Contributed By Sheena Bhattessa

Wondering how to plan a girls’ trip that’s sure to satisfy everyone in the group chat? We checked in with Citizen Femme’s founder, Sheena Bhattessa, for advice and top destination picks around the globe.

We’ve all been there — the “We have to plan a girls’ trip soon!” text gets sent. Everyone “loves” the message. And then? Paralyzation strikes when trying to find a shared gap in schedules between demanding careers, parenthood, family commitments, and the other doldrums of life. Oftentimes, you don’t even get the stage to ask, “Where should we go?” because the girlies can’t get past scheduling. We get it, but as travel planners by profession, we recommend starting here: send three sets of dates, take a poll, and the range with the most votes wins.

Whether you pick beach or city break, adventure or indulgence, her picks are wide-ranging to satisfy everyone in your group, ensuring no one has to compromise.

From there, it’s about finding a destination that will excite your girls’ group’s wide-ranging tastes. We know, this can be a task in itself, but that’s why we’ve tapped Sheena Bhattessa, founder of Citizen Femme, a leading digital destination for today’s female traveler, to help guide you through how to plan a girls’ trip. More about Sheena and how Citizen Femme enables globetrotting women to better navigate the world around them below, but first, destination and hotel recommendations! Whether you pick beach or city break, adventure or indulgence, her picks are wide-ranging to satisfy everyone in your group, ensuring no one has to compromise. And as ever, your SmartFlyer travel advisor is here to make the planning process seamless.

FOR THE CITY BREAK

BARCELONA, SPAIN

When it comes to how to plan a girls’ trip that will involve shopping, nightlife, culture, and stellar hotels, Europe does city breaks with the girls best. And Barcelona really has it all; culture, incredible tapas, great shopping, and sophisticated rooftop bars with sweeping vistas of the vibrant city. Get your Adidas sambas on and walk through the city: start with perhaps the most well-known attractions, along Passeig de Gràcia (a wide boulevard lined with excellent shopping) to see Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, Museu Picasso, and Fundació Joan Miró, followed by a long afternoon stretched out side by side under the peach and white striped parasols at Soho House Barcelona’s rooftop pool. Not a Soho House member? No problem, work with your SmartFlyer travel advisor to secure a stay at this members club meets hotel. Alternatively, we love boutique stays at Almanac Barcelona or Hotel Alma Barcelona.  For an altogether glamorous night, consider a table at Moments, a Michelin-starred restaurant within Mandarin Oriental Barcelona helmed by Spain’s top (and female) chef, Carme Ruscalleda for the place to eat excellent food and Boca Chica.

FOR A TASTE OF EUROPE IN THE CARIBBEAN

ST MARTIN AND ST BARTHS

Begin your taste of France in the Caribbean with a flight directly into St Martin, where you’ll spend a night or two at La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel to unwind. If you’re wondering how to plan a girls’ trip where logistics are the least of your worries, your SmartFlyer travel advisor can set up a seamless transfer to Gustaff III Airport, which after a ten-minute flight, culminates with one of the world’s most spectacular landings. St Barths is a show-stopper getaway, oozing luxury and laid-back tranquillity. Stay at Eden Rock – St Barths (consider one of its impressive villas for the ultimate place to spread out with the girls) or Rosewood Le Guanahani for unmissable days by the beach, strolling, and shopping in Gustavia. Catch some fab bohemian beach vibes at Shellona lunches and Eden Rock’s Sand Bar, and dinner at Le Tamarin and Bonito.

FOR A BALANCED WELLNESS GETAWAY

IBIZA, SPAIN

If you’re wondering how to plan a girls’ trip for the crew who loves a mix of partying chased by green juices the following morning, Ibiza has reinvented itself as a great destination for wellness with a focus on healthy dining. The “Tulum of Europe” if you will (especially if you’re looking to travel a bit further from home), the Spanish island’s pivot to wellness has been welcomed by women all over. Don’t be mistaken, the island can still party hard, but places like The Nobu Hotel Ibiza have retooled their programming with rooftop yoga sessions and a series of Holistic Hikes retreats, or consider a stay at Six Senses Ibiza which has a programme that focuses on slowing down and promoting longevity. It’s a signature Ibizian-style setting with breakfast from the Farmer’s Market, but for your biohacking program, it’s pure high-tech.

FOR THE LONG-HAUL ADVENTURE SEEKER

HONG KONG

For women looking for it all, consider taking a trip to Hong Kong, known as “Asia’s World City”, where the girls can combine glamour, fun, adventure, and wellness surrounded by modern architecture, diverse cultures, and a thriving contemporary art scene, not to mention excellent food. This bustling city with its bright lights, soaring towers, glittering malls, and sumptuous restaurants is surrounded by seemingly endless rolling green hills and laid-back outlying islands, providing the perfect combination of action and relaxation. Don’t miss the chance to indulge in a Cantonese classic dim sum and some excellent café and fine dining. As one of the three host cities of Art Basel, Hong Kong is also considered one of the top art scenes in Asia. Be sure to take a trip around Hong Kong’s Museum of Art. Those looking to burn off some steam can head to The Peak, a gentle 3.5km hike and popular spot thanks to its epic views of Victoria Harbour and the city itself. Or, if you’re hoping for an answer on how to plan a girls’ trip for the exercise enthusiast, there’s a slightly more challenging 5.5km hike towards Violet Hill and Twin Peak. Stay at Upper House Hong Kong for their restaurant or The Landmark Mandarin Oriental which has perhaps one of the best massages you’ll ever experience.

FOR A LAID-BACK MUSIC-FILLED GETAWAY

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISANA

Everyone knows that New Orleans is the place to hear some good music and eat and drink well. It’s a city brimming with art, music, culture, and experience. There’s a bar or delicious restaurant quite literally around every corner, and quite simply put, a joyful place to be. Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans is a great place to keep as your base, a fifteen-minute stroll from the French Quarter and primely located along the Mississippi River. Or consider Maison Métier, an eclectic, fully private guest house located just a few blocks from the Vieux Carre. Adolfo’s and Justine are must-visit restaurants, Bacchanal and Hot Tin Rooftop Bar, for, well bars. d.b.a and Maple Leaf Bar for excellent live music (and this can be an exhaustive list). And a favourite remedy for how to plan a girls’ trip that mixes music and shopping is a stroll down Magazine Street and Royal Street in the French Quarter for great finds for the home.

FOR A FOODIE GETAWAY

TUSCANY, ITALY

Villa stays or boutique hotel getaways are a great way to spend special time with girlfriends. A secluded stay with slow living surrounded by beautiful vineyards in the luscious, rolling hills of Tuscany is ideal for a slow Italian break. Europe’s answer to Napa Valley, there’s almost a vineyard on every hill so you’ll be spoilt for choice when booking a wine tasting, lunch, and cellar tour. There are also plenty of alcohol-free things to do too from day trips to Florence, incredible farm-to-table restaurants – a favourite is the Tuscan tasting menu at Il Canto del Maggio — and spas. If your foodie crew is looking for the answer on how to plan a girls’ trip that involves upskilling your culinary toolkit, there are cookery classes such as the ones held at Villa Bordoni where the expert chefs teach you and your friends are available as well to indulge in a four-course Italian tasting menu of antipasto, primo, secondo, and dessert. A stay at Relais Borgo Santo Pietro is made even more fabulous for its spectacular farm-to-table dining, and brand-new spa! Buon Appetito!

TO BE ONE WITH NATURE

ICELAND

Iceland has a long-standing status as the world’s safest country. It also offers something exotic with its ice-capped and unspoiled paradise. The Northern Lights themselves are a big draw, but the mind-blowing nature and the Nordic culture make Iceland a great girls’ trip. But be sure to work with your SmartFlyer travel advisor to get guidance how to plan a girls’ trip to Iceland during best time of year to visit — you may have only four to five hours of daylight in the winter, or head there during the summer when you get endless daylight (at least around the summer solstice) and warmer temperatures. One of your first stops may be the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon; to maximise your time here, you can even stay at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon. Bathing culture is at the heart of the Icelandic way of life, from both a health and social perspective. Arrange water massages and simply enjoy taking time to relax and swim. In downtown Reykjavík, you’ll find tons of restaurants, art galleries, museums, and theatres, including the famous Harpa Concert Hall, as well as a vibrant nightlife. If you’re more keen on R&R in the countryside, a buyout of Deplar Farm provides prime access to high-caliber outdoor adventures.

WORLD-CLASS SHOPPING AND DINING

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

One would be remiss not to mention London as a great getaway with the girls. The city that really has it all, be it culture (West End and theatres across the city), arts with an endless stream of gallery openings, restaurants that rival NYC, and shopping from the best European designers, along Bond Street to department store Selfridges, and of course wellbeing. This one is definitely personal since it’s home to me. La Petite Maison, Bar des Prés, Roka, Bocca di Lupo, Padella, Borough Market, China Tang at The Dorchester, and Delamina count as favourite London restaurant haunts. Marylebone High Street is a super street to explore with its rise in popularity, great stores, and people-watching. Catch a show at the National Theatre on Southbank and try Claridge’s Spa, AIRE Spa, or Guerlain at the newly opened Raffles London at the OWO. The question, “How to plan a girls’ trip that everyone will love?” will surely be answered by a trip to London.

ABOUT SHEENA AND CITIZEN FEMME

Following a successful ten-year career in media, British Indian journalist Sheena Bhattessa founded Citizen Femme in 2017, after spotting a gap in the market for a trusted and stylish guide dedicated to the female traveller. “The catalyst was a trip to Istanbul with my friends. There were so many elements that just didn’t suit us as female travellers – from safety and hotel amenities, and a source of information on travel that really talked to women like me – looking for a comfortable but sophisticated stay. I was longing for travel suggestions that spoke to me. I thought, ‘Where would I stay if I came again? Who can I ask for advice?’ There was nothing out there to help women plan their next adventure. And so, Citizen Femme was born.”

Alongside her dynamic career, travel has always been an integral part of Bhattessa’s life, having grown up in a family of hoteliers, with properties in London and across the UK. With first-hand industry experience, Bhattessa is rapidly becoming a leading voice within the travel industry and an expert guide in connecting brands to the female traveller. “Yes, it’s about luxury and experience, but the new concept of “luxury” is a big question. It comes down to authenticity and those moments that become lasting memories. Women are often the key decision-makers in a household from travel to children and everything in between. Citizen Femme was created to recognise and speak to them.”

Recognising the power of the female traveller, Citizen Femme directly informs this audience with authentic guidance, enabling globetrotting women to better navigate the world around them. “The definition of “luxury” has changed, and for so many it is now associated with time. Citizen Femme was created to put women in charge of their travel choices, putting the best in front of them. We want to make sure they don’t waste a minute in the wrong place.”  With travel becoming safer and easier than ever, women have made a commitment to travel in a way that fulfills them, prioritising cultural experiences and constantly looking to digital to inform their travel decisions. Today, Citizen Femme is a trustworthy source for all things travel, fashion, beauty, business, art, design technology and more, offering authoritative advice to help women travel in an exciting and thought-provoking way.