How to Plan a Girlfriends' Weekend on a Budget

Where?
When planning a girlfriends' weekend for friends who want to get together at a relatively low cost, the best place to have the event is the home of one of the participants. Ideally, you would want the hostess to be a girlfriend who either does not have a husband or children or one whose husband, children, or both will be gone for the weekend. Another important requirement is that the hostess's home be large enough for the event with plenty of bathrooms and sleeping space.

When?
You can host a girlfriends' weekend anytime of year. You will generally want to choose a weekend that is good for everyone you invite. While holiday weekends are all right, it is better to select a random weekend that does not have any special claims to anyone's time. Plus, if the weekend would have been an ordinary, run-of-the-mill weekends, making it a girlfriends' weekend gives participants something to look forward to doing.

Who?
Invite only your closet girlfriends. Girlfriends' weekends are not for everyone!!!

What?
Play games, cook dinner, rent movies, have a theme, go out to the spa or nightclub, or stay in. The activities you plan for your girlfriends' weekend will vary based on the girlfriends, but it should be an excellent social activity for everyone to de-stress and have a good time. Make sure to have lots of treats and plan great meals or restaurants to visit. For more upscale girlfriends' weekends, consider trips to new cities or trips by plane or train for extended weekends.

How?
Planning is key. Make sure you choose girlfriends who get along and have optional activities just in case the weather does not cooperate with some evetns. Even if all you and your girlfriends ultimately do is lay around in PJs and talk about relationships, you want to make sure the weekend is filled with things to do.

Why?
Because with busy schedules, husbands, children, careers, and living in different states or countries, sometimes you just need time with your girlfriends!