femme focus

5 queer-friendly destinations for a getaway with your gal pals

Rome Europe Italia travel summer tourism holiday vacation background -young smiling girl with mobile phone camera and map in hand standing on the hill looking on the cathedral Vatican
Rome, Italy

Get ready to embark on a journey filled with adventure, lavishness, and unforgettable moments with your closest gal pals. From the sun-kissed shores of Cabo San Lucas and the cultural richness of Rome to the wine-infused charm of Mendoza and the picturesque fjords of Norway, we’ve picked a handful of femme-friendly destinations and experiences that are tailor-made for your next girly getaway.

Pampering and wine tasting in Argentine wine country

Susana Balbo and her daughter Ana Lovaglio Balbo (photo courtesy of SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites)
Susana Balbo and her daughter Ana Lovaglio Balbo (photo courtesy of SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites)

For the wine enthusiasts girls’ group there is no better getaway than one inspired by wine itself.

From renowned Argentinian winemaker Susana Balbo, alongside her daughter Ana Lovaglio Balbo, comes the newly opened SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites in Mendoza, Argentina.

The wine country retreat is a culmination of Balbo’s 40 years in the industry. You will see her personal touches in everything, from the design, décor, and setting to the cuisine, art, and wellness experiences.

SB Winemaker’s House is the only hotel in Latin America with fully integrated in-room spa features and services. It offers seven spa suites complete with a steam room and massage table. Four of the seven suites are also equipped with a dry sauna.

Guests can enjoy the hotel’s features at leisure or opt for a guided experience with a Wellness Butler. SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites also house La Vida restaurant, a lounge bar, a swimming pool, a shop with local artisanal products, and a tasting room, of course. 

Spa suite with sauna (photo courtesy of SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites)
Spa suite with sauna (photo courtesy of SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites)

See the Northern Lights in Norway

Norway is one of the world’s most gender-equal countries, and travel curators, like our friends at Up Norway, are constantly striving to ensure that equality remains clearly visible on the map. 

Photo courtesy of Up Normay
Photo courtesy of Up Normay

Sustainable luxury travel curator Up Norway invites girls to explore Norway from a gender equality perspective with their journey: Tracing Norway’s Super Women.

During Up Norway’s 10-day journey (available year-round), travelers embark on an adventure that uncovers important moments of Norway’s LGBTQ+ history. The tour touches on remarkable stories from the 17th-century witch trials in wild Varanger to female empowerment today in a whiskey distillery on the remote island of Fedje. If you plan your visit during the colder months of the year, you may get a chance to see the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights in Norway (Photo courtesy of Up Normay)
Northern Lights in Norway (Photo courtesy of Up Normay)

Highlights include Scandinavia’s only Women’s Museum, witchcraft and wildlife at the Steilneset Memorial, 100% female-owned Feddie Ocean Distillery, and more. Accommodations also focus on the country’s leading females, including the exquisitely restored boutique hotel in Oslo Camillas Hus

Get a little tipsy on the beach in Cabo San Lucas

Video courtesy of Mar Del Cabo

Located midway between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, Mar del Cabo is a stylish adaptation of the classic boutique hotel, designed to captivate and comfort. You and your friends will enjoy the organic cuisine at the in-house restaurant Encanto, one of its two bars, spa services, and a sleek ocean-front pool.

Mar del Cabo also offers activities such as the “mezcalita” (mezcal margarita) workshop, where guests learn about the cocktail and create their own versions. Accompanied by a scenic oceanfront view, the workshop is led by the resort’s expert mezcal mixologist using different artisanal spirits from Oaxaca.

Experience la dolce vita in Rome

Photo courtesy of Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese
Photo courtesy of Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese

Do you and your gal pals want to channel your inner divas in the Eternal City? With a new Girls’ Getaway package offered by Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, has curated a getaway package that embraces “la dolce vita” while uncovering the city’s rich history, hidden charms, and bucket-list experiences. The hospitality team at Villa Borghese has drawn together an array of handpicked activities and experiences, meticulously crafted to celebrate the best of Rome’s heritage, gastronomy, fashion, and art.

Photo courtesy of Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese
Photo courtesy of Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese

Highlights include a wellness experience, a mixology tour, shopping for signature handbags, and a workshop to learn the art of the spritz. A sunset garden tour and prosecco tasting at Villa Medici, yoga in Borghese Gardens, and a floral decoration class are also included, adding plenty of moments for insta-worthy selfies with your besties.

Villa Borghese organizes a wide variety of other experiences outside this getaway package, including a running or walking tour of the Roman Colosseum’s exclusive fourth story.

Photo courtesy of ArcheoRunning
Photo courtesy of ArcheoRunning

Following this tailor-made running tour through the Eternal City’s most iconic squares, guests will have a chance to visit the historic amphitheater’s attic.

Dive into the crystal clear waters of Croatia

Searching for the next “it” destination? Look no further than Cavtat, Croatia.

Cavtat, Croatia (photo courtesy of Hotel Supetar Cavtat)
Cavtat, Croatia (photo courtesy of Hotel Supetar Cavtat)

Located just south of Dubrovnik, Cavtat offers a relaxed pace of life, drawing a resemblance to St Tropez before the crowds. Celebrities have quickly caught on to this up-and-coming destination – Jay Z, Beyonce, David Beckham, and Matthew McConaughey are just a few who have been spotted enjoying the enclave.

photo courtesy of Hotel Supetar Cavtat
photo courtesy of Hotel Supetar Cavtat

The unique town on the Adriatic has a stunning waterfront promenade lined with palm trees, beaches, churches, monuments, and museums and is full of picturesque outdoor restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. 

There are more than 5 miles of crystal-clear water, beaches, and world-class hotels including the newly reopened Hotel Supetar Cavtat.

Located in the heart of the charming historic center of Cavtat, the boutique hotel offers 16 stylish, individually designed rooms, each with its own Mediterranean flare.

It creates a resort-like feel with a restaurant that overlooks Cavtat’s promenade, a wine bar that focuses on local grapes, a pool and garden.

Don't forget to share:

Discover more

Your support makes our travel guides possible

We believe that LGBTQ+ people deserve safe vacations that allow them to be their authentic selves. That's why our City Guides aren't locked behind a paywall. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated