Every weekend thousands of women go out and rejuvenate their lives, celebrate birthdays or just get away -- without the kids, husbands or the daily grind. All-Girl Getaways host Stephanie Oswald offers these top 10 tips to start planning a successful trip:
Get everyone involved in the planning. Write a list and make each girlfriend in the group responsible for something: hotel choice, dining plans, theater reservations, etc.
Be willing to travel off-season. The best way to save money at a favorite destination is to be flexible with your travel dates.
Plan your getaway to occur during the school year or while the kids are away at camp. This will help cut down on child-care costs while you're away.
Find transportation alternatives. One way to save money on rental cars and gas is to find a destination that offers free shuttles or transportation from and to the airport.
Be willing to pool your funds. Have one responsible person keep the group's money and be in charge of dispensing funds for tips, food and other group necessities.
Don't hesitate to ask family members to share babysitting responsibilities.
Have dads team up with child care. If your group of traveling girlfriends shares the same hometown, suggest that the dads hang out for an afternoon or one evening while you are away. Sharing duties can make the time go by faster.
Before leaving home, cook simple prepared meals that are easy to heat in the microwave. It will give you peace of mind as well as provide nutrition for the family.
Write out a schedule of the kids' daily activities to help keep Dad on track while you're away.
Before you go, check the Internet for insider knowledge. Reading official city tourism websites and resident blogs will get you excited -- and prepared -- for your all-girl getaway.
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