It’s official: 2024 is the year of the Girls Trip. According to travel experts, more women are choosing to travel, with surveys estimating that up to 64% of all travellers are women. Interestingly, the same study also revealed that the majority of these women choose to travel sans their husbands or boyfriends because they often have different travel interests anyway.
Instead, women choose to go on holiday either solo or with their closest gal pals. In the UK, a poll commissioned by Norwegian Cruise Line found that over a third of all female respondents shared that they plan to go on a girls’ trip this year, with most opting to travel around Europe.
How to Plan a Glam European Girls’ Trip
During these trips, women say they look forward to catching up, getting away from daily responsibilities, and experiencing new things together. With these in mind, it’s no surprise that a share of these girls’ trips are geared toward more glamorous destinations that can serve as exciting new escapes. That said, a glamorous girls’ trip need not be a money drain. With clever planning tips and tricks, you can experience a lush holiday while staying more financially inclusive.
Look for more affordable flights
In many cases, transportation costs actually make up a large chunk of the expenses. For instance, Travel Republic estimates that some flights out of the UK can cost upwards of £600. This is money that you could’ve allocated toward better accommodation or more on-ground excursions. Instead, try looking for cheap flights from accessible providers that are just as efficient but ask for a fraction of the cost of premium airlines. To illustrate, easyJet offers regular flights to some of the most stunning destinations worldwide, like France, Spain, Greece, and much more. Depending on the season, flights can cost as low as £14. Virtual features, like the cheap fare finder, make scouring all available options even easier since you can literally just plug in your preferred dates and find the most budget-friendly flights to desired destinations. This is especially handy if your girls’ trip happens to be a last-minute decision since booking too close to your departure date typically results in higher fees without such a tool.
Consider accommodations outside of hotels
When you say glam trip, most people picture 5-star hotels and resorts. While those offer fantastic service, their prices may be too steep for everyone in your party to enjoy. Rather than alienating anyone, consider alternative accommodations outside of the more glitzy establishments. In many places, plenty of untouched gems offer one-of-a-kind lodgings for much less. Case in point, Sardinia in Italy has a number of picturesque farmstays called agriturisma.
Nestled outside the bustling city centres where prices are often padded thanks to the influx of tourists, these farm stays allow you to immerse with the locals more intimately and sustainably. As per online farm stay guide Farmstay Planet, some luxe agritourism options are even situated on vineyards, groves, and orchards, so you can wake up to those lovely views while also having access to tour them, join exclusive tastings, and more. If you really insist on staying in the metropolitan areas, try renting an apartment instead. Based on where you’re staying, these lodgings can be decorated just as lavishly, at a much lower price than a standard hotel, since they typically don’t offer hospitality staff.
Settle on a money management scheme
Nobody likes to talk about money, especially among friends. However, going on holiday together is bound to cause shared expenses to arise. If you don’t talk about money management beforehand, this can lead to unfair cost distributions that can sour your trip. In Europe, where the cost of living can vary greatly, some friends may feel like they spent more than they actually enjoyed. Note that a Huffington Post report stated that most holidaymakers reported overspending while on a trip. With this in mind, you and your girlfriends might find it helpful to determine how costs will be split, if at all.
Since glam experiences can be a bit pricier, it’s only right that everyone is clear on where their money will go. Some groups prefer to cover only their transactions, while others prefer to split everything evenly. Try a budgeting app if you expect that keeping tabs on the holiday will be tricky. For instance, Shelf is an app designed specifically for people who share expenses with individual bank accounts. This way, you can all enjoy your time together without worrying that your luxurious activities will cost you an arm and a leg later on.
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