(Image by Frank Mckenna)
Beach vacations and girls trips are a match made in heaven.
Whether you want to unwind or go wild, do high-octane activities or just relax with a cocktail, celebrating your friendship on a spit of sand is the way to go.
Here are nine of the best beach destinations to celebrate a girls trip:
Tides Folly Beach | Charleston, SC
Charleston is one of the most popular girls trip destinations in the United States, for good reason. The city has a world-class food scene, a compact downtown full of fun bars, and great beaches only minutes from the action.
Enter Tides Folly Beach: an oceanfront hotel located in the bohemian enclave of Folly Beach. You can spend your days walking around the beach town and enjoying live music at Snapper Jacks, relaxing on the sand, and lounging by the pool (and, of course, the poolside bar).
(Image by Khachik Simonian) Or, if being active is more your speed, take a guided kayak or paddle-board tour of Folly Island. Tides also occasionally offers credits for Lyft rides and free cocktails, so you and your friends can head into the bar-packed downtown to have a classic girls night out.
Cost: $ | Rooms From $120
The EDITION | Miami Beach, FL
If you want to party in the city where the heat is on, book a stay at the EDITION, the Ian Schrager-designed space that breathes new life into the once-glorious landmark Seville Hotel.
While you can and should take advantage of all that Miami Beach has to offer (neon lights, bumping nightclubs, Cuban food to die for, and stone crabs), the EDITION has so much going on that you could get away with never leaving the property: a state-of-the-art spa, several restaurants developed by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, two dreamy pools lined with cabanas, and a white-sand beach.
Then there’s the motherlode. The EDITION is home to a sprawling entertainment complex called BASEMENT, which features a skating rink, a four-lane bowling alley, and a night club, all below the lobby.
Cost: $$$ | Rooms From $350
Parrot Key Hotel & Villas | Key West, FL
A stay in Key West is much more than an all-night party. The tropical island is home to sandy beaches, rich history (including the former residence of Ernest Hemingway—and current home of many six-toed cats), top-notch snorkeling and kayaking, and an amazing seafood scene.
Parrot Key allows you to tap into the best of both worlds, thanks to its waterfront property, four pools (including an adults-only pool), and grounds dotted with hammocks and cabanas. If you start to crave some cocktails, swim up to the poolside bar or take the free shuttle to historic downtown for bar-hopping up and down Duval Street. End your night by attending a drag show at the famous 801 Bourbon Bar.
Cost: $$ | Rooms From $230
Pendry | San Diego, CA
San Diego is the land of beaches and beer, and that should define a girls trip to this sunny California city.
Dip your toes into the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean then go on a beer crawl, either around downtown San Diego—where you can walk or Uber to a dozen or more bars in a tight radius—or head up to Miramar, where brewery giants like St. Archer’s and Ballast Point and funky newcomers like boozy kombucha outfit Juneshine operate huge taprooms.
Whatever you choose, the Pendry in downtown San Diego is the perfect home base, a mix of upscale boutique and laid-back Southern California cool. Not only will you be in the heart of the effortlessly cool Gaslamp District and a stone’s throw from Barrio Logan, but you can also take advantage of the Pendry’s spa, six on-site restaurants and bars, and a rooftop pool that will make you and your friends feel like you’re in a movie.
Cost: $$ | Rooms From $270
Hotel Coral & Marina | Ensenada, Mexico
Ensenada in northern Baja California may not be the party center that Cabo is, but it more than makes up for it. The region features beautiful rocky beaches, world-class sunsets, surfing, the best ceviche in Mexico at La Guerrerense, and access to the Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s laid-back, affordable answer to Sonoma.
Stay at the Hotel Coral & Marina, where you’ll get five-star amenities without the exorbitant price tag. Have a spa day on the grounds, maybe spend a day at the resort eating at one of the two restaurants on-site and sipping cocktails by the pool, then go on a guided tour of the Valle de Guadalupe’s best vineyards—all organized by the hotel, so your group doesn’t have to lift a logistical finger.
Cost: $ | Rooms From $99
Costa Baja Resort | La Paz, Mexico
If your group really wants to live the southern Baja life, La Paz offers a more relaxed pace than its more famous cousin Cabo—without having to sacrifice nightlife.
Costa Baja Resort is a luxurious resort located north of town where there’s no such thing as a bad view. It’s far enough away to be out of the fray (and give you a slice of private white-sand beach free of tchotchke hawkers) but close enough to the action that you can easily bar-hop and dance the night away.
There’s also room for aquatic adventures. Snorkel with whale sharks, or kayak to your heart’s content until the sun goes down in the Sea of Cortez. Then head downtown and walk the malecón before hitting the bars. Depending on the vibe you’re going for, you could head to La Morante Art Bar for live music or Regina to dance under the glow of neon lights.
Cost: $ | Rooms From $113
Paradisus | Cancún, Mexico
A stay at Paradisus is essential to recovering from Cancún’s international party scene. This resort takes all-inclusive to the next level, with an adults-only, optional royal service, and more than 10 bars and restaurants on the grounds, including Tempo, a Martin Berasategui-created fine-dining establishment that mixes Basque, Mexican, and Caribbean cuisine in delightful ways.
You could spend your entire trip on the Paradisus grounds, but it’s also a quick drive to nightlife on the main drag. Consider hiring Cuncrawl, which hosts curated bar crawls, booze cruises, and day parties, and even organizes private girls nights.
Paradisus is also convenient to the interior of Quintana Roo, where you can explore Mayan ruins at Cobá and go ziplining or canoeing to see how beautiful this region really is.
Cost: $$ | Rooms From $250
Secrets Wild Orchid | Montego Bay, Jamaica
Montego Bay edges out other Jamaican destinations thanks to its nightlife and proximity to the airport. Opt for a guided nightlife tour out on the town, or, if you decide to stay at Secrets Wild Orchid, you don’t need to leave the resort to find the party.
Located on a one-mile stretch of private beach, Secrets Wild Orchid hosts theme parties and live entertainment, boasts 24/7 access to food and drinks (including two swim-up bars and a bar at their spa), and even has a gaming lounge where guests can pretend they’re in Las Vegas. Secrets also allows Wild Orchid guests to walk over to its sister property, St. James, (Image by Sébastien Jermer) for a little change of scenery.
Cost: $$$$ | Rooms From $500
Gente del Mar Resort | Cartagena, Colombia
Actual paradise is just a quick flight (three hours direct from Miami, five from New York) away.
Gente del Mar is in the Rosario Islands, a 40-minute boat ride south of Cartagena. This hotel perfects the indoor-outdoor living that is so essential to fully enjoying the Caribbean life. The bar and luxury spa don’t hurt, either. Gente de Mar’s location at the edge of a federally protected natural park grants you peace and quiet, where most visitors to the Rosarios are packed onto public beaches like sardines.
The hotel also takes care of transportation logistics, so your group doesn’t have to worry about getting to and from the mainland. And you’ll want to explore Cartagena, a bright, colonial city, with famous walls, a walkable historic center, and streets lined with hibiscus and bougainvillea.
Cost: $$ | Rooms From $189
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