7 TIPS TO HELP YOU PLAN THE PERFECT SPRING GETAWAY

There’s nothing like a sho’t left with the gals to unwind and nourish your soul. We’ve got seven tips to help you plan the perfect weekend away with your besties. Bon voyage!

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1. Pick a date
Our schedules are way busier than we’d like them to be – which is why finding a weekend when you and your friends are all free can be tricky and needs to be done at least a few weeks in advance.

Plus, the further in advance you plan, the easier it will be to find accommodation at your desired location.

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2. Mind the cash-money
Not everyone in your group will have the same budget. Invite everyone to be upfront about what they can afford and keep those with less to spend in mind when deciding on your destination, accommodation, transport, meals, groceries and activities.

Work out a per-head budget well before your getaway date, and make sure everyone agrees so there are no unanticipated expenses. You can cut costs further by carpooling, cooking your own meals, and splitting the costs.

3. How many is too many?
Ideally, you’ll want between four to eight ladies. Less than that, and you’re unlikely to generate that magical, uplifting energy that a group of gals cutting loose should result in.

On the flip side, having more than eight could mean you risk having ‘factions’ develop within the group, or groups who may want to separate and do their own thing, lowering your sense of unity and the shared experiences that bring you closer together. It’s not a hard and fast rule though – trust your intuition.



4. Finding accommodation
Another reason to cap your group at eight, is that it gets harder to find accommodation with a larger group – but you’ll still benefit from lower accommodation prices per head (if you rent a house and split the bill, for example).

But where do you want to go? If you don’t yet know, create a WhatsApp group so everyone can make suggestions – the location with the most votes wins.

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Once you have your destination sorted, you can begin scouring AirBnB, your destination’s website (which will most likely include accommodation options), or good ol’ Google for options – invite everyone to contribute, if they wish. Draw up a shortlist and have your group vote for their fave.

5. Delegate, collaborate
If you are the person who initiates the getaway, it’s likely that you will fall into the Chief Organiser role, but that doesn’t mean you should do everything yourself!

Give everyone in your group a task to both lighten your load and make them feel involved and included. Examples might be organising transport, buying groceries, choosing a restaurant, or planning activities. Ideally, each person contributes according to their talents, means and interests.

6. Don’t micromanage
Nobody likes a control freak (though we all have that streak in us somewhere, don’t we?). Plan too many activities, and your friends will feel controlled – and you’ll feel hurt when they rebel!

Rather plan for a minimum of one major activity per day – two max. Why? Well, have you ever heard the phrase “herding cats”? Trying to micromanage a group of headstrong, fabulously fierce women (especially ones on holiday) is like that. Just don’t do it. No one wins.

7. Nip conflict in the bud
If you’ve decided on all the above aspects of your trip as a group beforehand – well done, you’re less likely to have conflict arise due to mismatched expectations.

To friction-proof your trip even further, make sure you’ve all shared your desired goals for the trip, so everyone is on the same page, and lay a few ground rules before you hit the road. For example: no loud music past 12pm (not everyone is a party animal); get everyone’s permission to post photos on social media; err on the side of flexibility, be open and prepared for things not to go perfectly (those who expect everything to be their version of perfect are more likely to instigate disagreements).

With these tips sorted, you’re ready to have the time of your life with the friends you love. Bliss!

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