This Valentine’s Day, celebrate the women who’ve been with you through it all. Here are expert tips for planning the ultimate Galentine’s trip.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, no one can escape the season of love and all the cheesy cliches that come with it. Sure, Valentine’s is often reserved for bouquets and candlelit dinners with a special someone… but women can buy each other flowers, too! After all, most girls had best friends before they had boyfriends right?.
Celebrate a different kind of love this Valentine’s Day by swapping the usual date night for a galentine’s getaway. And if you need any more convincing to book that girls’ trip, The White Lotus is back for another season — this time featuring a group of women on a getaway in Koh Samui. Tropical indulgence and a touch of chaos? Sounds about right. While we can’t promise a plot twist, we can guarantee that a luxe escape with your best girls is always a good idea.
Still worried about the planning and preparation that goes into getting a group of women together? Keep reading! Jean Nie Lim, the Global Head of Reservations and Guest Experience at The Luxe Nomad, shares her insights and expert tips on how to plan the ultimate trip so that it actually makes it out of the group chat.
Why is Galentine’s Day the perfect excuse for a girls’ getaway?
Every woman needs her girl gang — the group that serves as a support system, a sounding board, and a constant source of laughter and encouragement. With busy schedules and endless commitments, it’s becoming harder to get everyone together and turn those trip plans into reality.
Galentine’s Day is the perfect reminder to prioritise your friendships, embrace your feminine energy, and spend quality time healing, laughing, and creating unforgettable memories with your girlfriends.
Which destinations are ideal for a group trip?
Destinations like Bali, Phuket, Koh Samui and Niseko are perfect because they offer accommodations designed to cater to larger groups, ensuring everyone can stay together comfortably. The direct flight routes and accessibility for travelers from Asia-Pacific are also a plus!
Beach holidays in Bali, Phuket and Koh Samui are not only relaxing but also budget-friendly, making them ideal for a fun, convenient and affordable getaway. On the other hand, Niseko is the go-to destination when you’re ready to splurge — whether it’s for a luxurious winter escape or a stylish Christmas and New Year Eve celebration with your closest friends.
How do you choose the right destination when everyone has different interests?
Choosing the right destination starts with ticking a few check boxes: seasonality, availability, pricing, and the purpose of the trip. Once a destination meets these criteria, the next step is usually booking the flights to lock in the plan.
In most travel groups, there’s often a natural leader who takes charge of organising and coordinating. The key is to have someone who can balance everyone’s requests, make compromises when necessary, and ensure the trip caters to as many interests as possible. This approach makes planning smoother and keeps the group excited about the trip.
Once the destination is set, how do you find the perfect property?
To ensure the property meets expectations, I usually seek assistance from travel consultants. They help match me with properties that align with my specific needs, making the process much smoother. As a travel consultant myself, I know how valuable expert guidance can be in finding the perfect stay.
With so many options available these days, decision fatigue can set in, so leaving the search to specialists saves time and reduces stress. When reviewing their proposals, I rely on property photos, price, descriptions, and guest reviews to make the final decision.
Any unique activities you recommend to make the trip extra special?
Girl time is all about deepening connections, so I love planning activities that let us relax and indulge together. Spa treatments, massages, and mani-pedis are our favourite ways to unwind. And with everyone looking their best, capturing the moment helps preserve those memories forever.
What truly makes a trip unforgettable is combining these moments with culinary adventures like exploring top restaurants and sampling must-try local dishes. Sharing these experiences not only brings us closer but also creates lasting memories we’ll treasure and reminisce about for years to come.
How do you strike the balance between planned activities and downtime?
Traveling with a group requires social energy, and it’s important to recharge to keep the trip enjoyable and balanced. Personal space and me time are essential, especially on longer trips lasting more than a week. Having your own bedroom helps create that balance, allowing you to wind down at the end of the day with your personal routine.
I usually create a loose agenda with planned activities while leaving room for flexibility and spontaneity. Before the trip, we make a list of “must-see” attractions or experiences and keep the rest as “nice-to-have” options. This approach ensures that we hit the highlights without feeling overly scheduled, allowing everyone to enjoy the trip at their own pace.
What’s your best piece of advice for keeping a girls’ trip drama-free?
I believe the key to a smooth experience lies in the group size. Traveling in pairs can sometimes drain energy because of the constant attention each person needs. Having a third person adds balance to the dynamic and acts as a natural glue for the group.
While large groups can be fun, I personally recommend keeping the group size to a maximum of six people. This reduces wait times when moving between destinations and makes logistics easier, like fitting everyone into one vehicle or splitting the group into two for transfers with a lot of luggage. Smaller groups make the entire trip more manageable and stress-free.
If you were planning your ultimate Galentine’s getaway, what would it look like?
For my ultimate Galentine’s getaway, I would choose a luxurious all-inclusive package that allows us to relax and enjoy without any hassle. Everything would be taken care of from the moment we arrive, starting with airport pickup followed by a fully staffed property with a driver, private chef, and concierge to cater to our every need. This is exactly what The Luxe Nomad specialises in — curating the most seamless and indulgent villa experiences, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy.
Ideally, everything would be booked for us in advance, leaving us free to simply follow the itinerary and have fun. I personally love the private chef service because they personalise the menu to our tastes, using locally sourced ingredients to create delicious meals right at the comfort of our “home”.
To make the experience extra special, I would arrange for a flower bouquet for each girlfriend and ensure that their favourite beverages and desserts are waiting for them in the kitchen. It’s these thoughtful details that elevate a trip from good to unforgettable, creating memories that last a lifetime.
Finally, which Luxe Nomad properties would you recommend for an unforgettable girls’ trip?
For Bali, I would highly recommend the newly built Villa Lenu! Located in the heart of Seminyak, it’s just a short walk to popular restaurants, cafés, and iconic beach clubs like Potato Head and Ku De Ta. The villa boasts six spacious bedrooms, with a pool large enough to host parties.
In Koh Samui, Villa Veha would be my top pick. One of our latest additions, this chic, tropical escape is perfect for a group looking for privacy and luxury, with stylish interiors and plenty of space to unwind together.
And for those heading to Niseko, Yuki Sugi at Intuition is a fantastic choice. Chalets are often overlooked, but they offer an intimate setting ideal for a cosy après-ski retreat with your closest friends. Tucked away in a serene location yet close to Niseko’s best restaurants and ski lifts, it’s the ideal mix of seclusion and convenience.