Planning a Multi-Destination Girls’ Trip Across Europe Without Wasting Precious Travel Time

There are a few things I LOVE as much as a good girls’ trip! Imagining all the girly nights out, daydreaming about the destinations we’ll see, and the knowledge that I’ll be with all my besties while we have all these glorious new experiences together.

Heavenly, right? Well…maybe. The thing with great girls’ trips is that they require great planning and a keen eye for detail, rather than a “bucket list” of the glammest night spots and the most stunning spots for a few Instagram snaps. Lucky for you, I’ve got you covered there! As a veteran girls’ trip planner, I know how to do it once and do it right. Incorporating a time budget? No problemo! Making sure no one overpacks? Got you, babes! Let’s make our way through the process of planning the ultimate Euro girls trip together, and you’ll see how easy it can be.

The Details

Choose Your Methods of Travel Wisely

First and foremost, let’s look at flights. Depending on where you live and which parts of Europe you’ll be heading to, you’re more than likely to need to spend at least some travel time in the air. Let’s not muck about on this: private jet charter flights are the only way to go. To begin with, a trip on a private jet is a quiet indulgence that every traveller should have at least once in their lives— bring on the bubbles and white-glove level service!

Next, since you’re travelling in a group (or a gaggle or a horde, depending on the level of well-behaved your friend group is!) Chartering a jet together will not come in at as high a cost per person as it would if you were alone, making it an aspirational but also attainable travel goal. Also, the benefit of being able to cackle to each other, seat switch and just generally relax and be yourselves is an obvious plus. Private jets also make use of private airports, and the smaller jet classes are able to land at much more remote destinations than a passenger plane would be—  this saves you both time and airport stress.

Familiarise yourself with the train companies and schedules at and between each of your destinations because they’re about to become your new best friends. European trains operate from city centre to city centre, so they can be useful for hopping from one place to the next over shorter distances. There’s no luggage limit (just remember to be considerate of other passengers because when we travel, we are considerate!) They are convenient, cost-effective, safe and speedy. Plus, they often serve alcohol… What’s not to love about a cheeky cocktail as you whizz through stunning scenery?

Don’t Think In Destinations, Think in Travel Corridors

Plan your routes wisely to avoid backtracking past destinations you’ve already been to, to get to new ones. Here are a few great examples:

• Paris > Champagne> London
• Barcelona > Côte d’Azur > Milan
• Rome > Florence > Lake Como
• Amsterdam > Brussels > Paris
• Vienna > Salzburg > Munich

Carefully consider the places you all want to see and then whittle them down to the stops you’re going to see. Take a good, hard look at a European map and figure out routes that move through existing “travel corridors” to avoid wasting time, money and effort.

Fewer, Better Stops

I know, I know: it’s a girls’ trip! You want to go EVERYwhere and see EVERYthing…but you just can’t. It’s not practical!

Consider all the stops that everyone has in mind (make sure you choose at least one from each person’s list to be fair) and what they each have to offer: are there lovely small towns and attractions for day trips nearby? Are there any events happening at said destination that you absolutely can’t miss or want to avoid? Do many potential stops have similar attractions? If so, which destination offers the most in the closest proximity?

Choose fewer stops, and your experience will be better at each. Embrace the luxury of slowing down naturally rather than rushing around like a headless chicken to fit everything in. You want this to be the kind of trip you talk about fondly long after you get home, not the kind you awkwardly giggle about because you all arrived home more haggard and stressed than you were when you left!

Pack Like A European Rather Than an Influencer

Now, I know you’re going to want to fight me on this, but hear me out first. Overpacking is your worst enemy, and here is my case:

• You NEVER end up wearing every cute dress and certainly not every pair of heels you bring
• You’ll be stressed beyond belief trying to get everything into one suitcase— not the best way to start or end your lovely trip, and certainly not a time saver when you’re travelling to more than one destination!
• You may leave precious garments behind because you’re just not sure what you brought and what you didn’t.
• You’ll be more concerned about putting a selfie-worthy look together than about the destination and experiences themselves— trust me, it happens to all of us!

When I say pack like a European, this is what I mean:

• Choose neutral base pieces that can mix and match and be repeated after a quick laundry stop or spritz of Fabreeze.
• Include ONE statement look or piece per city (try your best to make your glam shoes ones that will go with more than one look— your preferred neutral will be the best option) for clubbing or fancy dinners.
• Walking shoes. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT leave these out because they aren’t as cute as your cowboy boots. You’re not going to look back and see trainers in your holiday pictures; you’re going to see happy, comfy memories!

Europe Awaits, Girlies!

Shift your mindset and think of the upcoming trip as a series of curated moments rather than a frenzied rush to see and do as much as possible. Make this trip an experience that feels deeply personal for all of you and one you’d revisit in a heartbeat. Bon voyage!

Images – dreamstime