The Ultimate Girls' Weekend!
Guys: look away now. This one's for the ladies. If you're looking for a way to make your next girls-only holiday that little bit more exciting, you've come to the right place. From a trip to the horse racing through to a weekend spent soaking up some culture across Europe. you have plenty of options, right on your doorstep.
A Weekend To... Let Your Hair Down
Festivals aren't just for people obsessed with music, they're a really great environment to actually bond with the girls, too. You can find similar experiences worldwide, so no matter where you are, there will always be something for you. Music obviously plays a big part, so try to find one with varied acts, unless you all have a really specialised taste. That way, everyone will be kept happy. Leeds Festival is a great choice - this year for example will showcase a vast range of headliners on the main stage - Eminem, Kasabian and Muse. Then, across the rest of the bill and stages, you'll see a similar spattering of rock, rap, indie, pop, grime and more.
Of course, it's not all about standing in a field doing sing-alongs. Drinks around a campfire, fairground rides, and french braids are all an integral part of the fun, and should give you memories to last a lifetime, to help form better bonds with your friends. Plus, festivals give you a chance to get away, without always having to go too far. Just don't forget to pack the essentials to get you through.
A Weekend To... Compete
Horse racing is really popular among all levels of society, and at certain times of year, we have extra special weekends to look forward to. Many of the best-known meetings have Ladies' Day, for example Aintree's Grand National, Cheltenham and even the Kentucky Derby in the USA.
If you don't have a clue what it's all about, luckily, you can sort of make it up as you go along. The web is full of handy tips, so that you can look like you know what you're doing (and maybe even win). For example, The Winners Enclosure features daily horse racing tips so that you can keep an eye on the odds. You'll also be able to better understand whether to bet each way or not, or whether to back an outsider - all with information on the horses' form, jockeys and trainers to back up the advice, so you can make wiser decisions.
Even if you don't win, going to the races is about so much more than just the betting on the horses themselves! Getting dressed up to the nines, choosing that perfect outfit, and enjoying some fine food and wine in a new city is all part of the experience. Plus, just because you travel as a group of girls doesn't mean you can't meet an eligible bachelor.
A Weekend To... Learn Something
Europe is blessed in ways that other continents are not. You can easily fly out for a weekend adventure to a new city, and still be back for work on Monday morning. It's also a continent filled with history, so whether you're enjoying the culinary treats of the Mediterranean or paying your respects at Auschwitz, you'll also be able to broaden your horizons along the way.
Travelling with the girls will allow you to all enjoy new experiences that it might not be possible to do when travelling with partners or the whole family. It's unlikely that your family will care about top-rated restaurants by internationally renowned chefs specialising in local cuisine - but you'll find plenty of that in countries like Italy, France, or Spain. And it's also unlikely that kids will want to visit art galleries or museums, or consider the historical significance of various architecture.
If you're unsure of the best places to see in a particular city or country, you should seek out travel blogs, join travel groups such as Girls Love Travel, or visit TripAdvisor to get an idea of how the travel community feels.
Why Do A Girls' Weekend?
Sometimes our lives just get so busy, but it's really important that we make time for our friends - having them is so important. We often forget to socialise the older we get, because sadly, real life kind of gets in the way. A break with them can reaffirm friendships, all while ensuring that we remember why we need them there in the first place.
Plus, friends are for fun, not responsibilities. And sometimes we all need a little bit of that!