I love a good girls' getaway. There's something about getting together with a group of your girlfriends, catching up on each others' lives, eating way too much food and drinking way too much wine (just kidding, never enough wine) that feels good for your soul, like chicken soup (what ever happened to those books, btw?). But the older we get, the harder it can be to plan that girls' weekend you and your friends have been talking about for months, maybe even years! There's work, family, social activities and a bunch of other commitments that make it difficult to find the time, but I promise it can be done. I recently returned from a girls' getaway in the Poconos in which my three friends and I were all coming from different cities, but we made it happen using the following five steps:

1. Set a date and stick to it
This is the obvious first step but one that people tend to drag their feet on: set a date! It's not enough to say, "we should all go somewhere soon!" Chances are, you'll be saying that same vague sentence for months, but if you really want to "go somewhere soon" then you have to find a time that works for everyone. Prior to my recent girls' weekend, my friends and I had discussed going skiing together a year ago, but our schedules didn't align and before we knew it, winter was over. Fast forward to this past winter when we picked up the conversation again and ultimately set a date that worked for everyone. That date was set months in advance but it meant that we would know to plan our busy lives around the one weekend we had set aside for our girls' getaway. 

2. Determine a budget that works for everyone
This is another crucial step in the process. Everyone has different financial commitments and priorities in their lives, so it's important not to make any assumptions about what people can or cannot afford. Just because someone has a six-figure salary doesn't mean they're willing to spend hundreds of dollars on an extravagant getaway; the same goes for the opposite. Be candid with each other and determine a budget that everyone feels comfortable with, and more importantly, stick to that budget. The last thing you want is for someone to be put in the awkward position of paying more than they want to or can manage. 

3. Figure out the logistics 
Where is this girls' getaway taking place? How are you all getting there? What is everyone bringing and what time should everyone arrive? These are just a few of the questions you should figure out before your trip. There's a saying: "Birds of a feather flock together." Well, I am a planner so it's no surprise many of my close friends are also planners. Figuring out the logistics comes naturally to us, but not everyone wants to take the time to decide on these details. Same as setting a date and determining a budget, you have to take the next step in planning your girls' trip if you want to make it happen. Decisions lead to outcomes, so start making some. 

4. Leave the stress at home
I don't know anyone who doesn't have some degree of stress in their lives. It's just a part of living. But a girls' getaway is meant to de-stress you and take you away from the 10 billion things going on in your life. As much as you can, leave the worries at home, or at least try not to dwell on them too much while you're with your friends. It's easier said than done, but it will give you the break you may not know you needed. A girls' getaway can also be really cathartic and the perfect place to vent and get those frustrations out. Your friends are your support system, so if something is bothering you, talk through it, drink some wine (it helps!) and let the stress slide away. 

5. Have fun!
What's the point of a vacation with girlfriends if you don't have fun? I can't count the number of times I have been with my friends and laughed so hard, my stomach hurt the next day. That's the sign of a perfect girls' getaway. It's also the time to let loose (but don't get crazy). You're bound to eat junk food, but I heard somewhere that calories don't count in situations like this, so don't worry about it. Be goofy, let your hair down, be yourself and enjoy the precious time spent with your fabulous friends.

These five steps have led to several perfect girls' getaways with my closest friends. It's not complicated, but it means committing to the idea in order to make it a reality. And the reality is that a girls' getaway is always a good idea.   

Do you have other tips for planning a girls trip?