The Great Girlfriends
by Taryn Wite
Studies show that getting together often with girlfriends is good for your health, and that also includes taking a trip! So why not get your prescribed dose of sisterhood in any of these three amazing destinations so that you can reconnect and refresh in 2020?
Bali
You may have seen the jaw-droppingly beautiful photos of Bali online. From gorgeous Hindu temples to stunning rice paddies, Bali is a magical destination with an endless amount of exciting activities for a girlfriends getaway. Visit Ubud, the island’s cultural center, where you and your girlfriends can explore numerous temples and water villages; swing from the trees; trek through rice terraces; and experience a relaxing spa day complete with invigorating Balinese massages.
There are also countless places to ‘chill’ in Bali. Watch the sunset at the Rock Bar at Ayana Resort in Jimbaran, and check out Omnia Day Club in Uluwatu, where the scene is sophisticated and the views are incredible. If you come in April 2020, the Ubud Food Festival is well worth a visit.
Where to stay: Fabulous group villas, like the Manipura in Ubud, can be reserved through Airbnb. Other amazing options are upscale hotels like the Ayana Resort, Samabe Bali, and the W Bali.
Accommodations in Bali are what dreams are made of. With stunning architecture, private pools, and services like floating breakfasts and flower baths, sleeping in is a must!
Marrakech
Marrakech is a dazzling city where you and friends can receive the royal treatment. With exquisite, luxury accommodations and an amazing spa heritage, this cosmopolitan city offers the ultimate pampering for the mind, body, and mouth.
Get ready from some unbelievable Moroccan cuisine, often cooked in a tagine. Staple foods such as dates, saffron, harissa, mint tea, oranges sprinkled with cinnamon, couscous, and chicken with preserved lemon and olives, showcase the diversity of aromas, textures, and flavors of Morocco.
Where to stay: Morocco has a number of magnificent riads, which are large traditional houses with typically fewer than ten rooms arranged around a courtyard. You can rent an entire riad, such as Ryad Dyor or Le Farnatchi for you and your gal pals.
For a relaxing retreat from Marrakech, stay at Jnane Tamsna, a beautiful nine-acre landscaped oasis nestled within palm groves and organic orchard gardens carefully designed by owner, Meryanne Loum-Martin.
Savannah, GA
Savannah is perhaps the girlfriends getaway mecca of the Southern US. Take a cooking class with your BFFs where you can gain skills in Lowcountry cooking and traditional Southern cuisine. Chef Joe Randall offers hands-on classes where you can “put a little South in your mouth.” And no girlfriend getaway would be complete without a little shopping, so pay a visit to City Market, Whitaker Street, and Shop Scad, which features goods designed at Savannah College of Art and Design.
Where to stay: Stay in one of the city’s historic mansions turned bed and breakfast, such as Galloway House Inn or Hamilton-Turner Inn.
Where have you and your great girlfriends taken a getaway?
