Girls just want to have fun!

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My mom and my two sisters are some of my favorite travel companions!

italy-11

We’ve certainly enjoyed vacations with the whole family (husbands, kids, etc.), and we’ve done some great one-on-one trips (mom and I went to Mexico last year, my sister Megan and I cruised to Bermuda, and mom and Kate went to Ireland together) but the most memorable trips have been our annual Girls’ Weekends.

We’ve been doing this since 1998, when my kids were babies and my younger sisters were still in college and law school, and it’s an annual tradition that none of us would ever give up. With the notable exception of our eight-day “weekend” in Italy in 2007, the trips have all been two- or three-day road trips in and around the northeast.

We’ve shopped the outlets in New Hampshire and Maine, hiked in the Catskills, antiqued in New Hope (Pennsylvania), lounged at the spa in Newport, hit the casino at Mohegan Sun, and taken in a Broadway show in NYC. Really, though, it’s not the destination that makes the trip — it’s the fact that we take time away from jobs/husbands/kids and reconnect with one another for some girl time.

girls-weekend

So what’s next for us? I don’t know. We’ve talked about going to Montauk this spring/summer, since we haven’t done the Hamptons yet. And I’d love to do a weekend cruise out of NY (since my mom has never tried cruising). The other new wrinkle is that my soon-to-be 14-year-old daughter has been asking when she gets to start coming along.

So what do you think?  Where should we go next….should we let my daughter tag along….and where would you love to go with your girlfriends?

Off-Season Bargain

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I just spent the weekend in Newport, Rhode Island — not your usual January destination, especially in the middle of a snowstorm — but it was fantastic!

Hotel Viking entrance

Hotel Viking entrance

The Hotel Viking, a 1926 gem and a member of the Historic Hotels of America, was offering an amazing $89 midwinter rate, so we snapped it up. We stayed in a luxurious (recently renovated) “Manor Room” with a partial water view, king bed, and spa quality bathroom (LOVED the rain shower head!) The best part, though, was the service. From the second we walked in the door and were greeted by the bell captain, to the moment we walked back out to find that the valet had cleared the snow off the car, we felt special. As my husband pointed out, we were very fortunate to get to experience five-star service at a roadside motel price.

So what’s my point (besides making you jealous about my weekend in Newport)? It’s to remind you that even the most popular destinations and resorts have off-seasons, during which it’s possible to experience a vacation you normally might not be able to afford.  I checked, and the room we stayed in would have cost upwards of $400/night for a Saturday in June.  I didn’t mind giving up the summer crowds and saving that much money!

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN

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You provided excellent guidance for us. I appreciated that you really had us think about what was most important to us when we were selecting the right cruise – and not to totally focus on what other people had to say. THANK YOU for helping to make this a memorable trip for our family! It really was a trip of a lifetime!

– Clare and Mark (family cruise to Alaska)

The level of service we experienced was out of this world (and we did NOT make it easy on Ann). We weren’t quite sure where we wanted to go, when we would be able to go, or what “vibe” we were going for. After asking us some key questions (what we liked, didn’t like, why, etc.) Ann helped us narrow down our trip details and planned the honeymoon of our dreams. She helped book some of our excursions, answered some emergency questions while abroad and was always available/willing to help. I think it’s safe to say we won’t be using anyone else for future travel planning – Ann is a rockstar!

– Carli (Italy and Spain)