Is there anything better than girlfriends?

One of my favorite places to get together for a weekend with girlfriends is Orlando, Florida.  The weather is great year round and there is so much to do on a girls’ getaway without having to go too far.

Where To Stay For a Girls’ Getaway in Orlando, Florida:

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando is my first choice for a weekend getaway with the girls.  It’s obviously not cheap, but if you’re splitting the cost with three or four other women, it’s a great opportunity to spoil yourself.  Nobody does luxury like The Ritz and their spa is the perfect place to spend a day pampering yourself with some of your closest friends.

Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort is next on my list of places to stay for a girls weekend in Orlando.  The rooms are beautiful, the staff is amazing, and the location is excellent for access to other things to do in the area.  The best part about staying at a Universal hotel is that you can get to and from Universal’s City Walk at night by water taxi.  It’s a safe way for a group of girls to travel back and forth after a night of drinks and dancing.

Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive is the least expensive hotel on the list.  It still provides a great central location with easy access to shopping and entertainment.  And with rooms at about $98 a night, you’ll have more money to spend shopping!

Speaking of shopping…

Things To Do On A Girls’ Getaway in Orlando:

Outlet Shopping in Orlando

Shopping, of course! What, too cliche?  Whatever.  Girls love to shop together.  And the shopping in Orlando is fantastic!  Oggle things you’d never dream of buying - or splurge on a pair of real Jimmy Choos - at the Mall at Millenia.  Do your power shopping and bargain hunting at one of the two area outlet malls.  Yes, two.  Did I not tell you the shopping in Orlando was wonderful?

Check out the Orlando Shopping Guide for the inside scoop (and details on which outlet mall is better).

Go to the spa! Is there anything more girly than a trip to the spa with your girlfriends?  I can feel my estrogen levels rising at the mere thought.  The best spa in town is at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando.  And the good news is, you don’t have to be a guest to partake in the spa services.

Head to the beach!

I am constantly hounding my girlfriends to go to the spa at The Ritz with me.  My favorite part is that you can spend the entire day there with the purchase of any service.  So once you’ve enjoyed your manicure (or pedicure, or deep tissue massage, or massage where people walk on your back!!), you can spend the rest of the day lounging in the zen like atmosphere.  Soak in the jacuzzi or go for a swim in the pool.  Cleanse your pours in the steam room and then rehydrate with orange water.  The fluffy robes alone will make you feel like a princess.  This place is my own personal nirvana, I swear.

Go to the beach! Sure, your hotel will have a pool.  And you can always head on over to one of the local water parks.  But when I’m hanging out with my girlfriends, I’d much rather lay out on a white sandy beach and watch the ocean.  The closest beach to the Orlando area is Cocoa Beach.  It’s about 40 minutes east of Orlando, but worth the drive if you’re a sun worshiper.

Of course, shopping and the spa and the beach are great things to do during the day.  But when the sun goes down…

Girls Night Out Nightlife in Orlando:

Universal Studio’s City Walk is my favorite place for nightlife in Orlando.  It truly has something for everyone.  Upscale or casual dining, dance clubs, and dueling piano bars can all be found in Universal Studio’s “entertainment complex”.  You absolutely have to stop into The Rising Star, a karaoke bar that features a live band and back up dancers.  The people watching is fantastic and you’re sure to have a great time.

Universal City Walk - Orlando Nightlife for Girls' Getaway

I also think City Walk offers a safe environment for women out on the town.  The entire area is well lit and crawling with Universal staff and security guards.

Downtown Disney is Walt Disney World’s answer to City Walk.  I don’t think it offers quite the same nightlife experience as City Walk and Disney recently closed most of the bars in the Pleasure Island section.  However, Ragland Road - a very popular irish pub with waitresses who river dance on your table - is still open.

The Parliament House is an all gay resort - with a wickedly fun gay bar scene.  Of course, you don’t have to be gay to hit the clubs.  Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, there’s a female impersonation show in The Footlight Theater.  You will laugh until it hurts, and laugh some more.  After the show you can dance and drink and not get hit on if you’re a straight married woman.  I guarantee you will have the most fun you’ve ever had with your girlfriends here.

RuPaul at Parliament House in Orlando

Church Street is the bar district in downtown Orlando.  To be an honest, I’m too old and fat to be hanging out on Church Street, except for the occasional girls’ night out.  Women are younger and thinner in packs.  The biggest concern here is going to be safety.  Try to catch a cab back to your hotel about 30 minutes before closing time if possible.  It’s not top on my list of recommendations, but it’s an option.

See why I love a girls’ getaway in Orlando?  There’s so much to do and a million ways to bond with the girlfriends you don’t see often enough.  Relax, gossip, be safe, and have fun!

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Everyone needs a girls’ night every now and then, and Dallas has lots to offer women of all types.

A women-owned business that considers itself one of North Texas’ premier girlfriend getaway destinations is MD Resort Bed & Breakfast. To help keep costs down, rooms are available from $109 - $299 a night and it’s BYOB and snacks. Bring on the wine coolers and peanut M&M’s. There is complimentary tea, hot chocolate and popcorn, and they offer a full home cooked breakfast and activities such as playing games, jokes, poems, movies, lounging at the pool or just hanging out, and massage and spa services. In addition, occasionally they host scrap booking retreats and murder mystery weekends.

Or you could escape to The Westin Galleria with your girlfriends for a pajama party in luxurious Heavenly beds and pampered in-room spa treatments. This package includes a “superfoods” breakfast for two, $25 spa credit per person, two robes and a 4pm late checkout. You can call 1-866-716-8137 and ask for rate plan WIGRLPKG. This is one of many local girls’ getaway lodging options.

The Spa at The Crescent, on the lower level of Rosewood Crescent Hotel, is a great getaway for women who want to refresh their mind, rejuvenate their body and enrich their spirit. They offer over 77 health and beauty treatments to make you happy in your own skin. Some of these treatments include purifying algae, rare mud and essential oils and herbs for your body. What better way to relax with friends.

Laughing is a fun, happy way to bring people together, so stop by Ad-Libs, an Improv comedy troupe that performs three nights a week in downtown Dallas. The subject matter comes directly from the audience, creating interactive entertainment with a loyal following. It’s fresh, energized and a great way to create wonderful memories for the years to come.

Want a little culture with your girls’ getaway? Dallas Arts District is a 19-block area near downtown and the largest urban cultural district in the country. Explore the arts with your friends by viewing art, enjoying music, watching some theater and dance or just site seeing.

100 acres of land with over two thousand showrooms featuring more than 35,000 product lines makes up the Dallas Market Center. It’s the ultimate spot for buyers searching for gifts, home accessories, men’s, women’s and children’s clothing as well as containing restaurants and a lounge with panoramic views of downtown. Shopping and bonding go hand-in-hand.

Finally, if sports are more your thing, the American Airlines Center is home to Dallas Stars hockey (NHL), Dallas Mavericks basketball (NBA), Dallas Desperados Arena football, concerts and other events.

Thanks to Saquan for the martini picture!

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Sometimes it’s just more fun to kick it without the boys.  These Southern California attractions are great places to get away to with all the girls for some shopping, giggling and fun-having.  You can meet up with the guys for dinner.

1. Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure – Downtown and DCA cater to a more grown-up feel, complete with alcohol and adult-only restaurants.  While your guy might insist on spending a good part of the day in FastPass for Magic Mountain in Disneyland, you and the girls can enjoy your Disney day with some name-brand shopping and wine tasting.
2. San Diego Wild Animal Park – It’s a slower type of experience, but pretending to be on Safari with your best girlfriends will make going home to your own warm bed that much more satisfying.
3. Balboa Park in San Diego – Museums, shopping, cafes, gourmet restaurants… Balboa Park is a great place to spend an afternoon with the girls getting cultured.  Plus, its in the heart of San Diego so you can get in some beach laying and shopping in the morning!
4. Universal Studios City Walk – No need to spend the day waiting with your guys to ride the Simpson’s ride!  Instead, save the entrance fee and enjoy the hip atmosphere and great shopping of City Walk with the girls.  From dining to clubs to Coach, City Walk has all a girl could want.
5. Hollywood Boulevard and Groman’s Chinese Theater – Face it, the guys just don’t understand why you want to find Shirley Temple’s star or why you swoon when your feet fit in Marilyn Monroe’s footprints.  It’s a girl thing.  Take in a chick flick while you’re there and enjoy the old-Hollywood feel of the Mann theater.

Here’s to the Girls!

Thanks to nanotron for the picture of Universal City Walk!

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From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Just because our country’s in a recession doesn’t mean you can’t afford to go on that Girls’ Getaway you’ve been planning. You’ll just have to make some, uh, adjustments. For example, maybe you used to splurge on a four-day cruise on a private yacht where you’d sip Cristal out of a Manolo, but now you might just have to settle for a four-minute putt on the Balboa Island Ferry to pick up a Coke.

Here are some other ideas for you to stretch those pennies:

Before: Napa Valley Wine Train Tour, where an elegant rail car takes you through the scenic majestic wine region while enjoying gourmet meals and expensive vintages.

Now: Los Angeles wine tour, where you and your gal pals pile into your van and enjoy a five-hour tour of all the BevMo’s within a forty-mile radius. Crash at a local hotel, where you’ve only paid for two guests and then snuck-in your other three friends. Proceed to ‘sample’ all the varietals you’ve purchased straight out of the bottle. Splurge and split that $10 can of Pringles from the minibar.

…………………

Before: “Sex And The City” weekend in New York City. Make like Carrie and her friends and take the city by storm: Designer boutiques during the day, fine dining and dancing at night. Stay at the posh Carlyle Hotel, featured in the movie.

Now: “Knocked Up” weekend in L.A. Drive by the Wilshire Boulevard offices of E! Entertainment, which is where Katherine Heigl’s character worked. Then head to the dive-y Del’s Saloon in Santa Monica to enjoy a couple of brewskies and to see where scenes from the movie were filmed. Then head on over to your brother’s friend’s house to play video games and pass the bong around, just like Seth Rogan and his pals did in the movie! Remember to bring along a condom so life doesn’t end up imitating art.

…………………

Before: A spa getaway at La Quinta where you and your BFFs would enjoy pampering massages, spa cuisine and luxurious rooms.

Now: Head to the beach, where you and your posse can frolic in the healing waters of the Pacific. (Be on the lookout for signs of raw-sewage spills.) Take a barefoot walk in the sand for an instant pedicure! Save on meals by packing your own sandwiches and share a twelve-pack of water from Trader Joes.

…………………

Before: Three-day shopping extravaganza to Fashion Island in Newport Beach. At night, rest your Bloomingdales-weary body at a nearby swanky hotel.

Now: Split the gas three ways for a trip out to the Outlets in Cabazon. Go ahead and have lunch in the food court, but remember to bring along the other half of that six-pack from Trader Joes so you don’t have to part with $2 for water. Sorry, you can’t afford a hotel, but if one of your girlfriends agrees to host a sleepover you can stay up all night admiring each other’s new purses.

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Ok, so you’re all a little bit broke, otherwise you’d hop a plane to Las Vegas or New York and relive Sex in the City with your three best friends.  That doesn’t mean you can’t have loads of girlie time and thrill in the fun of hanging out with your posse.  Here’s the secret – go to a local hostel!

Remember sleepovers when you were little?  Remember how you’d stay up all night, sleep in late, make breakfast and giggle all the time?  Remember how much fun they were?  Local hostels are GREAT places for grownup sleepovers.

Yes, you used hostels when you backpacked EuropWritee after you graduated college.  Perhaps you even used them when you studied abroad in South America during grad school.  You may have thought you out-grew such bohemian places once you got a steady paycheck and learned to enjoy the privacy of a hotel room.  It’s time to take another look at them.

Hostels have seen a revitalization recently, including more and more springing up right here in the United States as tourism to the US becomes more popular with foreign students.  So, choose a nice place, such as Huntington Beach, where there are good restaurants, things to do, and miles of beach and book one of the local hostels for you and your friends.  The benefit of hostelling with the girls is that its not only cheap, but it is also just fine to squabble over bunk beds, cook your own breakfast and walk around the entire establishment in your PJs.  It’s a chance to return to your younger days and enjoy giggling with your best buds.

* Thanks to jetzenpolis for the great photo of a Chicago hostel!

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From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Are the triple-digit temperatures getting you down? How about immersing yourself in a vat of bubbling hot water? Believe it or not, it can be a refreshing experience, as long as you’re in a Jacuzzi at a nice spa. In other words, don’t try this at home.

Here are some spa retreats that you might want to check out for a cooling, calming break from the summer heat. Don’t forget to hydrate!

A popular destination for spa-loving Angelenos, Burke Williams is a chain so there’s probably one close to where you are. Definitely in the upscale realm of spas, they offer a standard menu of massages, facial treatments and spa facilities in lush surroundings. I’ve been to the Pasadena and Santa Monica locations, and while I got a decent massage at both, I found the experience unremarkable considering the steep price: $125 for only a 50 minute session, much more than what I’ve paid at other spas. Perhaps you’re lucky enough to have a rich friend (or husband) who will gift you with the $790 all day spa experience, titled ‘A Day Beyond’ (apparently they left out the words, ‘My Budget.’)

For a more down-to-earth experience why not try the Beverly Hot Springs, located in Koreatown. This no-frills spa boasts L.A.’s only pure-alkaline mineral water spa, and also a celebrity clientele. I tried to impress at a party once by telling them how I had seen Brooke Shields in the lobby, but was quickly trumped by someone else who had seen Madonna, naked, in the boiling-hot spring pool. Their prices are reasonable - $30 will get you the use of the hot springs and for another $60 you can have my favorite, the Body Care treatment, which consists of a 50-minute massage and skin conditioning session using milk, oil and cucumber. Besides feeling great, you come out of there smelling like a nice salad.

If you’re really feeling crazy on one of those sweltering days, why not drive for two hours to the blazing hot desert to Two Bunch Palms. Located on what was once Al Capone’s hideout in Desert Hot Springs, this resort is also a celeb favorite – Meryl Streep and Bette Midler have been known to escape to this ultra luxurious resort. Known for theier mineral springs, they also offer a full menu of spa and pampering services ranging from a standard Swedish massage (a fairly reasonable $115 for 60 minutes) to something called Watsu, which has you “cradled in the water in the amrs of your therapist” while your receive a shiatsu treatment. Sounds a little freaky to me, but whatever floats your boat, er, body.

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If you have been feeling the urge to get out with your girlfriends and leave the husband/boyfriend/cat at home…then I have a great suggestion for you!

Never has there been a better “ladies’ night” excuse than the release of Sex and the City–The Movie. Women across the world are giddy with delight that it is finally here–four years after the last episode aired!

If you live in the Bay Area, then I have the perfect location for this most exciting girls getaway. Gather your gaggle of gals and buy tickets to see the movie in San Francisco at Sundance Kabuki Theater on Fillmore. This is an excellent movie theater in a beautiful building. But, more importantly, there is one theater with balcony seating next to a full service bar. So, you can sit back in their large comfy seats and drink a Cosmo while you watch Carrie and the girls in New York City.

I went this week and it was a blast! Go out to dinner first and dress up….channel your inner Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda fashion sense. Get to the movie early though! On a Tuesday night the line at the bar was out the door, filled with enthusiastic women–no men to be seen.

I won’t spoil the movie for anyone–but, it is definitely worth seeing. So, organize your group of friends and go see it in style!

Thanks to Shereen for the great pic!

Who was your favorite character on SATC?

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Introduction
TangoDiva.com founder, Teresa Williamson, is frequently asked to speak at conferences around the world. She let me know of her next speaking engagement at ClubMed in Cancun from June 21 to 28, 2008 and it sounds like a great Oprah-like girls getaway. It is about transforming your life, having fun and meeting some great people. Once the event starts, she will posting about it on our blog. Here is her description of the event:

“It can take some time creating the life you want. And usually, it takes years to get on the right path, but I am involved in a conference at Club Med where the whole point is to start aligning your life with your goals and start living abundantly. They have invited a group of world-class speakers to help you transform your life. During this weeklong escapade, you will spend quality time with these speakers and participate in casual activities with this cadre of life-changing mavens. This format gives you an opportunity to interact with the speakers and guests throughout the week on a personal level. Swim, stroll, and relax with leaders in business and personal growth. see more »

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