one of Canada‘s safest, greenest, and most livable cities. Shortly after you and your friends arrive, you will begin to experience all the magic that this region has to offer. For outdoor activities, the most popular outing for a group would be to explore areas like Stanley Park on foot, or ride bikes along the Seawall. Like Portland and Seattle, Vancouver takes its coffee seriously, and there are dozens of cafés and small-batch roasters spread out throughout the metropolitan area. Those who love visiting the spa will not be disappointed, as beautiful spa complexes like the one at the Painted Boat Resort rate among the top getaways in western Canada. The Parq Vancouver Casino Resort is the place to be for those particular girls’ getaways where good drinks and loose slots have to be front-and-center!
A lot of research goes into finding destinations that are tailored to your needs and letting you know what you can see and do when you get there. Head over to Tripmasters.com and you can look at our custom-built itineraries for thousands of exciting vacation destinations in over 120 countries and territories throughout the world.
