Getting away with girlfriends

06-12-2005

Men have been going off on road trips together for a long time, to hunt or fish, play golf or attend some sporting event, but women getting away with other women is a more recent phenomenon.

Women have many possible reasons to find a female travel partner. Maybe your spouse doesn't like to travel. Maybe he can't. Maybe you don't enjoy the same kind of activities. Maybe you don't have a spouse. Whatever the motivation, sometimes it is just good to get away and gab with other women.

Just as birds of a feather flock together, so do birds of a gender. No matter whether the purpose of the trip is fun, education, adventure, relaxation or pampering, sharing a place and time with other women is different from sharing it with men.

Many women I know report that there's something special about getting away for a time with other women, be they mothers, daughters, sisters, co-workers, new friends or old chums.

So many are taking trips together, in fact, that these all female journeys have become a named trend, and over the past several years, so-called Girlfriend Getaways have been among the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.

The definition of a Girlfriend Getaway can be as simple as everyone agreeing to convene at a beach-side condo or cottage, big-city hotel, spa resort or cruise ship. Perhaps you might take a weekend cooking class together, spend a week touring Europe together, or go on a white-water rafting expedition down a wilderness river. There's a world of possibilities out there. The particular place is less important that the purpose: to be someplace nice together doing things enjoyable to all.

Many hotels have responded to this demand by offering Girlfriend Getaway packages with a menu of special amenities. Fairmont Hotels, for example, is promoting a variety of weekend programs at more than a dozen of its plush properties across North America, such as "Femme Fatale Night," "Ultimate Pajama Party" and "Pedal and Pamper Packages" ( http://www.fairmont.com/montebello/special-offers/hotel-offers/signature/ultimate-girls-getaway-package/).

One-stop getaways are relatively easy to set up, but planning a more ambitious itinerary is another matter. Researching travel ideas and making reservations have never been easier, but even with the Internet, coordinating all of the arrangements for a comprehensive expedition somewhere exotic for several different people coming from different locations can be a daunting process.

No problem. In recent years, a crop of specialty travel companies have emerged, all founded by a pioneering woman. Although they vary somewhat in areas of specialty, all are dedicated to helping small groups of women find their way to interesting and enjoyable places around the planet. Here is a selection of some of the most notable.

AdventureWomen: Founded by Susan Eckert in 1982, this is the oldest travel company specializing in adventure trips for active women over 30. Based in Bozeman, Mont., they offer a variety of small group, women-only hiking trips, horseback treks, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, sailing and river barging, among others. All trips are nonsmoking and rated for various ability levels. For information: 1-800-804-8686 or www.adventurewomen.com.

Adventures in Good Company: The Baltimore-based company was founded in 1999 by Marian Marbury to share her passion for the natural world with other women. Their more than 30 itineraries range from wilderness camping and dog-sledding to relaxing weekends at cozy lodges. The goal: to travel gently on the land, spending time in nature to refresh the spirits, celebrate the joys, and find solace for the sorrows. For information: 1-877-439-4042 or www.adventuresingoodcompany.com.

Explorations in Travel: Founded by Debbie Jacobs in 1990, this Vermont-based company specializes in active trips for women over the age of 40. They operate 20 women-only adventure itineraries a year, from cruising along the Erie Canal to hiking the Emerald Island and snorkeling in the Caribbean. For information: 1-802-257-0152 or www.exploretravel.com.

Gutsy Women Travel: Founded by Gail Golden, (the wife of financier Carl Icahn), it features more than 30 travel programs designed specifically for women to destinations around the globe. Recent favorites include "Savannah's Style and Charleston's Charm" and "India: Maharajas & Moguls." A division of Maupintour, a major tour operator, it also sells its trips through local travel agents. For information: 1-866-464-8879 or www.gutsywomentravel.com.

Sacred Journeys for Women: The company was founded by Alaura O'Dell in 1996 for women travelers searching for meaningful and life-enriching experiences. Focused on women's spirituality and history, the trips offer a choice of retreats and pilgrimages to countries around the world, with workshops in yoga, art therapy, reflexology, sacred landscape, goddess lore, and women's history. For information: 1-888-779-6696 or www.sacredjourneys.com.

Woman's Sacred Travel: Since 1993 Andrea Mikana-Pinkham has offered cultural and mystical tours to help women connect with the ancient spiritual energies at the world's most important sacred sites in Egypt, Costa Rica, England, Ireland, Peru, and Sedona, Ariz., where the company is located. For information: 1-800-472-0821 or www.solunatours.com.

The Women's Travel Club: Founded by Phyllis Stoller in 1992, the NYC-based clearinghouse of information about women's travel puts together 15 to 20 group trips a year to unusual places, such as Morocco, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, India, Nepal, Borneo, Bali, and remote parts of Mexico and southeast Asia. Many trips are planned to be politically timely and take advantage of windows in international travel. For information: 1-800-480-4448 or womenstravelclub.com.

Women & Wine: Founded by Julie Brosterman in 2003, this company offers organized itineraries to California wine destinations and Umbria, Italy. It specializes in putting together customized, small-group itineraries to noted wine destinations around the world. For information: 1-310-880-2442 or www.womenandwine.net.

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