With the warm weather on the horizon and feeling less and less like a distant dream, many people are starting to plan their spring trips. It’s time to come out of hibernation and finally start to enjoy the outdoors.
If you’re looking for inspiration, why not plan a spa weekend—split the cost with 5 or 6 girlfriends and you’ll save money, plus have a chance for some pretty great catchup sessions.
I recently took a trip with a few girlfriends to Palm Spring, just outside Los Angeles. Needless to say, we all had different budgets and it was a learning experience. We were not on the same page and some of us (although no one admitted it) had a worse time than others. I got quite a lot of ideas coming off that trip to help make future trips for anyone planning a girls weekend that much smoother.
Here are five ways you can save money while still enjoying a weekend of pampering and relaxation:
1. First, it’s important that you are realistic about how much you can spend and agree on a budget that everyone is comfortable with. Everyone has different amounts they can spend on a weekend trip, so make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of total spend, including lodging, transportation, meals, and most importantly spa treatments.
2. Consider different forms of lodging other than a hotel. A lot of resort areas will have condos or vacation rentals available that will allow up to 10-15 people to stay comfortably. AirBnB is a good way to get all the amenities you want for much less than a traditional hotel room. Doing a little research and understanding the area you are traveling to as well as all the option there is a great place to start. For example, if you are going on a winter ski/spa mini-vacation, it will probably be more economical to rent a lodge and split it between all the people coming as opposed to splurging on a few hotel rooms.
3. Be smart about where you spend your money. There are many resort spas that will allow you to pay a smaller amount for use of the spa for the day without having to book a treatment. Of course, if you do book a treatment, you will obviously also be able to use the other spa amenities free of charge, but if you want to save a little money are are not hell-bent on getting a massage, make sure you look into hotels in the area you are traveling and see which ones have the best access to jacuzzis, hot tubs, cold plunges, rain showers and private pool access for a low day rate.
4. Do it yourself! This one goes hand in hand with the one above. Why not buy a few masks and some fun nail polish colors and bring your own spa to the resort pool. Many hotels will even allow guests to rent out cabanas or areas for a small fee or even free of charge. This is a great way to enjoy a resort while still keeping a low budget.
5. There will be some push and pull to accommodate everyone’s budget, so make sure you rally beforehand and decide where you want to splurge and where you want to save. The four points above give you some ideas for where you might want to spend a little more. For example, if you want to stay at a resort that has a beautiful pool area, bring your own spa stuff and skip that expense, instead opting to spend a little more on the hotel stay.
Remember, it’s all about spending time with friends and getting away from it all. If done right, it can be fun, relaxing, and AFFORDABLE!