Top Four Rules for Vacationing with Girlfriends

You've just scored plane tickets to Vegas, and you can hardly wait to set foot on the strip. What could be better than taking your BFFs on the road for the ultimate Ladies Getaway? These little trips help ladies to decompress. They provide a chance to bond and get a little crazy. But they are also incredibly enlightening. Traveling with girlfriends has the occasion to be a bit of a struggle, especially if you haven't considered all the dynamics of the Girlfriends Only Vacation. Never fear, a few considerations will lighten the load. Take heed, and your next retreat will probably run butter-smooth.

Rule #1: Confirm your itinerary.

Sure, you are all aware of the intended destination. But once you get to [Insert Fabulous Vacation Spot Here] there will be lots to see and tons to do. It's a good idea to figure out a tentative itinerary so that everyone's happy. You don't necessarily have to plan everything up to the millisecond. But if your idea of vacation is a relaxing snooze by the pool-and your bud prefers hardcore shopping and sightseeing, you may have some issues. Discussing the kind of vacation you expect beforehand is imperative.

Rule #2: Do some research for yourself.

It would behoove you to research the area in which you'll be staying as thoroughly as possible. It's not that you don't trust your pal to do her homework. But two heads are definitely better than one in this instance. For certain, there will be pertinent details that you'll catch and vice versa. In any rate, take responsibility for your own information about your vacay-and you'll be able to relax all the more.

Rule #3: Schedule an "interview."

You wouldn't hire a nanny without interviewing her first. You wouldn't rent a room to someone without first asking some pointed questions. Why wouldn't you think to run your buddy through a quick "survey" before embarking on a fabulous voyage? Chances are, you haven't spent enough time together to really understand your friends' personal habits. You and your buds may have different perspectives on things like cleanliness (if you're sharing quarters), daily habits, and respecting personal boundaries. For the most part, you and your friends will be "living together" while enjoying your Girls' Only Vacation. Understanding whom you'll be living with might prevent any surprises.

Rule #4: Develop some sort of back-up plan.

Vacations have a way of introducing some pretty interesting circumstances, not all of them very comfortable. You may not be able to predict tricky predicaments. But you can still develop a pretty strong contingency plan. To be frank, most of this would probably best be covered during the "what kind of vacation do you want" conversation. This way, you'll be better able to handle issues like pop-up illnesses and missing stilettos.

SOURCES:

www.ivillage.com
www.about.com
www.psychologytoday.com