I’ve taken a trip with my girlfriends ever since I can remember.  It started in high school.  We’d save money from our summer jobs for a weekend in Maui. And now that I’m married, I’m not about the change that part of me.

The “no boys allowed” trend is booming and it’s not just the younger crowd heading to Vegas for a drunken weekend.  Women of all walks of life are deciding to indulge in a little “me time” and many of the vacations are themed: shopping trips, spa weekend, surf safari, yoga retreats, mother-daughter, ranch adventures, or cultural sightseeing.  Another hot trend is learning something new while traveling, such as a cooking class in Italy or a language immersion course in France.

More and more resorts are now offering special getaway packages for girlfriend escapes.  My only complaint is that most of the packages are spa related or revolve around sipping pink drinks by a pool. Attention hoteliers: women like to do more than sit around getting pedicures!  Our closest thing to a spa retreat was when we ended up working, (more like slaving away) in a Turkish hammam in Istanbul, but that’s another story.

Research shows that girlfriend getaways are rapidly growing in popularity, in part because American women feel a need to escape their personal and professional responsibilities.  Findings are that girlfriend getaways “ease stress and have become an important part of the lives of American women.” 

What about the husband?  It’s also important to travel with your spouse or partner as well.  We make it a point to getaway together, even if its nearby, at least a few times a year.  We even did a big couples trip with Mihae that was one of the best experiences of our lives. There are people  (usually older folks) that are shocked that a married woman would take a holiday without her husband.  I find this sad.  My husband understands that this very positive thing for me and he respects the fact that I have my own interests.   In fact, we find great appreciation for one another with a little time apart.  He enjoyed a “boys” trip earlier this year and went on a surfing safari to Indonesia with his friends.  I doubt it will be his last.

Women today are so busy taking care of their their careers and families that enjoying themselves and nurturing their friendship takes a backseat.  No matter what the destination, make time to reconnect with your friends.