Single Minded Women - women's escapes - Four Great Gal Pal Resorts

Latest in ESCAPES

FEATURE ARTICLES
Open Skies: Is Discount Travel In Your Future? Where to Have an Affair in New York City Websites We Love
full archive

WEEKLY COLUMNS
One on One with Celebrity Restaurateur Donatella Arpaia Home for Your Holiday: Say Ahhhhh.... Best Kitchen Gift Guide Ever!
full archive

ASK THE EXPERTS
Zarela Martinez Creates an International Thanksgiving Feast Books & Bonbons: MM Buckner's WATERMIND - Read an Excerpt! One on One with Chef Anita Lo
full archive

COMMUNITY FORUMS

LATEST POST

2 Hot Haute Chefs, 3 Mouthwatering Thanksgiving Recipes!

Add your voice to our community by posting your comments on this article.

WEEKLY COLUMN

Four Great Gal Pal Resorts
SMW Women’s Vacation & Travel Resources
By Josie Brown, updated 10/31/2008 at 1:30:58 AM

Looking for a spot for some quality "us" time with your BFFs? Here are four ahhhhhh-inspiring getaways that are perfect for some posh posse bonding:

Rancho La Puerta
3323 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 100 , San Diego, California 92121
1(800) 443-7565 U.S. toll free / (858) 764-5500 worldwide
Rates: Weekly stays start at $2,795 for a double/$3,390 for a single. Check online for Internet specials.

The Setting: Each week, some 150 guests share 3,000 acres of mountains and meadows beneath 3,885’ Mount Kuchumaa. The peak straddles the U.S.-Mexico border, and Native Americans consider its slopes and summit a sacred place. Lodgings are sprinkled amidst world-class gardens. Probably the world’s first “eco” resort, the Ranch practices sustainable organic gardening and resource conservation, and leads the way in environmental protection and education efforts in the region.

Bonding Experiences: All guests have the option of taking one or more of Rancho LaPuerta's famous and fun cooking classes. And of course there are the resort's three health and beauty centers, each of which are staffed by skilled estheticians and therapists who have been widely trained, and often cross-trained in several disciplines. The spa's treatments use aromatic and medicinal herbs and other healing plants grown in Rancho La Puerta's organic gardens at Tres Estrellas. Besides the purity and freshness, the garden's plants are also a valuable and therapeutic part of your balanced mind/body/spirit experience.

Lake Austin Spa Resort
705 South Quinlan Park Road, Austin, Texas 78732
(800) 847-5637 (U.S.) (512) 372-7300 (Local)
Spa Packages start at $1,455, for 3 days and a la carte spa services. Look online for specials!

The Setting: Recently voted the #1 destination spa in North America by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Lake Austin Spa Resort is a premier lakefront destination nestled within the Texas Hill Country offering a variety of all-inclusive resort spa vacation packages and day spa packages.

Bonding Experiences: Besides a variety of classes stretching, meditation, Pilates and yoga classes, you can kayak with your girlfriends, or join the deep water training program. Better yet, hold all bets for the Texas Hold'em poker games!

Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

The Setting: This desert oasis' primary inspiration is the area’s native moisture-richagave plant, used in many of its treatments that were developed by the spa own therapists, as well as rare ancient treatments infused with the essence of the Far East.

The Kierland's 15,000-square-foot full-service spa is located in a standalone building, and features 20 treatment rooms (including one for couples), a full-service beauty salon, studios for movement classes, weight training, and cardiovascular workouts, a juice and smoothie bar, as well as its own quiet lap pool, courtyard, and garden. For the ultimate in privacy and peacefulness, resorts guests reach the spa by passing through a small meditation area and continuing along a walkway shaded by fragrant citrus trees. Cabanas surround the beautiful pool garden, offering private spaces for relaxation, meditation, and outdoor spa treatments. Enjoy a smoothie or light and healthy snack from our delicious spa cuisine menu, or visit the spa boutique for unique products made from our namesake plant.

Bonding Experience: Grab the girls for the Kierland's Girls Getaway Package. It includes:

• $50 Spa Credit (one per stay)
• Yoga Class, for two
• Use of Spa Facility
• Muddle Cocktails (two per stay)
• Women's Welcome Amenity (two per stay)
• Shopping/Dining incentive book (two per stay)
• One in-room movie
Book Now or call 800-354-5892 and ask for rate code DIVAS

The Copperhood Inn & Spa
Rte. 28, Shandaken, New York 12480
Telephone: 845-688-2460
Rates: Begin at $325 per person; Partial Day Spa packages as low as $189, and a la carte services

The Setting: Nestled in the lush Catskill Mountains, just a two hour drive from New York City, this cozy, subtly elegant European-style Inn and Spa provides the ideal environment for rejuvenating both the body and spirit.

Bonding Experience: You and your BFFs can enjoy a wide range of spa services that combine naturopathic principles from Europe and America with the practices and therapies of Chinese, Tibetan and Ayurvedic medicine, along with multi-coursed meals, meditation and serene hikes.

Want to win a trip for you and your friends—or your sisters? Check out SingleMindedWomen's Great Girlfriend Getaway Essay Contest.

Other Escapes Articles
Traveling with Friends—and Staying That Way
Girl Trip! 10 Best Girlfriend Getaways
Four Great Gal Pal Resorts

Recent Forum Postings.

No Forum Entries Found.

Read the entire forum here

FEATURED SPECIAL OFFERS

Luggage Online

American Flyer

Travel & Leisure Magazine

Get 2 free issues. If you buy a subscription, get a free travel bag, plus a free subscription to Travel & Leisure Family magazine.

see more special offers