The Gal Pals
From pedicures and pool days to slopeside cocktails,
these girlfriend getaways are sure to please your group
By Jennifer Davoren
Steve Beaudet/Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises rolls out the red carpet this spring on a 10-night trip through the Mediterranean. Departing Barcelona on May 11, the Celebrity Equinox makes time for Italian ports like Rome, Florence and the enticing isles of Sardinia and Sicily, but it's an overnight stay on the southern coast of France that's worthy of your group vacation spotlight.
Coinciding with the annual Cannes Film Festival, this cruise offers a VIP shore excursion complete with a rooftop party amid the city's celebration of the arts. The Equinox also will host its own shipboard film fest to treat passengers hoping to avoid the paparazzi back on shore. Per-person prices for inside cabins start at $2,489.
Snow or summer fun in Utah
The new year has barely begun, but ski season is in full swing. While there are 11 mountain resorts within an hour's drive of Salt Lake City International Airport, three stand out for women's powder programs. Check into lessons around Alta Ski Area and Snowbird, where pros encourage technique and camaraderie, as well as Brighton Ski Resort, with rails and tricky terrain set aside "for girls only" at Krista's Park.
But Park City, UT, on the eastern side of the Salt Lake metroplex, is more than a winter escape. The food and beverage scene is hot no matter the season -- you'll find eats from slopeside burgers to Nobu-influenced sushi, plus the world's only ski-in distillery, High West, recognized by the James Beard Foundation for outstanding spirits. Wait for summer to bring green back to the Wasatch Range and add hiking, biking, river rafting and more to your itinerary. Check for lodges with rooms that can accommodate up to six people, like the Grand Summit at Canyons Resort.
A wine-themed walkabout
Juice up your girls' night out. Wine-focused escorted tours delve into the history and culture of your favorite production regions, both domestic ("Trains, Wineries & Treasures of Northern California," nine days with Collette, makes time for stops and sips in Napa and Sonoma) and across oceans ("Cape Explorer," seven days in South Africa with SITA World Tours, mixes grapes and game reserves).
Tour discounter Vacations To Go rounds up a number of gourmet getaways. Per-person prices are as low as $499 before airfare for "Mendoza Wine Experience," four days in Argentina with G Adventures. For something a bit more on the decadent side, consider "Wines of Argentina & Chile," 10 days of private sightseeing with Alexander+Roberts; rates start at $6,449 per person.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in January/February 2015.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 998-6925 for current rates and details.
