These luxury adventures are a true break from the everyday / Feature image credit: Unsplash

Pamper yourself with on a Girls’ Guide to the World trip

(Sponsored feature) 

Have you ever fallen in love? I’m Doni Belau, the founder of Girls’ Guide to the World, and I want to invite JourneyWoman readers to fall in love with some of my favorite places in the world: France, Italy, California, and even Texas!

I fell in love with Paris — and traveling — in high school. Years later, I founded Girls’ Guide to Paris in 2009. We started with small-group, women-only trips to Paris, then expanded to other parts of France … then Bali, England, Greece & Morocco, and 25 other countries. In 2022, we changed our name to Girls’ Guide to the World.

Travel tips: Check Skyscanner for flight costs before you book, don’t forget to use incognito mode and consider combining a less-expensive flight with train travel where possible. Our Booking Resources page has recommended services from other women and you can share or search women-friendly accommodations and hospitality services in our new Places to Stay section. We also want to remind you how important it is to purchase travel insurance. Check prices on insuremyflight.com.

While my heart will always be in Paris, the spirit of our trips transcends any one place. At Girls’ Guide, we understand that travel is all about discovery. We keep an open mind to new places, new food, new people, new ways of doing things, and the ever-evolving world around us. We say a prayer to our inner goddess and treat ourselves and our sisters like princesses. But we also know we are the CEOs of our own lives. We are never helpless and are righteous warriors. We remain grateful for the opportunity to travel, knowing how few people in the world have the means to travel. It is a true privilege.

Our trips are for the discriminating traveller who appreciates the smallest detail, sees the beauty of our world, and thrives on a spirit of adventure and sisterhood. To create intimacy and lifelong friendships, our groups are small, with no more than 10 women from all backgrounds, countries, and ages. We stay in welcoming but luxurious, independently-owned boutique hotels — and every woman has her own private room. We appreciate little luxuries like fine wines and turn-down service, but we can put on our big girl pants and roll our own suitcases when we need to.

More than anything else, we believe that travel is an essential part of self-care that we need. Believe me, after the past four years, we all deserve time for ourselves. Just for JourneyWoman readers, I’m offering US$400 off of all the trips mentioned below if you book before August 1 (use code JWJuly400). I hope you can join us and fall in love with the world — and yourself — again.

Five small group, women-only trips from Girls’ Guide to the World

Discover a Secret Seaside Paradise in Ile de Ré, France

September 19 – 25, 2023

A delightful island, called the ’21st arrondissement’ of Paris

Sample the freshest seafood, regional cuisine, and wine while visiting chic boutiques, fabulous markets, and exceptional artisans. Ile de Ré, on France’s mid-Atlantic coast, offers unspoiled natural beauty and architectural splendor, with white-washed holiday cottages along sandy beaches, pristine salt marshes, and picturesque ports, including the elegant neo-classical harbor of La Rochelle, France’s historic “Gateway to the West” and Rochefort – where Louis XIV established his magnificent naval capital.

Women in Wine Tour – in Napa & Sonoma, California

September 19 – 14, 2023

Sip and Savor with the most important women in the wine industry

Treat yourself to a luxurious girl’s week in Northern California wine country. During this 6-day/5 night VIP experience, we’ll focus on pampering ourselves at a world-class spa and meet fascinating entrepreneurs in the wine trade. We’ll feast at the best market-driven culinary outposts, and steal some time for shopping and relaxing. All of our tastings are VIP with the owners or winemakers.

The French Riviera & Provence

September 28 – October 5, 2023

The French Riviera means the sparkling blue Mediterranean, candlelit dinners, and celebrity sightings

From the days of Queen Victoria to the present day, the Cote D’Azur has been the place to see and be seen. Even if that life doesn’t interest you, the region’s fame is well deserved. It is stunningly beautiful and dotted with castles, villas, world-famous art, and drop-dead gorgeous sea views.

We’re venturing off the beaten track a bit, taking you to the picture-perfect seaside town of Cassis (on the entire coast, my personal favorite). We’ll stay in two amazing hotels, visit knowledgeable chefs, and get onto the water to view the coast from the best vantage point. We’ll also venture up north into Provence to visit some of France’s most charming villages. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a veteran, this is the perfect trip.

Take $400 off all trips listed if you book before August 1. Use code JWJuly400.

An Artistic Romp in Marfa, Texas

November 30 – December 4, 2023

This remote desert town in West Texas is the most surprising destination for contemporary art in America. ‘If you build it, they will come.’

Tiny Marfa, Texas, is one of the most distinctive places in the United States. Nearly three hours southeast of El Paso, in the middle of nowhere, you’ll find an art community like no other. Formerly a stop on the railroad for refilling steam engines with water, in the 1970s something started brewing in Marfa. Minimalist artist, Donald Judd moved into town and led a movement to transform Marfa into a world-renowned art mecca.

A Roman Holiday

December 6 – 13, 2023

Rome is gorgeous in early December!

There is no place like Rome in the holidays! The city hosts lively Christmas markets and unique boutique shopping. It’s also rich with Christmas’ most sacred traditions, glorious historical ruins, and of course, decadent Italian food. We’ll taste our way through the most famous and charming Roman neighborhoods, including Campo de Fiori, Trastevere, and the Jewish Ghetto. Along the way, we’ll enjoy everything from Michelin-star farm-to-table restaurants to secret neighborhood coffee gems to humble trattorias boasting spectacular local cheeses, cured meats, pizza, and gelato. And then there is the phenomenal wine.

Todos Santos, Mexico – A Transformational Retreat

January 17 – 22, 2024

Launch into the new year with energy and peace!

Todos Santos, Mexico, is a little over an hour from Cabo San Lucas in Baja California, but it is a lifetime away in atmosphere and spirit. Here, there are no highrises and most of the roads are unpaved. Todos can be described as a hippie-meets-surfer-meets-yogi kind of place where whales jump out of the ocean in celebration of the winter. The weather is stunning and the beach is picture-perfect. There is magic in the air. In Todos Santos, you’ll discover how to reignite your inner fire, remove energy blocks, increase positivity and resilience, reduce stress, and feel awakened and energized. This is a retreat open to everyone, from a true beginner to a practicing yogi. This is the perfect way to start the new year.

Take $400 off all trips listed if you book before August 1. Use code JWJuly400.