Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Some of my best holiday memories are those I’ve had with the girls. Admittedly, these trips are less frequent now, but they are just as fun.
My closest female friends are those I went to school with. We made it through the break-ups, exams and general teenage angst together, emerging into adulthood still unsure of ourselves. Most of us went to college together, lived on Long Island for a summer and then went further afield to Australia. Eleven of us squeezed into a two-bedroom apartment is enough to test even the best of relationships, but my memories are of laughter and adventure.
We are still great friends and I count myself incredibly lucky to have such wonderful, supportive and fun friends. Such friendships deserve to be treasured and nurtured.
I like to think we could do a weekend abroad some day soon, so it got me thinking, where would we go? As with everything, there would be a few criteria.
1. Nobody is flush with cash, so it would have to be an affordable getaway
2. A city break – something for everyone and a short flight would be preferable
3. Great food and wine
4. A nice day trip option
So with these in mind I scanned the cities I’ve visited in recent years, places I’d like to return to. I recalled one of our girls holidays in France a few years ago. We flew into Bordeaux and within an hour of landing were in a square, sipping wine and nibbling on some delectable snacks. We couldn’t get over the cost of everything, it was so cheap.
We spent our days browsing boutiques, visiting museums and took the local train to St. Emillion, where we hired bicycles and toured the vineyards. Dinners were long affairs and I seem to remember stumbling upon some dodgy nightclub where we danced into the early hours.
This morning on Ireland AM I chatted about Lisbon and Bordeaux as two great options and you can read about Lisbon here and Bordeaux here.
SPECIAL OFFERS FOR BORDEAUX
From €189 per person includes 3 nights in a 3 star hotel, Aer Lingus flights, bag and taxes.
From €110 per person – includes 2 nights accommodation, free wine tasting, city tour, bottle of wine in room, 10% off shopping, free access to selected museums
SPECIAL OFFERS FOR LISBON
From €179 per person includes 2 nights in a 4 star hotel, flights, bag and taxes)
Fly November/December
From €489 per person – includes 4 nights at 4* Tivoli Jardim, B&B, flights and taxes
From €383 includes 4 nights in 3 star hotel, flights, taxes and charges
Julianne Mooney 
Wow, pretty hard to say no to Lisbon at that cost – a beautiful city.
I know, it’s so beautiful and I couldn’t get over the cost too!