Ten quick, affordable U.S. vacations for women

ByABC News
January 23, 2008, 7:05 PM

— -- From yoga retreats in Mexico to grand tours of India, dozens of women-only travel companies have made it possible for women to be in their own element while exploring the world. Not every woman has weeks of vacation time at her disposal or the money to travel overseas, though. Luckily, there are plenty of short, affordable women-only tours in the U.S. that promise empowerment, relaxation, and adventure for a fraction of the costand time commitmentthat other more far-flung trips require.

Luxury spa getaway in upstate New York

Provider:The Women's Travel Club

Length:Four days

Price:$1,599

The great prices The Women's Travel Club offers for luxury spa getaways (thanks to group discounts) may be what gets you to book a trip with the company, but it's the camaraderie with other like-minded women that past clients say you'll value most once the trip is over. "I have found the groups are comprised of intelligent, motivated women who truly enjoy travel," says Chestnut Ridge, New York, native Eunice Stern, who's been on three Women's Travel Club trips. "If the groups were not small and made up of the type of person they are I would not continue to travel with this organization."

The Women's Travel Club, which has been running trips since 1992, has made spa trips part of its repertoire for years, including visits to some of the country's top destination spas like Red Mountain Spa in Utah and Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires. This March, the Club is planning its first trip to The Lodge at Turning Stone in Verona, N.Y.

During your three-night stay at the AAA Four Diamond resort, you'll be given full access to the Turning Stone's spa facilities and classes along with a $345 credit for treatments and a $300 KN Karen Neuburger gift bag. With your group, you'll also partake in several Native American arts classes with members of the Oneida Indian Nation, the tribe that operates Turning Stone.

Trip planning

This trip runs March 27 to 30. The $1,599 price covers suite accommodations, daily $124 meal allowance, $345 spa credit and use of spa facilities, native arts classes, and transfers from the Syracuse airport. Airfare and a $35 Women's Travel Club membership fee are extra, but you must be a member for at least three months to avoid a vacation surcharge. Both KN Karen Neuburger and The Women's Travel Club will donate $100 each per booking to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Hiking in Zion and Bryce national parks

Provider:Adventures in Good Company

Length:Four days

Price:$975

Pampering is nice, but sometimes a girl just wants to get outside and go on a kick-ass adventure. Women high on energy but short on time should look at some of the trips operated by Adventures in Good Company, a women-only tour operator that runs affordable active trips around the world.

"The company plans amazing adventures for low prices, and I trust them," says elementary school teacher Sydelle Hoffman, who's been on five trips with the outfitter so far. "Every trip has been well-planned, balanced (time with group vs. time alone), and enjoyable because the guides really knew the areas we were exploring. I enjoy the very small group interaction of women of all ages from across the continent."

One of Hoffman's favorite vacations was a week-long hiking trip in Utah's national parks. This year, Adventures in Good Company has created a modified four-day version of that popular tour. Using the Zion Lodge in Zion National Park as your base, you'll go on four- to six-hour day hikes in Zion or Bryce National Park each day, logging about 25 total miles of trail.

Some of the hiking is strenuous, but the views make the effort worth it. "The Angels Landing trail [in Zion] is probably one of the most spectacular hikes I have done in a national park," says wilderness guide and Company Founder Marian Marbury. "The high point is this flat area with a gorgeous view that indeed looks like a good place for angels to land. Another highlight is Bryce Canyon National Park. The brightly colored hoodoos (rock spires) provide a unique and colorful landscape that literally took my breath away the first time I saw them."

Trip planning

This tour starts November 14 and is inclusive of accommodations, all meals, ground transportation, entrance fees, and guides. It starts and ends at the Las Vegas airport.

Shop like a local in Manhattan

Provider:Shop Gotham

Length: Half day

Price:$36 to $63

Some people come to New York for theater and the arts; others come to see the sights, to eat at trendy restaurants, or to explore the city's diverse neighborhoods. But for many women, New York's legendary shopping is the main (or even sole) draw.

New York might be a shopper's paradise, but finding good deals on fashionable designs can be a challenge. If you're a Manhattan neophyte, it's easy to wind up wasting your time lost in massive department stores, pondering why anyone would want to spend $50,000 on a dress made of feathers or a diamond-encrusted cellphone.

That's where Shop Gotham comes in. Owned by New Yorker Marla Hander, the company runs two- to three-hour walking tours of some of the city's top shopping districts, including SoHo and the Garment Center. "Insider" guides lead shoppers to hidden boutiques, showrooms, and sample sales where it's possible to nab designer accoutrements discounted by as much as 50%. The tours are co-ed, but the vast majority of people who sign up are women.

"Each tour offers something different," says Hander. "In the Garment Center for instancebe it the showrooms or the sample sales we visitthe discounts are a minimum of 50% off current-season goods. Visits are to a combination of wholesale showrooms, which give us exclusive access. In SoHo, the discounts are from retail stores (12 specially chosen boutiques) and they run from 10 to 20% off. However, we also know and head for the worthwhile sales in the area." Tours include a bit of historical and architectural insight as well.

Trip planning

The two-hour SoHo tour ($36) runs Fridays through Sundays and the three-hour Garment Center tour ($63) runs Wednesdays and Fridays from September through June. Private, custom tours can be arranged with advance notice. Tours include guides and shopping discounts. All other travel expenses including accommodations and transportation are extra. Rates for three-star hotels in Midtown Manhattan in mid-February start around $147 per night. If you're flying to the city, you should check rates at all three New York area airports.