How to plan the Ultimate “Auntie” Getaway
So what is an “Auntie” Getaway?
Ladies of a certain age, such as myself, are affectionately referred to as aunties (Thanks to the Handmaid’s Tale). When I think of aunties, I think of women who are vibrant, know how to have a good time (but not girls gone wild good time), and who are plugged into the happenings in pop culture. Aunties are also at a point in life when they are willing to splurge on a semi-luxurious getaway with their fellow aunties!!
I, a self-proclaimed auntie, am lucky to have a squad of aunties I’ve know for over 20 years, who understand the importance of taking time to step away from all other titles (Wife, mother, actual auntie, leader, dentist, educator, broker, and so on) to recharge, reconnect, and reclaim our time.
This year I had the big job of planning the annual auntie getaway. I am excited to share it was such a huge success. That’s also why I wanted to share all the “deets” because (Not to pat myself on the back or anything) I’m pretty sure I’ve figured out the secret sauce to planning the ultimate “auntie” getaway.
When: Busy, Busy, Busy
Me and my fellow aunties are busy, busy, busy ladies. We’re all moms and professionals so getting a date for a getaway was tough. Since we are all moms, we tried to pick times when we could getaway for no more than 4 days without being missed too much. Mother’s day weekend last year and the day after 4th of July this year, proved to be ideal. We used Groupme which has a polling feature to pick the dates that worked for most of us.
Where: Location, Location, Location
It’s a no brainer but, every great getaway starts with identifying the destination and accommodations. I have three rules for selecting a destination:
- The destination has to have a variety of attractions to meet the interests of different types of travelers in the group such as the shoppers, art enthusiasts, outdoor lovers, adventurers, foodies, fitness fanatics, and quintessential tourist.
- The destination has to be scenic. Whenever I land in a breathtaking destination, my time to unplug and switch to vacation mode is that much faster. Plus, a gorgeous destination is always a great backdrop for vacation photos.
- The hotel or lodging must have plenty of amenities such that it is a destination all on its own. For an auntie getaway, onsite spa, pool, bar, and restaurants are essential. While you’ll definitely spend time off the property, short getaways are even shorter when you have commute to your activities.
What: Relax, Relate, Release
Girlfriend getaways should be full of Rs. You will need ample to relax, reconnect, recharge, rest, revel, relate, renew, rejoice, rejuvenate, replenish, and the list goes on. With that said, it’s important to have ample downtime but not so much that you feel like you wasted the trip. My tips for the getting it ALL in are:
- Make and agree upon an itinerary a few weeks before the trip. This will help everyone know what to pack. Google docs is great place to collaborate on your itinerary.
- Include optional activities on the itinerary that meets the travel tastes of each of your gal pals. The key word here is optional. The beauty of being of the auntie age is that we are confident and comfortable in our own skin. This also means that we are okay to breakaway from the group to explore on our own.
- Only plan to 2 outings a day. One being an activity (i.e sightseeing, adventure, touristy thing) and the other being a meal off the property where you are staying. The rest of the time is for lounging and enjoying the resort.
- Include mealtimes and location on the itinerary. Everyone on the trip may not do everything together except when it comes meals. Breakfast can be hit or miss depending on how crazy the night was, but by lunch and dinner everyone is back in synch.
- Get at least one professional group photo. This can be candids from an adventure or hire your own photographer. This year I planned a desert photoshoot. I found our amazing photographer, Mariah of Rya Pie Pictures, on Thumbtack.
- The last day before going home should be the spa day. Ending your trip with a spa day ensures you’re refreshed when you return home.
How: Money, Money, Money
So the last key thing to an ultimate auntie getaway is affordability. Your best bet for keeping your trip under $1000.00 bucks per person are to:
- Share your room with at least one other auntie.
- Travel during off-season. This varies by destination.
- Book an all-inclusive trip. Delta Vacations, Go-today.com, Groupon getaway, and Expedia.com all have great package deals.
- Book well in advance to get the best deals. Setup price alerts for your top destinations so you can take advantage of discount flights.
- Use reward points and loyalty programs to stretch your vacation dollars.
My Tiny Victory
Planning the perfect “auntie getaway” was a true victory in making it officially a hot girl summer of 2019. If you need a little inspiration, here’s a copy of our itinerary from our 2019 trip to Scottsdale, Arizona.