Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Girlfriends Getaway Spa Package at Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville


Girls, girls! Let's go to Asheville, North Carolina! Home to the historic Biltmore Estate, a funky downtown, art galleries galore and some of the most killer scenery, Asheville offers something for everyone in tow -- including spa getaways.

The Girlfriends' Getaway "Enriching Experience" at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville in the heart of Biltmore Village has a taste of everything this boutique hotel and the enchanting area has to offer. And this all-inclusive package makes it easy to just say ahhh!

The two-day, one-night Grand Bohemian Girlfriends' Getaway package includes:
  • Luxurious guest room accommodations
  • A Poseidon Spa 50-minute signature massage treatment, per person, gratuity included
  • A welcome gift and tour of the Grand Bohemian Art Gallery
  • One cocktail in the Red Stag Grill, per person, gratuity not included
  • One ticket to the Biltmore Estate, per person
The Tudor-inspired Grand Bohemian Hotel features luxe guest rooms and suites that reflect the Old World rustic charm of the area including stone flooring, distressed carved oak wood walls, columns and archways. Guest rooms and suites feature luxury linens, bathrobes, LCD televisions, high-speed internet access and in-room coffee and tea makers. The larger suites have oversized soaking tubs and separate seating and dining areas.

Located in the hotel is the Red Stag Grill, Black Forest Wine Room, Kessler's Grand Bohemian Art Gallery, Poseidon Spa, and a 24-hour state of the art fitness center. Concierge service, valet parking and room service are also available. The hotel is located central to Biltmore Village, just steps from the Biltmore Estate and surrounded by quaint boutique shops.

The Girlfriends' Getaway package rates start at $389 but vary by season. For more info, visit bohemianhotelasheville.com or call 877.274.1242. For more on Asheville, visit ExploreAsheville.com.

Photo: A spa suite at Poseidon Spa.

Girlfriend Getaways in the Spotlight on GalTime.com!


Award-winning investigative journalist Mary Schwager features "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Girlfriend Getaways" on a new website dedicated to one of my favorite things ... girl time! Or in this case, Gal Time. Check it out at GalTime.com. Or read her story on Examiner.com.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Girlfriend Getaways: A Travel Book for Girls Who Just Want to Have Fun


So, you know that girlfriend getaway you've talked about for years but never had the time or energy to plan? Well, have I got news for you. This spring, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Girlfriend Getaways (Alpha Books, 2009) finally hit the book shelves and the even better news is that it's not for idiots. The book is for super busy like you and me who are lucky if we get out of the door every day with matching shoes (and brushed teeth but then again, that could be my own personal problem ... TMI).

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Girlfriend Getaways is a travel book for women hankering for a getaway laced with some good ol' fashioned girl time. The underlying message of the book is to "Just go!" This country is peppered with tons of wonderful places for a memorable and exhilarating getaway but the fact is that we often don't take the time we need. A girlfriends getaway is a way to unwind, reconnect and just be yourself.

That said, the book features more than 70 destinations throughout the United States and Canada including where to stay, where to eat and what to do. Each chapter has a theme -- shopping, adventure trips, volunteer vacations, cultural excursions and of course, one seriously fat chapter on spas -- so that you can skip right to the type of destination you want and get to the business of planning your getaway.

Because of my own beauty product addiction, you'll also find a guide to pre-trip beauty and my list of must-haves for keeping fresh and pretty on the go.

The book is also sprinkled with sage "chick wit" advice from other female travelers.

For more about me, the author, click here. To just get on with it and buy the book, visit Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders.