Tell me about girl trips...best friend and I are thinking about going..

[mother of twins]

Now that I am hooked on the cruise thing my best friend and I are talking about doing a best friend trip. No husbands, kids, work, cars, etc...

Please share with me about your trip...good bad...happy sad...

Did you feel safe going into ports???

Thanks...:D

[agru]

Haven't done it yet. But my girlfriend and I are doing a "chicks' cruise" on December 1 on the Ecstasy out of Galveston. I'm certainly looking forward to it!

 

I'll be sure and report back afterwards if you're still trying to decide. But Dec. is a while away, and it sounds like you're raring to go. :p

[mother of twins]

I think we both really want to do it but afraid we will not want to come back to reality and daily routine!!!!!:eek: :eek: lol....all moms need a break!

[iheartbda]

Now that I am hooked on the cruise thing my best friend and I are talking about doing a best friend trip. No husbands, kids, work, cars, etc...

Please share with me about your trip...good bad...happy sad...

Did you feel safe going into ports???

Thanks...:D

 

A friend and I did this in Feb. to the Western Caribbean out of Charleston on NCL. Can't say I was crazy about NCL but I'm not going to trash it because even having to fly to Charleston the whole trip was reasonable. My friend had never cruised before so she really enjoyed it and is looking forward to another cruise.

 

It was a bit strange not having my husband around being so far away, but I was able to keep in touch with him, sporadically by cell phone and also by internet on the ship...ouch, pricey.

 

Did not feel unsafe going into ports but then we didn't stray. We went on one excursion booked through the ship. Another excursion was cancelled because we lost an engine, limped along and got into that port late so we just hit the beach.

 

Even though you are best friends, it's a little different when you're spending 24 hours a day together in a relatively confined area. And if your cabin is small, smallest I've ever been in, sometimes you need to just be off by yourself at times. My friend is a really good travel companion, VERY easy going.

 

I can't think of anything bad about the trip. Would I do it again? Absolutely, and have been looking around for possibilities for this winter even if it's the same cruise. Nothing better than lying on the beach when there's snow at home.:D

[bonniemari]

We decided to cruise for our annual "girls trip" this year. There ended up being 11 of us and we had a blast. We did the 5 day Fantasy out of NOLA.

 

I have been to Cozumel so many times I have lost count. We went to Paradise Beach and then downtown shopping and I always felt safe. We went to the Cat's Meow in Costa Maya and same thing there-never felt unsafe.

 

We did different things during the day but always had dinner together everynight. We usually ended up together on the lido for breakfast every morning also.

[mother of twins]

Thanks girls, this helps us out alot!

A big group does sound fun and doing as you want then meeting for dinner would be fun.

I did the Fantasy trip this summer also, it was a fun trip.

This does help out!!

Have a great Friday...;)

[Cotton]

My two sisters and I have done 'sister trips' many times, leaving the family to fend for themselves. We deserved those trips!:D We've done only two cruises together, but every year for many years, we took other vacations, just the three of us.

 

Our first cruise together was our first cruise period. We flew from N.O. to San Juan, and cruised on the Carnival Festivale. Fantastic voyage! We had the times of our lives. However, my younger sister's children were small, and she had 'mommy moments' - so she ran up huge phone bills!

 

That same sister now takes a coupla cruises a year with 5 of her friends, leaving their DHs at home. The other sister has not cruised since our trips, until to Alaska a coupla weeks ago (w/her DH). She just never got 'hooked' like Leah and I.

 

OK - Now, I usually cruise as a solo...and enjoy it very much. I have never felt a twinge of anxiety when being in a port alone. Doesn't bother me at all to grab a cab and go whereever I want. I make my plans for each port beforehand, and after that, it's a piece of cake. Of course, I DO watch my surroundings carefully, as I'm not naive`.

 

I hope y'all have a wonderful girls-only cruise.:)

[newmexicoNita]

I have done the daughter or daughters cruise thing several times and best friend thing a couple of times: always had a blast. In fact this is awful to say, but i think I enjoy it more than with DH. DH isn't as much into cruising as I am so he can get a little pouty if he can't find enough to do. I don't want to say he doesn't enjoy cruising, he does, just not the way my daughter does or one of my friends.

 

Going with DH pretty much means being with him all the time. I like to do my own thing (casino is what it is called) he is a pouter...

 

NMNita

[Peaceful]

I went on a cruise last May with my sister and a cousin. We had the best time you could imagine. I have to agree with the previous poster who said that it could be more fun than with DH. My DH and I travel well together, but relaxing on a cruise ship is not his idea of the best time to be had. However, we are booked for the Splendor November 2008 with two other couples.

 

On the other hand, laughing, reminiscing, relaxing, tea drinking on the balcony, wandering around and meeting up later, and just being "alone" with my sister and cuz was fantastic. We are booked to go again next April with my daughter-in-law's mom and expect no less fun.

 

I will admit that I fantasize a bit about going solo...

[trish1c]

I've never done a girls' cruise but would love to. I have done land based vacations. With a group you need to have some sense of how everyone prefers to travel. I love to sit in the sun & read. I'm not much into running around. I have friend who needs everybody to do everything as a group (I don't travel with her anymore b/c I can only do 1-2 days of that). As long as you are all in agreement about whether everything must be a group activity or if it's OK if someone goes off on her own, you'll have a blast. A good plan is to always meet for dinner but do whatever else whenever.

[henepup]

I have traveled several times with friends, and had a blast. We have never felt unsafe, except Ochos Rios. Those are some of the best memories I have of cruising.

[mother of twins]

All of this reading is making we want to call her and book it now! Best friend and I are very much alike and talking about this trip we both agree that sitting by the pool with a nice cold drink for whole trip would be fun...even if we didn't do anything else. We both have kids and run like crazy. Just the thought of being able to relax, enjoy some good company, sit on the balcony, order room service, do formal dinner, shows, etc....:) I think she and I need to have a talk.

[kidznp]

You go girl!!

 

My very first cruise was part of a group including my best friend, one of her employees and another friend with 2 daugters (17 and 20).

 

The six of us had a great time. The dining room head waiter took a "shine" to one of our group and made every dinner special. We only went to the Bahamas and Coco Cay but felt safe at all times in port. We danced in the disco, gambled in the casino, went to the spa and just had a great time. Our "formal" picture--all six of us posed on the staircase--occupies a space in my wall unit.

[mother of twins]

I've never done a girls' cruise but would love to. I have done land based vacations. With a group you need to have some sense of how everyone prefers to travel. I love to sit in the sun & read. I'm not much into running around. I have friend who needs everybody to do everything as a group (I don't travel with her anymore b/c I can only do 1-2 days of that). As long as you are all in agreement about whether everything must be a group activity or if it's OK if someone goes off on her own, you'll have a blast. A good plan is to always meet for dinner but do whatever else whenever.

I agree with you...I enjoy just relaxing on vacation,,,I don't want to feel pressure to go go go...It would nice to do a big girl trip with all the girl friends in our circle but for now I think just best friend and I would be the way to go...We are sooo much alike!

[mother of twins]

You go girl!!

 

My very first cruise was part of a group including my best friend, one of her employees and another friend with 2 daugters (17 and 20).

 

The six of us had a great time. The dining room head waiter took a "shine" to one of our group and made every dinner special. We only went to the Bahamas and Coco Cay but felt safe at all times in port. We danced in the disco, gambled in the casino, went to the spa and just had a great time. Our "formal" picture--all six of us posed on the staircase--occupies a space in my wall unit.

It is sounding more and more like the thing we need to do...I have never traveled without DH but from what I hear it's A-OK!!!! A few years back he did a trip to Alaska with his dad and brother, so the way I look at it,it's my turn!!!! Plus, it never hurts for them to realize just how much MOM does to keep the house running daily!!! LOL....

[c_renee]

My mom ended up taking DHs place on our anniversary cruise when he got deployed by the Air Force. We had a great time just doing girl things like shopping! It was amazing hanging out with my mother as two adult women.

 

I say go for it. You will have a great time.

[mother of twins]

My mom ended up taking DHs place on our anniversary cruise when he got deployed by the Air Force. We had a great time just doing girl things like shopping! It was amazing hanging out with my mother as two adult women.

 

I say go for it. You will have a great time.

How sweet. I hate to hear that DH missed his trip, but my hats off to you as an Air Force wife...at least you had your mom to replace him. Did you and DH get to make your trip??? Thanks to you and DH for serving our country....

[TracersQQ]

It is sounding more and more like the thing we need to do...I have never traveled without DH but from what I hear it's A-OK!!!! A few years back he did a trip to Alaska with his dad and brother, so the way I look at it,it's my turn!!!! Plus, it never hurts for them to realize just how much MOM does to keep the house running daily!!! LOL....

In January, I went on a cruise, with my Mother and her best friend and a friend of the best friend - who my Mom and I never met until the cruise. We had a great time, I was the only one with a family, at home. My son was 15, at the time and my husband is a big kid himself, so I thought they were both "old" enough to be left home alone. My son, actually, gave me a big hug when they picked me up at the airport and said that he was glad that I was finally home. DH, had a tear in his eye and said he'll never give me a hard time about vacationing, again, as long as we all go together, we can go wherever I want (he didn't want to go on a cruise - so I went without him) - so we're cruising again in December. As far as 4 women together, we didn't have any problems. We always met up for dinner, the rest of the day we did our own things - there was usually 1 other that wanted to do the same thing as you, so we usually had a "buddy". Only one port day, the one lady did not want to go to Stingray city, with us, so 3 of us did the excursion and the other lady shopped - we were a bit worried about her, but she was fine. I say go on a girls cruise and have a great time.

[newmexicoNita]

ONe of the best things about cruising: you can both or if more than 2 all go your own way and meet when you want. You are not obligated to the same activities. When I go with my DD I spend time in the casino, while she takes a book and does the sun thing. We usually decide ahead of time what tours we will take. This works the same when traveling with other couples. On the other hand, land vacation, even if you think you know the person you are traveling with really well can be a friendship spoiler almost. It happened to me with a very good friend.

 

We loved to drink together, liked the same foods, had kids the same age, shared political views and were the same age. It was perfect fit until we tried a Vegas trip: she didn't gamble which I knew but I didn't think she would stand over me collecting my nickels as I won them, cashing them in and saying "lets go now, before you lose your money". We got through the weekend still speaking. Then she came to visit us while we lived in the DC area, her idea of sight seeing and mine were not quite the same.

 

After that we stayed friends but never went anywhere else together.

 

Nita

[mother of twins]

ONe of the best things about cruising: you can both or if more than 2 all go your own way and meet when you want. You are not obligated to the same activities. When I go with my DD I spend time in the casino, while she takes a book and does the sun thing. We usually decide ahead of time what tours we will take. This works the same when traveling with other couples. On the other hand, land vacation, even if you think you know the person you are traveling with really well can be a friendship spoiler almost. It happened to me with a very good friend.

 

We loved to drink together, liked the same foods, had kids the same age, shared political views and were the same age. It was perfect fit until we tried a Vegas trip: she didn't gamble which I knew but I didn't think she would stand over me collecting my nickels as I won them, cashing them in and saying "lets go now, before you lose your money". We got through the weekend still speaking. Then she came to visit us while we lived in the DC area, her idea of sight seeing and mine were not quite the same.

 

After that we stayed friends but never went anywhere else together.

 

Nita

Did you find a new travel friend???

Glad your friendship survived...I have thought about that but this is the first summer in 7 years that we did not take our family vaction together. Something we do need to talk about before we go...I would hate to see it cause problems...thanks for sharing your experiences with me...

[AZPam]

My Mom and I take at least one trip a year together and it's usually to Chicago for a few days of power shopping. Last year I included my daughter on the Chicago trip, so now she is hooked too. We've included the husbands once or twice, but we end up having to do some of their type of "stuff" and feel cheated since it's "our" shopping trip. In 2005 Mom and I did the Christmas Markets on the Rhine river trip and basically shopped our way thru Germany! We had so much fun that we decided to put a group together for December 2008 and do the Christmas Markets once again. Even this far in advance we have about 20 women who want to join us. I think girl trips are a necessary thing in life. Makes me appreciate what I have at home and makes my family appreciate me after I've been gone and they've had a few days to fend for themself!

 

Pam

[mother of twins]

My Mom and I take at least one trip a year together and it's usually to Chicago for a few days of power shopping. Last year I included my daughter on the Chicago trip, so now she is hooked too. We've included the husbands once or twice, but we end up having to do some of their type of "stuff" and feel cheated since it's "our" shopping trip. In 2005 Mom and I did the Christmas Markets on the Rhine river trip and basically shopped our way thru Germany! We had so much fun that we decided to put a group together for December 2008 and do the Christmas Markets once again. Even this far in advance we have about 20 women who want to join us. I think girl trips are a necessary thing in life. Makes me appreciate what I have at home and makes my family appreciate me after I've been gone and they've had a few days to fend for themself!

 

Pam

wow, that sounds like alot of fun.

Talk about making memories...Thanks for sharing!