HOW TO PLAN THE ULTIMATE GIRLS GETAWAY
There’s something about spending time with your girlfriends that feeds the soul. And there’s no better way to bond with your besties than during a girls getaway — no husbands or boyfriends to distract you, no kids to hog your attention, and no obligations to get in the way. The best place to host a girls getaway? The Shops at Columbus Circle, where you can wine, dine, shop, be entertained, and celebrate lifelong friendships. Here’s an easy 10-step planning guide.
1. Choose Your Location Wisely
There are so many places to host a girls getaway across the country — and around the world, for that matter — but nothing compares to New York. It’s the home of classic friendship shows like Sex & the City, Friends, and Gossip Girl. After all, it was Carrie Bradshaw herself who said, “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates.” Want to be right in the center of all the action? Columbus Circle is the place.
2. Find a Great Hotel
When you’re choosing a hotel, it’s important to look for a place that encourages togetherness. Lucky for you, the Mandarin Oriental has just launched a New York City Girls Getaway
package complete with monogrammed Frette bathrobes, a spa credit of $100, a day of beauty, and more.
3. Start Your Day Off Right
Rise and shine! The Shops at Columbus Circle is set on the edge of Central Park — a great spot to take a power walk. Early risers are also rewarded with a grab-and-go option at Whole Foods Market. While you’re here, stop by Guest Services Desk and join the Breakfast Club; after 10 meals you’ll get a $10 gift card.
4. Book Spa Treatments
A girls weekend calls for pampering, and at Equinox, you don’t need to be a member to enjoy the spa services. You and your friends won’t want to miss the Bodymelt Treatment, which provides immediate inch loss, cellular-level cleansing, toning, and firming. You’ll come home looking better than when you left.
5. Get a Makeover
Speaking of self-improvement, Sephora offers free 15-minute “mini makeovers” that focus on transforming one area of your face, such as brows, lashes, or lips. And if you make a purchase, you get an even longer treatment like a 30-minute hydrafacial.
6. Shop Until You Drop
Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it at over 50 trendsetting shops: designer fashion (from BOSS to Ted Baker London), books shopping, jewelry (Monica Rich Kossan), beauty (M.A.C.), shoes (Stuart Weitzman), even high-end candy (La Maison du Chocolat). The list of luxuries goes on and on.
7. Learn a New Skill
Why not acquire some new cooking techniques while you’re here? Hidden in the back of Williams-Sonoma is one of New York’s best-kept secrets: a test kitchen where you can book private cooking classes for your group.
8. Get Cultured
Culture hounds will be delighted by the shows at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the modern art on display (yes, those are authentic Botero sculptures), and the access to world-class art next door at the Museum of Arts and Design.
9. Eat it Up
With The Restaurant and Bar Collection, the sky’s the limit when it comes to dining. Go all out at Michelin-starred restaurants like Thomas Keller’s Per Se and Masa, where the fish is flown in fresh from Japan. Show the boys who’s boss at Porter House Bar and Grill, a classic New York steakhouse. Explore the globe with the Asian-inspired Momofuku Noodle Bar and the British brasserie Bluebird London.
10. Sip After You Shop
It wouldn’t be a girls weekend without a round (or two or three) of cocktails at glamorous lounges like Center Bar and Ascent Lounge New York. Now that’s the way to toast your friendships in style.
