5 Grown-Up Girls' Trips Every Best Friend Should Book

Updated 07/19/17
Amangiri resort
Sarah Sherman Samuel ; @sarahshermansamual

When was the last time you properly caught up with your closest friends? I don't mean sending a string of text messages or slotting a 15-minute coffee date into your schedule. I'm talking about a real catch-up: spending hours on end talking about your lives, relationships, career, and topics that delve deeper than surface conversation.

If you're at a loss, now's the time to plan a girls' getaway. Block out a few hours in your schedule and meet a spa for a short staycation, or spend a weekend at a hotel that's a destination unto itself. Whatever your timeframe, these five stellar hotels and spas will encourage you to relax, recharge, and remember what's really important.

Rethink your coffee catch-up—these five luxury girls' trips are beckoning.

LOS ANGELES The Spa at Terranea

The Hotel: It's easy to understand why many of guests at Terranea are from neighboring parts of California—the resort is the ultimate place to take a staycation. Perched on the Palos Verdes coastline with uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean, the Destination Hotel provides much-needed respite from frantic city life.

The Spa: Set aside a day to make the most of this oceanfront spa. Unwind in the eucalyptus steam room, take a dip in the cold plunge, and watch the sun sink below the horizon to the sound of crashing waves and harbor seals.

The Signature Treatment: Sound Sleep Treatment. If you and your friends struggle to get a good night's sleep, this hour-long light-touch massage and Ayurvedic treatment will leave you totally and utterly restored.

UTAH Amangiri

The Hotel: Prepare to be awestruck. Amangiri is a remote hideaway nestled below ruby-red canyons in Utah. The suites are designed in response to the raw, minimal aesthetic of the landscape and have oil painting–like views of the breathtaking surrounds.

The Spa: There's something spiritual about Aman Spa. Treatments reflect the healing traditions of the Navajo by drawing on the elements of earth, wind, fire, and water. Be sure to spend some time in the Water Pavilion, a communal dry sauna, steam, and soaking pool area.

The Signature Treatment: The Desert Dream. Described as a treatment that "prepares you for a higher level of meditation," this unique experience involves reflexology and floating unassisted in a soothing saltwater pool.

Girl at Amangiri resort Utah
Sarah Sherman Samuel

SAN ANTONIO Loma de Vida

The Hotel: Unsure whether you and your group want to go wine tasting or relax at a wellness retreat? La Cantera Resort and Spa has both. It's situated atop one of the highest points in San Antonio, a short drive from vineyards, and has a new world-class spa on its premises.

The Spa: Loma de Vida is the jewel of the resort. A result of the property's multimillion-dollar renovation, the new spa offers holistic, meditative, and restorative treatments that incorporate natural herbs and ingredients native to Texas. The best bit? The indoor pool, steam rooms, and reclining area are perfect for groups, making this a social spa experience to share with friends.

The Treatment: Silence Biorhythm. Ideal for the frequent flyers in your gang, this treatment aims to detoxify the body, release negative energy, and restore the nervous system after travel. Ask for the sky loft suite—the wooden standalone bathtub is the stuff of dreams.

NEW YORK The Spa at Glenmere

The Hotel: Once one of America's finest country homes and host to royalty and aristocracy, Glenmere Mansion feels like it's nestled in the Spanish countryside rather than New York. Less than two hours' drive from Manhattan, the upstate manor was voted one of the 20 coolest new hotels in New York by Forbes.

The Spa: Elegant and refined, The Spa at Glenmere aims to transport guests to "the luxury and opulence of the Gilded Age." Despite its boutique size, the spa contains a bathhouse and hammam offering traditional Turkish and Moroccan treatments.

The Signature Treatment: Journey to Shambhala. The spa's most popular treatment includes a herbal steam shower, exfoliation, and full-body massage.

MIAMI Lapis Spa

The Hotel: If you'd rather stay in a smaller design hotel, skip Fontaine Bleau and keep an eye on The Surf Club, one of the most anticipated hotel re-openings in Miami. The oceanfront cabanas were designed by Joseph Dirand, and the rooms adhere to a quirky green and ice-blue color palette.

The Spa: Dubbed by Martha Stewart as the "most beautiful spa in America," Lapis attracts a long list of A-list guests. Spend a day in one of the mineral-rich pools or explore the Elements Rain Tunnel, a wet room with rain-like jets that fall from the ceiling.

The Treatment: Abhyanga massage. The full-body massage uses rhythmic movements and herbal oils to lull you into a meditative state. The treatment aims to lessen fatigue, improve circulation, and increase energy.

Frette Velour Robe $220
Iiuvo Emmie Candle $70
Arlotta Classic Cashmere Slide $92

What's the best girls' trip you've ever booked? Share your spa and travel tips with us below.

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