Girlfriend Getaways

Walnut Creek, Calif.: Where in the world…I was reading this month's magazine and fell in love with a dress that is actually on an advertisement page for Fort Lauderdale. It states it is from a store called Pink Papaya in Deerfield Beach, but how can I find out who makes this dress in time to order it for our trip to Hawaii this summer??

GG Editors: Yes, that dress is both snazzy and summery. We don't know the name of it here. But call Pink Papaya at 954/426-4267. —Sean O'Neill

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Fulton, Mississippi: How do I subscribe to GG? I just looked at a copy and want more.

GG Editors: Great to hear that you're a fan! Unfortunately, we aren't able to take subscriptions for Girlfriend Getaways yet, but you can find the next issue on newsstands in mid-August. In the meantime, check GirlGetaways.com for new package deals and other updates, as we expand our GG coverage. And if you'd like more copies of the current issue, you can place an order here. —Kate Appleton

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Guthrie, Okla.: We took a girltrip last year to Zion and Bryce National Parks and this year I am looking into Acadia Park in Maine for the four of us, probably in the fall. What I am having trouble with is where to fly into and rent a car—or is it so out of the way that it's hard to do that? Even on Tripadvisor, I can't get a correct answer. I know Bangor, Maine has an airport. What can you suggest? Also, where should we stay near the park?

Thanks a lot,
Christy

GG Editors: Acadia is a great destination for a girlfriend getaway—lots of hikes, terrific sea kayaking, and a nice selection of shops and restaurants. Your best bet is to fly into Bangor International Airport. Taking traffic and roads into consideration (you'll be on a winding two-lane highway for most of the trip), the drive to the park should take about an hour and a half. You might be able to find better deals if you fly into Portland, but your drive to the park will be close to four hours.

Apart from a couple of campgrounds, the park itself doesn't have any lodging. Stay in Bar Harbor, just outside the park. The Ivy Manor Inn would be a perfect Girlfriend Getaway spot. It's a 1940s Tudor house with antiques and clawfoot tubs in the rooms and evening cocktails served in a common lounge. The farmhouse-style Maples Inn could also be fun. It has board games and paperbacks for guests and serves a hearty breakfast every morning. —Beth Collins

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Chicago, Ill. and Harrisburg, Pa.: My friend and I love to go to musicals and we thinking about doing a weekend in New York this summer. She can probably drive in from Harrisburg; I will fly in from Chicago. We need to find a reasonably (very) priced hotel and are not sure what else to do. Also, where would be best to leave her car? (We are both quite public transportation savvy although we do not know the New York system.)

GG Editors: A weekend in New York can be a great getaway—and if you are a little savvy, it won't even have to break the bank. We've written several articles on the subject, in fact. We created a fabulous weekend itinerary for New York City, which is available for free on our website GirlGetaways.com. (The only thing to keep in mind is that our dessert pick, Room4Dessert, has since closed. In its place, I'd recommend ChikaLicious, 203 E 10th St., 212/995-9511.) We also recently wrote about scoring Broadway tickets on the cheap with tips for tracking down promotional codes to use on ticket websites and which months you can find best discounts (January, February, September, and October). And lastly, about your friend's car: I'd recommend parking it at a station along the NJTransit line and taking the train into NYC. You can find out specific information about where parking is available, and for how much, online here. Have a great trip! —Laura MacNeil

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Raleigh, N.C.: My girlfriends either have the time to travel and no money, or the money to travel and no time! I have started traveling by myself about every other month. Questions: How do I avoid the single supplement charge? Or how do I friend friends that can travel?

GG Editors: Solo travelers are in a tight spot; hotels usually base their per person rates on double occupancy. Some hotels have single rooms available for solo travelers at a lower prices, but usually, when you're booking directly with a hotel, there's little you can do to avoid paying extra. There are, however, several tour companies that try to be more solo traveler-friendly. G.A.P Adventures, REI Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Djoser USA, and Adventure Center have solo traveler policies share a similar premise: If you agree to share accommodations with another solo traveler of the same sex, you don't pay any extra. In fact, if there's no other solo traveler on the tour, some companies still will foot the bill for your single accommodations just for having agreed to share in theory. —Laura MacNeil

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