We staged the headquarters of our girls trip at Naturalis Bio Resort & Spa, a small luxury hotel located in Salento, about a 25-minute drive from Lecce. It has a warm, earthy, and nurturing vibe, ideal for wellness girls getaway. Our room had a spectacular, extra-large sunken hot tub with a window overhead to see the sky above—perfect to pair with a bottle of wine and added bubbles. The hospitality and service were warm and welcoming, and the food was artful, fresh, and delicious. A trip to the spa is a must. I recommend a fun day trip into the port city of Otranto for boutique shopping, fresh seafood dining, and taking in the aquamarine waters of the Adriatic. —Jessica Avery, travel specialist for Condé Nast Traveler
The pool area at The Goodtime Hotel.
Alice Goa
Miami
While there’s nothing better than soaking up some good Miami sunshine or letting loose at the 305’s liveliest clubs, don’t be surprised if you leave this city in a serious food coma. Whether you’re in the mood for Caribbean, Cuban, or Ethiopian, Miami’s multicultural food scene is one of its highlights. My last escapade here with friends was on the heels of Caribbean Heritage Month, celebrated every June. There’s so much to do in Miami that when planning your itinerary, you and your besties might be torn on how to narrow it down. What activities and excursions can’t you do? Of course, Miami has a plethora of beaches where you can lay out or catch some waves, from Hobie Beach to the historic Virginia Key Beach Park. But if you’re in the mood for a little retail therapy, you can hit up one of the many boutiques and shopping centers, like the Miami Design District. There’s practically a club on every block where you and your friends can dance the night away, so you can take your pick based on where you’re feeling the vibe. You can also get your creative wheels turning by checking out Miami’s art scene—Art Basel is one of the city’s most popular annual exhibits, among several others. In terms of where to stay, Florida’s pink hotels can make you feel like you’re staying in one big Barbie house, so The Goodtime Hotel in Miami is my highest recommendation if you want to stick to the theme of your trip. —Johnaé De Felicis, contributor
Antiguan dishes often feature fresh catches like snapper, lobster, mahi-mahi, and conch, prepared in ways that blend local spices with Creole and British influences.
Roberto Moiola/Sysaworld/Getty
Antigua
I’ve been going to Antigua for over seven years now for all types of trips, but I really love it for a relaxing getaway with my girls. Antigua is the land of 360-degree beaches, so no matter where you are on the island, there’s a beach close by that is beautiful with clean sand and clear water. This makes Antigua an automatic go-to for me and my friends—whether we want to have a relaxing beach day, throw a beach fête, or hit a beachside workout, there are numerous options to do so throughout the island. There are plenty of beautiful resorts, villas, and hotels, but my go-to is Hodges Bay, which has a private island property reachable by a quick water taxi. For a more resort-central stay, Curtain Bluff has top-of-the-line spa and restaurants to enjoy. Antigua also pairs the best restaurants with amazing views—my favorite is Sheer Rocks, which is perched on a beachside cliff. For incredible seafood and authentic island vibes, Papa Zouk is the place to go. Out of all the islands I’ve traveled to, Antigua has the best and safest parties and clubs; check out Vyce for a great night. —Sidnee Michelle Douyon, senior digital editor and host for Black Enterprise
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, features two 18-hole golf courses, a spa, and numerous water activities, while being surrounded by ocean and lush vegetation.
Courtesy Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Puerto Rico
To celebrate some big accomplishments in our friend group—from one friend completing her MD program to another finishing her band’s first tour—we gathered our now nationally-dispersed college crew for an adult spring break trip to Puerto Rico. Our itinerary struck the perfect balance of wild outdoor adventure, beachy relaxation, and giggly fun, with plenty of flexibility to tailor the experience toward any of these trip styles based on personal preferences. We loved how accessible it was to fly to San Juan from the US (not to mention how easy it was to get around by car or Uber when we got there), and that we didn’t even need to pack our passports. Upon arriving from our respective cities, the six of us piled into a rental car and explored everything from the historic charm and boutique shops of Old San Juan to the tropical rainforest swimming holes and natural water slides (yes, we slid down actual waterfalls) within El Yunque National Forest. Highlights included night kayaking to see the sparkling bioluminescence, snorkeling with sea turtles at Escambrón Marine Park in San Juan, and sipping unique wine-based cocktails at one of the world’s best bars, La Factoría. Airbnb and hotel hopping was the structure for our week-long stay, but my favorite property was the idyllic Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Though these trips always seem to get harder and harder to plan as we get older, the pricelessness of a full heart, a recharged soul, and a little bit of a lost voice from laughing hard with the ladies is beyond worth it. —Alexandra Toto, contributor
Loudoun County, Virginia, is renowned as “The Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital,” due to its high concentration of horses, equestrian events, and historic estates.
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Loudoun County, Virginia
The emerald Goodstone Inn in Loudoun County.
Courtesy of Megan DuBois
One of my favorite places for a girls trip is Virginia’s wine country, in Loudoun County. The acres and acres of vineyards lining the roads make for beautiful scenery while driving, and the food and drink scene is exceptional. One of my favorite wineries in the area is Greenhill Vineyards, which offers incredible views, wine tastings, and scrumptious bites to go with your glass of vino. Fun fact: The winery’s sparkling wine was featured in gift bags at the 2016 Academy Awards. There are plenty of places to stay in Loudoun County, but I love Goodstone Inn (shown at right) where guests stay in boutique cottages that are nestled across 265 pristine acres on the hillside. Each cottage or house can accommodate two to eight people, so depending on the size of your squad, you’ll all be able to stay in one private villa-style home complete with kitchens and private bathrooms. —Megan duBois, contributor
Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop
One of my all-time favorite girls trips that can be dressed up or down to be as outdoorsy (or not) as you wish is the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop. We fly into Denver and rent a car, or road trip over to the Centennial State and hop onto the open road to start the adventure. Popping over to Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort is easy—it sits on the banks of a burbling creek, and offers loads of adorable cabins, plus there are multiple cheaper campgrounds nearby. For the more splurge-worthy trips, The Four Seasons in Vail recently did a huge spa uplift and refreshed the treatments menu, and since it’s so centrally located, it’s an easy year-round stay in the mountains between Glenwood Springs and Steamboat Springs. No matter what your lodging style is, you’ll fall in love with the hot springs views (and lack of crowds) at Avalanche Ranch, as I did when I first visited in 2018. Book a month or two early, as they often sell out. Of course, the hot springs, can’t be missed, but one of my favorite off-highway stops is Brown Dog Pizza in Telluride, which sits on the main thoroughfare and boasts epic mountain views. Plus, if you’re going on a winter girls trip, nearly all of these locales offer incredible skiing access. —Emily Pennington, contributor
Rittenhouse Square is one of the most rousing parts of Philadelphia.
Ethan Hoover/Unsplash
Philadelphia
I’ve spent New Years in Philadelphia a few times, as well as taken girls trips to this city at other times of the year. My girls and I have gone to some of the museums around town after cocktails and recreated a number of the paintings. Plus, there are truly great restaurants, interactive sensory exhibits, and a few speakeasies that we frequent when in the area. My recommendation on where to stay: W Philadelphia. It’s been around for a while but there’s been a change in managerial staff and exciting changes to the restaurant’s menu; plus, the hotel itself has some of the best views in the city outside of the SkyHigh. If you book ahead, try and get a corner room. —Shayna Conde, travel journalist
The scenic Tegallalang rice terrace runs through Ubud, Bali.
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Bali
I went to Bali with a few close friends, and it was the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and culture. We spent our days exploring Ubud’s temples, chasing waterfalls, wandering through rice terraces, and treating ourselves to a spa day, an ATV ride, and that iconic floating breakfast.
