HolidayGolightly Getaways - Group travel planning for girlfriend getaways

Blissed Out Baby Mama Portland Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:52:00 -0700

We know expectant baby mamas can’t “do” airplane travel too close to their delivery dates, but if you’re within driving distance of Portland, OR, this is the Getaway for you! Pack up your belly and your girlfriends!

Mamas-to-be deserve to be uber-pampered, and what better way to do this than with a weekend away from home? It’s not your typical Baby Shower, with the afternoon of oohing and ahhing at onesies and the cake-of-diapers. Instead, you’ll enjoy an entire weekend of relaxing, pampering and a little baby-prepping with the girlfriends. Shower yourselves with fun!

The Blissed Out Baby Mama Portland Getaway includes:
•   Hotel accommodation
•   Private Spa Party at luxurious wellness center for expectant mothers and their friends (based on 4 girls)
•   Homemade baby food class
•   Dessert Tasting Reservations
•   The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Portland

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab.)

Upon arrival at your hotel, we recommend lounging around in your fluffy hotel robes (we love robes!), and catching up with each other, until it's time to dress for dinner. Dinner reservations will be made for you and your girls, so all you'll need to do is show up! The following morning you'll be indulging in spa pedicures, in a private Moroccan-inspired room, while Mama-to-be experiences a perinatal massage. After lunch you’ll meet up for your homemade baby food class, where you’ll learn to prepare delicious, healthy treats for baby. After dinner, there will be dessert tasting, and lots of it! From Georgian Peanut Butter Mousse to Banana Crème Pie, prepare to indulge in any of the 130 desserts. We recommend using the remainder of the evening to sit around in stretchy pants. Check out the following morning, and head back home, reliving your fantastic weekend on the way.

Sedona Adventure Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:28:00 -0700

The word "Sedona" - just the word itself - seems to automatically calm and relax. Ahhh Sedona. This is a place that really has everything you'd want or need in a vacation.

Being outdoors in Sedona is a must. The endless skies and the still air practically whispers "serenity". Not to be confused with Mr. Costanza screaming "serenity now". George's dad could have used a trip to Sedona.

The Sedona Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between airport/hotel
Hot-air ballooning tour
Horseback riding
Reservations at restaurant of your choice
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Arizona

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

You will be picked up at the airport by towncar, and driven to your plush hotel. Dinner reservations will be made for you and your girls, so all you'll need to do is show up! The following day you'll wake up bright and early, for your sunrise hot-air balloon excursion - up, up and away! You're free for lunch, and then saddle up for an afternoon horseback tour through the red rock Arizona countryside. On your final day you'll be picked up and taken back to the airport.

Holiday Golightly does not "do" air. Booking flights is an impossible, thankless task, and we are all about being thanked. We recommend Kayak.com, and the destination airport code is SDX. You're welcome!

Portland Beauty Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:19:00 -0700

We all need to indulge ourselves now and again (and again and again), and indulging in a beauty weekend is almost over-indulgent. We said almost. We recommend Portland, Oregon for a beauty weekend for several reasons.

Portland is a city of 2 million people, but is still able to retain a sort of "small-town" feel to it, so there's not a lot of pressure to do anything specific. And the climate? It's practically like getting a facial just being there - the air is so full of moisture. Not to mention you'll be surrounded by natural beauty the entire time. It's a theme weekend, remember?

The Portland Beauty Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between airport/hotel
Catered-lunch pedicure
Beauty bar makeovers
Reservations at restaurant of your choice
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Portland

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab.)

You will be picked up at the airport by towncar, and driven to your plush downtown hotel. We recommend lounging around in your fluffy hotel robes (we love robes!), and catching up with each other, until it's time to dress for dinner. Dinner reservations will be made for you and your girls, so all you'll need to do is show up! The following day you'll be indulging in spa pedicures, with accompanying catered lunch. Afterwards, take your new toenails on a little shopping walk - remember, you're indulging - and maybe pick up a new outfit for your night out; then head to your beauty bar makeover to finish off the look. Out for another dinner, and possibly out on the town! On your final day you'll be picked up and taken back to the airport. Refreshed and beautiful.

Vail Ski Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:10:00 -0700

Take a deep breath. Then wait a few moments before you try to exert yourself. Unless you're living at elevation, Vail will take a few hours to adjust to. The picturesque ski town sits at 8120. But the adjusting is absolutely worth it, as Vail is an unbelievable ski destination. Acres of sweeping ski runs, crystal clear mountain air, a charming mountain village, and from what we've seen, all of the unbelievably attractive men who are absent from wherever you live.

The Vail Ski Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodations
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotel
Mountain lift-tickets

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

Tuscany & Umbria Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:18:00 -0700

Tuscany & Umbria are calling. Answer them. There is no better place in the world to experience wine, food and history. Or, if you're feeling lazy, just wine and food.

Just picture it - you and your girls, sipping glasses of wine in the middle of the Tuscan countryside, after a picnic lunch of meats and cheeses and bread.

The "big" towns are still small towns and you can meander from one charming spot to the next, navigating along winding roads, passing by scenic fields and olive groves, and each day can end with some rich gelato.

The Tuscany & Umbria Getaway includes:

Accommodation
Transportation in Italy
Walking tour
Cooking classes
Private guided tour of choice (antiques, shopping, art history)

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

Holiday Golightly does not "do" air. Booking flights is an impossible, thankless task, and we are all about being thanked. We recommend Kayak.com, and you can fly into several different Italian cities. We recommend Florence - the airport code is FLR. You're welcome!

Vegas - 7 Deadly Sins Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:44:00 -0700

The 7 Deadly Sins are also known as the Capital Vices, and where are you most likely to find an overdose of vices? Sin City. Since "whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", we'll set you up to indulge in any and/or all 7.

Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. We've got you covered.

Lust - Strap on those stilettos for your choice of burlesque show, Thunder From Down Under (all male revue), or Pole dance class (You may want to take the stilettos off for this. Or not?).

Gluttony - The diet starts when you get home. Vegas is host to some of the top restaurants in the world, and now is not the time to order a salad and water.

Greed - Sidle up to the blackjack table (okay, or the nickel slots), and summon your inner-Gordon Gecko. Greed is good!

Sloth - Loll about like the ancient Romans, and demand that someone peel you a grape! Steam, sauna, massage, facial; luxuriate while recovering/preparing for your night of debauchery.

Wrath - to be honest wrath belongs only in the gym. So workout your stress and anger at the hotel’s fitness center with a kickboxing class.

Envy - Incur it when slipping past the velvet ropes. Your names are definitely on the list.

Pride - Take a little pride in your appearance, and adorn yourself with new rags and baubles on your shopping tour.

The Vegas - 7 Deadly Sins Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between airport/hotel
Show tickets
Reservations at restaurant of your choice
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Vegas

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

Upon arrival at McCarran airport you will be picked up and taken to your fabulous hotel. We recommend lounging around in your fluffy hotel robes (we love robes!), and catching up with each other, until it's time to dress for dinner. Dinner reservations will be made for you and your girls, so all you'll need to do is show up! Apres-dinner plans are optional, but we are happy to make concierge reservations at one of the dance clubs for you. Play some of the nickel-slots on your way back to your room before you tuck in for the night. The next day can be a combination of lounging by the pool, shopping, and spa treatments, just make sure to take a power-nap before dinner. Dinner, then a phenomenal Vegas show (of your choice), then...who knows? On your final day you'll be picked up at the hotel and taken directly to confession. OOPS, sorry, you'll actually be taken back to the airport.

Walla Walla Winery Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:10:00 -0700

You should go if, for no other reason, than to be able to say "We're going on a Walla Walla winery weekend!" "Walla Walla" is just plain fun to say. It's also just plain fun.

Be forewarned, if you are not a fan of wineries, this is definitely not the destination for you. Walla Walla is a small, charming, sleepy town. Small, charming and sleepy is precisely what you want after a long day of wine-tasting. The number of wineries is dizzying, and you'll be dizzy enough from all the wine.

There are several truly fantastic restaurants, which will seem surprising, given the size of the town. But Walla Walla draws many young, ambitious chefs, who are aiming to create the next big "foodie" destination. Get there while the prices are still reasonable!

The Walla Walla winery weekend includes:

Local accommodation
Driver & van for wine tasting
Reservations at restaurant of your choice
Spa massage
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Walla Walla

And don't forget our Top 10 Things To Pack For a Winery Weekend.

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

This is a 3-night adventure, and Night #1 will have you all catching up, and settling into your accommodations. The following day is all about the wineries! You will be picked up in your air-conditioned van around 11am for a full afternoon of wine-tasting and touring. The next day is your scheduled recuperation from the wine-tasting, and includes a relaxing spa massage. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the charming town of Walla Walla, then cap off your leisurely adventure at one of the fantastic restaurants in town. The final morning you'll just pack up your things, with all of those new bottles of wine, and bid a fond farewell to Walla Walla Wine Country.

A good road trip to Walla Walla is recommended. You can drive from Seattle or Spokane, WA, or Portland, OR.

Holiday Golightly does not "do" air. Booking flights is an impossible, thankless task, and we are all about being thanked. If you would like to fly directly to Walla Walla, we recommend Kayak.com, and the airport code is ALW. You're welcome!

Park City Ski Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:49:00 -0700

Park City is neither a Park, nor a City: Discuss.

That joke never gets old!

You know what else never gets old? A fun ski weekend with your girlfriends.

The Park City Ski Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodations
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotel
Mountain lift-tickets

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

Martha's Vineyard Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:37:00 -0700

While a bit of a challenge to get to, Martha's Vineyard is relaxation personified once you arrive, and it is more than worth the trip. The terms "quaint" and "charming" were coined, specifically, for places like "The Vineyard", as the kids call it.

Photo: Bradford Pratt

You will need a little more time than just a weekend, unless you live close-by, but this is a great place to just kick back with your girlfriends and enjoy the ironic East Coast laid-back vibe.

The Martha's Vineyard Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodations
Reservations at restaurant of your choice
Sunset Sailing Tour
The Official Golightly Guide to Martha's Vineyard

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

Holiday Golightly does not "do" air. Booking flights is an impossible, thankless task, and we are all about being thanked. We recommend Kayak.com, and MVY is the airport on the Vineyard – which is the best way to get there (but can be expensive).

You can also fly to BOS and take a bus to a ferry in Woods Hole. There are also ferries nearby in Falmouth or Hyannis, MA.

Take a looksee here: FERRY INFORMATION

Boulder Active Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:10:00 -0700

As much as we love to shop and lunch and shop and drink and shop...we also love a great, outdoorsy, active weekend. You know, the kind where you're up at the crack of dawn (or closer to 8:30am), and out the door, on a mountain bike, soaking up the sunshine and mountain scenery. Then, after an exhilarating/exhausting day of exercise, you can collapse into the hot tub and have someone serve you an ice cold beer?

That's what the Boulder Getaway is about.

Photo: Paul Rushton

The Boulder Active Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotel
Mountain-bike tour
Yoga class
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Boulder

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

You will be picked up at the airport and driven to Boulder and your hotel. Dinner reservations will be made for you and your girls, so all you'll need to do is show up! The following day you'll wake up bright and early, for your morning mountain bike tour! You're free for lunch, and then take the afternoon to wander in and out of the shops on Pearl Street. The next day you deserve to sleep in, so your yoga class will be in the afternoon. Enjoy your last night, totally relaxed, at a restaurant or wine bar of your choosing. On your final day you'll be picked up and taken back to the airport.

San Francisco Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:07:00 -0700

Oh how we adore the City by the Bay! Those hilly streets, those clanky cable cars, and Ghiradelli's chocolates. San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and offers almost TOO much to do. World class cuisine, avant garde museums, funky neighborhoods, and get to Alcatraz while you still can (they're considering doing away with the historical landmark).

Photo: nps.gov

The San Francisco Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodations
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotel
Reservations to restaurant of your choice

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

Scottsdale Shopping Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:10:00 -0700

Recession-schmecession. See how easy that is to say? You've been carefully saving those pennies, and isn't it time to let loose - at least a teensy bit - and contribute to the economy? Or just contribute to your shoe collection? And in a sunny, warm place, where you can take frequent shopping breaks by sitting at an outdoor cafe and refueling. With wine.

Photo: Oldterritorialshop.com

The Scottsdale Shopping Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between hotel and airport
Reservations to restaurant of your choice
Spa massage
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Scottsdale

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

O'ahu North Shore Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:55:00 -0700

Sand and warm breezes and surf and more warm breezes, and sunshine and surfers and...sorry, what were you saying?

You and your girlfriends need a gorgeous, tropical destination with the distinct possibility of running into the cast of "Lost", or just getting lost yourselves, in a Mai Tai or Lava Flow? The North Shore of O'ahu, Hawaii should be at the top of your list.

Photo: New York Times

North Shore O'ahu Getaway includes:

Hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotel
Surf lessons
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to O'ahu

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

Austin Spa Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:43:00 -0700

Austin, Texas is located almost smack-dab in the middle of Texas, and is surrounded by beautiful hill country. Even the phrase "hill country" is relaxing, so you're one step closer to total and utter relaxation, which is what you'll find in our spa weekend.

Photo: Dallas News

Austin Spa Getaway includes:

Spa/hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between hotel/airport
Meals
Spa/class allowance (details depend on particular spa package)
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Austin

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

You will be picked up at the airport by towncar, and driven to your accommodations. Put your hiking shoes on and work up an appetite on the spa trails. Dinner (and all other meals) will be a delight of fresh, wholesome ingredients. The following day you'll wake up bright and early (but not too early) for a good morning hike/yoga/water aerobics class. Throughout your stay, you'll have activity options available, and free time to spend in the sauna/hot tub/steam room, at your discretion. On your final day you'll be picked up and taken back to the airport.

Austin Music Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:19:00 -0700

You know how you've heard the cool kids ramble on about South by Southwest (SXSW), or Austin City Limits? Well, lucky for you, the Austin music scene is "on" pretty much all the time. If you want to reconnect with your inner college kid - you know, the one who knew all the bands, and used to dance in front of the stage without her top on...oh wait, nevermind. That's not what we meant. What we mean is, Austin has much to offer in the way of live music, and you might just want to grab a longneck beer and dance in front of the stage. Preferably with your top on.

Photo: Austin Music Magazine

The Austin Music Getaway includes:

Downtown hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotel
Reservations at restaurant of your choice
Tickets to live concert/show*
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Austin

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

You will be picked up at the airport, and driven to your downtown hotel. Dinner reservations will be made for you and your girls, so all you'll need to do is show up! The following day you're free to explore downtown Austin, and the South Congress area. We recommend a little cowboy boot shopping. Head out to a slightly earlier dinner, because afterwards you've got some live music to enjoy. The following morning you'll want a mellow, rejuvenating brunch and can consider a few optional afternoon activities (innertube float trip anyone?). Enjoy your last evening under the big Texas skies with some alfresco dining. On your final day you'll be picked up and taken back to the airport.**

*Where available.

**This itinerary will be slightly more packed with music during various festival dates. This is the standard, all-year itinerary.

Chicago Cuisine Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:34:00 -0700

Have you been firmly sticking to your diet/workout plan, and feel like you really deserve a good splurgey weekend?

If you answered "not really", you should probably ask yourself again.

Chicago is one of the most riotously fun cities in the world, and if you're up for a caloric splurge, you shouldn't just waste it on an ordinary pint of Ben and Jerry's and local Pizza Hut (no offense to either of these companies; they are great for at-home splurging). Turn the splurge into a fun trip with your girls. Everyone gains weight on vacation anyway.

(Ed. note: see "Spa getaway" to lose the weight from this trip).

Gooey, cheesy, deep dish pizza and Vienna beef Chicago dogs are really only two of the many many MANY mouthwatering options in the Windy City, and we will ensure you sample a bit of everything the city has to offer.

The Chicago Cuisine weekend includes:

Downtown hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between airport/hotel
Chicago food tour
Cooking class
Private party at chocolate lounge
Reservations at restaurant of your choice
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Chicago

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

You will be picked up from the airport and taken to your chic downtown hotel. We recommend lounging around in your fluffy hotel robes (we love robes!), and catching up with each other, until it's time to dress for dinner. Dinner reservations will be made for you and your girls, so all you'll need to do is show up! The following day you'll want to wear flat shoes, and prep your taste buds for your walking food tour. In the afternoon, put on your aprons and prepare to be wowed as you sharpen your culinary skills in cooking class! That evening you may be too full to eat, so dinner plans are flexible. The next day is reserved for browsy-shopping in Lincoln Park, and your private party at the chocolate lounge. Following the chocolate lounge party, you will pack up your new purchases and your suitcases, and will then be picked up and transported back to the airport.

Seattle Cuisine Getaway

Holiday GoLightly — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:21:00 -0800

Seattle's weather is typically rainy, which can hinder most outdoor activities. Thankfully, there's eating, which is primarily an indoor activity! And what Seattle lacks in Vitamin D, it makes up for in Vitamin Great-Food. If that is not an actual vitamin, it really should be.

Seriously, when George Costanza proclaimed "Seattle is the pesto of cities", the food connotation was no accident. Seattle is a woefully underrated food-destination, which means you can be all "cutting edge" by scouting it out first.

Photo: Steelhead Diner

The Seattle Cuisine Weekend includes:

Downtown hotel accommodation
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotel
Seattle food tour tickets
Cooking class
Reservations at restaurant of your choice
The Official Holiday Golightly Guide to Seattle

(For all other Optional activities on this Girlfriend Getaway, please click the "Activities" tab. Optional activities may be substituted for "included" activities - prices may vary.)

You will be picked up at the airport by towncar, and driven to your plush downtown hotel. We recommend lounging around in your fluffy hotel robes (we love robes!), and catching up with each other, until it's time to dress for dinner. Dinner reservations will be made for you and your girls, so all you'll need to do is show up! The following day you'll want to wear flat shoes, and prep your taste buds for your walking food tour of Pike Place Market. After the tour, you can continue wandering, unassisted, through the trendy Belltown neighborhood for some light shopping. In the afternoon, put on your aprons and prepare to be wowed as you sharpen your culinary skills in cooking class! On your final day you'll be picked up and taken back to the airport.