My friends and I (all mid-late 20's) go on a girls trip (continental U.S.) every year. I usually plan as I like travel planning.

I'm kind of stuck this year on figuring out where to go. We want to go somewhere that does not take too long to fly to and the flight isn't too expensive. We would like to go in the beginning of January 2007.

Here are our priorities:
1. Ease of flying (we'll be flying from NYC, New Orleans, Dallas, and Ft. Myers/Tampa)
2. Good nightlife/restaurants
3. Excellent hotel w/large spa
4. One or two interesting activities to do during the day.

Please advise on some trip ideas. Right now, we are thinking Austin, Denver, or Scottsdale. We kicked around Asheville and Charleston, but the flight issue seems to be a dealbreaker.

I vote for Austin!! Weather is usually good in January and we've got most any type of night life you could hope for. I don't know if any of your group are smokers, but be advised there is a city-wide smoking ban even in bars. We also have a wide variety of restaurants, but my faves are the ones on the lake such as Hula Hut and Oasis.

A few suggestions for what to do during the day, we have the Captiol Building, the Bob Bullock Museum of TX History, and the Blanton Art Museum all within a few blocks of each other.

I'm just about to head out to meet friends, but if you think Austin suits your needs, I'll look at some hotel sites later and check for spas.

You've lost me.

Asheville and Charleston are so much shorter flights than Denver of Scottsdale for everyone but your Dallas resident.

While it may take a little longer to fly to then some of your choices, I believe you could all get non-stops to Las Vegas. Vegas is the ultimate "girls trip" destination While I go up there several times a year (live in AZ) at least once a year I meet friends from various parts of the U.S. (Wash. DC, Philadelphia, NYC, etc.). Everyone gets there on a non-stop and hotels/shows/spa/clubs/dining are the best !! You can always rent a car and do some Off Strip stuff too (Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, Red Rock, for example). Southwest Airlines (as well as some of the others) have really decent flights to Vegas as also have packages with flight/hotel.

Vegas would be a great girls weekend, but it can be cold in January. I'd love a girls weekend there, but my husband always insists ongoing!

NannyJan

Lots of "indoor" things to do if Jan. if Vegas is too "cold" Shopping, gambling, eating, shows, did I say shopping Actually, it's not usually too cold but it depends on where you come from. Daytime temps can be in the 50's but also 60's. Nights can get into 30's.

I vote for Vegas

GoT: Flights into Asheville and Charleston are cost prohibitive. On the other hand, most can get ns flights into the other destinations. Therefore, that is why I eliminated those two destinations.

Maybe I'll look into Las Vegas. I haven't considered that but maybe we will.

I just got back from Vegas, and I think it would be a GREAT place to go with gfriends. Even if you don't do gambling or shows (we did neither), there is still PLENTY to do for a few days: beautiful spas, (for eg: Wynn, Bellagio, Venetian), great shopping (Caesar's Forum Shops, the Fashion Mall, the Venetian Shops), NS flights, beautiful hotels, lots of sightseeing right on the strip, fun and funky bars, probably no "pooling" in Jan., but still fun!! The restaurants are abundant and wonderful. The other gf-trip that could be fun is a 3-4 day cruise. Happy Planning!

Is it just for a weekend?

We usually do a 3 or 4 night long weekend. I would really prefer only ns flights, especially with the added inconvenience of recent events.