Planning a Girls' Trip in Your 40s: Why It's Harder (and More Important) Than Ever!

And so it begins...
"I can't do that week, but I can do the week after."
"We're saving for a new kitchen – can we keep it under £800?"
"I think a week’s too long, can we do a long weekend instead?"
"I'd rather stay in a villa than a hotel."

Sound familiar?

When I was younger, girls’ trips were always wonderfully spontaneous. So when my friends and I decided to plan a trip to celebrate our 40th birthdays, it took me by surprise when it began to feel more like a military operation (!) But, was it worth the effort? Absolutely!

If you're thinking about your own girls' trip, here's the biggest lessons I learnt:

1. Plan in advance

Everyone has different priorities when it comes to spending money, and everyone has a different holiday budget in mind. Some are happy to throw caution to the wind; others are more cautious.

We set up a sort of “trust fund” a good five years in advance. We each paid £20 a month into the same account - by standing order so no one missed a payment. This meant that when we came to book, we'd each squirreled away over £1,000 and had barely noticed it leaving our accounts.

We also set a date over a year in advance to make sure everyone could make it, and agreed that those who wanted to stay for a full week could, while anyone who needed to head home earlier could do so.

2. Everyone wants something different – accept that

Within one group of friends you might have people who are all about adventure and love nothing more than cocktails and dancing till sunrise. Others see it as a chance to unwind with sunbathing, sightseeing, spas and early nights.

The secret is not finding a mythical “perfect” holiday, it’s finding the right balance.

Choosing a destination with enough variety means everyone feels they are getting “their” holiday.

3. Choosing the right destination matters

The best girls’ trips have one thing in common: flexibility.

You want somewhere with enough choice that everyone can shape their own perfect day. One friend might want a lazy morning by the pool, another to explore the old town, and someone else will be hunting down the best restaurant.

Destinations like Ibiza, Mallorca, Lisbon, Marbella, Lake Garda and Dubrovnik work brilliantly because they offer:
• great weather
• lovely places to stay
• plenty of restaurants and bars
• a mix of culture, scenery and beaches

You aren’t forced into doing the same thing all the time, but you still come together for the moments that really matter.

4. The ‘little’ details can make or break the experience

This is the bit that often gets overlooked in all the excitement.

Things like:
• where the hotel or villa is actually located
• how easy the transfers are
• whether there are enough nearby shops, restaurants and bars for everyone
• if people will be comfortable sharing rooms and bathrooms
• whether the flight times work around work, school runs and childcare

These small details are what turn a “That was nice” trip into a “That was amazing, when are we doing it again?” trip.

Why a travel expert can make group trips easier

Being “the organiser” can be tough: researching hotels; comparing flight options, collecting everyone’s details, keeping track of payments, answering the never-ending group chat questions… it’s a lot!

This is where I can help. I can:
• listen to what each person actually wants
• suggest destinations and places to stay that balance different budgets and styles
• sort the logistics so flights, transfers and accommodation all work smoothly
• make sure everyone is clear on what they are booking and what is included

The best part of a girls’ trip?

When I look back at our holiday, it was the laughter, the dancing the night away, the precious time out from the responsibilities of everyday life. The joyous feeling we got from being just as spontaneous as we were in our twenties (once all the planning was sorted and we were actually there, of course!).

We really did have the best time, and we’ve kept the savings pot going so we have every chance of doing it again.

Girls’ trips become even more important as we get older because time is more precious than it once was. The memories are still waiting to be made, but the opportunities to make them happen take more planning.

Between work, family and everything else, simply getting everyone in the same place at the same time is an achievement.

In your 40s, time spent together with friends is a real luxury.

So make every moment count.