Why Girls Weekends Matter (and Why They're Hard to Plan)
A girls weekend getaway is one of the most restorative things you can do for yourself and your friendships. The problem is that adult women are some of the busiest people alive — between careers, families, relationships, and everything else competing for time, finding a weekend that works for a group feels like solving a Rubik's cube.
The groups that actually pull it off don't wait for the "perfect" time. They lock a date, make it happen, and figure out the details as they go. Here's the full playbook.
Step 1 — Group and Destination
The Ideal Group Size
4-8 women is the sweet spot. Small enough to eat at one table and make group decisions, large enough for energy and variety. Larger groups (10+) work but require more structure — subgroups will form naturally, which is fine as long as everyone's included for the anchor activities.
Choosing a Destination
Start with these questions: How far will people travel? What's the group budget? What does the group want — relaxation, adventure, nightlife, or a mix?
Present 2-3 options with estimated per-person costs and let the group vote. GetTogether makes this easy — share the options, everyone votes, and the winning destination becomes the plan.
Step 2 — Lodging and Budget
Where to Stay
- Airbnb/VRBO house: The best option for most girls weekends. A shared house with a big kitchen and living room creates the communal experience. Split 6-8 ways, it's often cheaper than hotel rooms.
- Boutique hotel: More privacy, zero cleanup, often includes a pool or spa. Great for groups that want pampering.
- Resort or spa retreat: The premium option. Built-in activities, dining, and relaxation.
Budget Alignment
Be transparent about total cost early. "This trip will be roughly $200-300 per person for lodging and shared food, plus whatever you spend individually." This lets anyone opt out without pressure. For splitting costs fairly, agree on the method before any money changes hands.
Step 3 — The Itinerary
The Perfect Balance
The best girls weekends have structure but aren't scheduled to the minute. Plan 1-2 group activities per day and leave the rest as free time.
Activity Ideas
- Wine tasting: A classic for a reason. See our wine tasting trip guide for details.
- Spa day: Book group appointments for massages, facials, or a full spa package.
- Cooking class: Learn to make pasta, sushi, or cocktails together. Hands-on and social.
- Beach or pool day: Sometimes the best plan is no plan at all.
- Night out: Dinner at a great restaurant followed by cocktails or dancing.
Group Dinner as the Anchor
Plan at least one big group dinner. This is often the highlight of the trip — everyone dressed up, great food, wine flowing, conversation for hours. Book the reservation well in advance for large groups.
Step 4 — Packing and Pre-Trip Prep
- Shared supplies list: Coordinate who brings the speaker, games, wine openers, etc.
- Theme or dress code: Even a loose theme (matching pajamas, color-coordinated going-out outfits) adds fun photos and shared energy.
- Playlist: Create a collaborative playlist before the trip where everyone adds their songs.
- Pre-trip chat: A separate group chat (or GetTogether event page) for trip planning keeps the logistics organized without cluttering the main group chat.
Girls Weekend Destination Ideas
Wine country: Napa, Sonoma, Finger Lakes, Willamette Valley
Beach towns: Charleston, Savannah, San Diego, Key West
City escapes: Nashville, Austin, New Orleans, Miami
Mountain retreats: Asheville, Sedona, Lake Tahoe, Blue Ridge
Spa destinations: Scottsdale, Palm Springs, Hudson Valley
The destination matters less than the people. Pick somewhere that fits the group's vibe and budget, lock the date early, and go. You'll come back refreshed and closer than before.
The Planning Conversation That Makes Everything Easier
Before any bookings happen, have one honest conversation with the group. This prevents 90% of girls weekend conflicts.
What to Cover
- "What's our vibe?" — Relaxation (beach, spa) vs. adventure (hiking, exploring) vs. nightlife (city, bars, dancing). Getting alignment here prevents the situation where half the group expected lounging and the other half packed hiking boots.
- "What's our budget range?" — Not everyone can or wants to spend the same amount. Be explicit: "I'm thinking $200-300 per person for the weekend, not including personal meals. Does that work for everyone?"
- "What do we want to avoid?" — This is the question nobody asks but should. Maybe someone doesn't drink, someone hates hiking, or someone has a specific schedule constraint. Knowing the boundaries upfront is more valuable than knowing the preferences.
Handling Different Expectations
In any group of 6-8 women, there will be different expectations. Some want every moment planned; others want to wing it. Some want to stay up until 2 AM; others are in bed by 10. These differences are fine — the conflict comes when expectations aren't communicated.
The planning leader should explicitly communicate the structure level: "I've planned group brunch and the wine tasting, but afternoons are free. Some of us might want the spa, others might want to shop. We'll meet back at the house for dinner at 7." This gives structure to those who need it and freedom to those who want it.
Setting Up the Perfect Rental House
The rental house is the centerpiece of most girls weekends. How you set it up on arrival sets the tone for the entire trip.
Room Assignment Strategy
Handle room assignments before arrival — not at the door when everyone's tired from traveling. Options:
- First come, first served: Whoever books first gets first room choice. Simple but can feel unfair.
- Price tiers: Better rooms cost more. The master suite pays a premium; the pull-out couch pays less. Transparent and fair.
- Random draw: Names in a hat. Everyone accepts the luck of the draw. Most egalitarian.
Couples who are sharing rooms should still be counted as two people for shared expenses. Room assignment and shared expenses are separate considerations.
Arrival Night Setup
Have the first person to arrive (or assign someone to arrive early) set up a few touches:
- Stock the fridge with drinks and basic snacks
- Put out a welcome setup on the counter: a cute sign, the weekend itinerary printed out, any matching accessories (pajamas, tumblers, etc.)
- Set up a Bluetooth speaker and start the playlist
- Make sure everyone knows the WiFi password (post it somewhere visible)
These small touches transform a rental house into a girls weekend headquarters and generate immediate excitement when everyone arrives.
Activity Planning in Detail
The Perfect Spa Day
If the group wants a spa day, book it well in advance — especially for groups of 6+. Most spas need 2-3 weeks notice for large group bookings. When booking, ask about:
- Group packages or discounts (many spas offer 10-15% off for groups)
- Whether they can accommodate everyone at the same time or if the group needs to be split into time slots
- Length of services — a 50-minute massage works better for time management than a 90-minute one when you have 8 people to cycle through
- Lounge access — some spas include access to pools, saunas, and relaxation areas, which extends the experience beyond just the treatment
The Shopping Excursion
A shopping trip works well as a free-form afternoon activity. Identify a shopping district or outlet mall near your destination and let everyone explore at their own pace. Set a meeting time and place ("we'll meet at the coffee shop at the end of the strip at 3 PM") and let small groups form naturally. Shopping is one of those activities where splitting up actually works better than staying together — different people have different pace and interest levels.
The Cooking-Together Dinner
One of the most underrated girls weekend activities is cooking a big meal together. Assign courses (someone makes the salad, someone does the pasta, someone handles dessert), put on music, open the wine, and spend two hours cooking and talking in the kitchen. The meal itself becomes the evening entertainment, and the communal creation of it bonds the group in a way that eating at a restaurant doesn't.
Documenting the Weekend
A girls weekend generates some of the best photos and memories you'll have all year. Here's how to capture them without turning into a full-time photographer.
The Photo Moment Strategy
Instead of trying to photograph everything, designate 3-4 specific "photo moments" throughout the weekend:
- Arrival photo (everyone together when the whole group is assembled)
- Activity highlight (group photo at the winery, on the hike, at the spa)
- Dressed-up dinner photo (before the big night out)
- Farewell photo (Sunday morning before leaving)
This captures the highlights without anyone spending the whole weekend looking at the world through their phone screen.
The Shared Album
Create a shared Google Photos or iCloud album before the trip and share the link with everyone. Set it to automatically upload tagged photos so the collection builds in real time. By the end of the weekend, you'll have a complete photo album from every angle and every person's perspective without anyone having to manually collect and distribute photos.