Sassy’s Guide to Girls’ Getaways

Whether it’s for a hen party, a birthday or just a plain old excuse for a holiday, girls-only getaways are the best way to bond with your gal-pals. But planning a holiday when you have umpteen opinions to factor in can be something of a headache, so we’ve once again come to the rescue with our round up of the best Girls’ Getaways in Asia! From skiing in Japan to shopping in Bangkok, we’ve found something for every occasion. Time to get the suitcases and passports out!

For Adrenaline Junkies – Niseko

Ski holidays are perhaps best suited to a large group with daytimes spent zooming down slopes and gossiping on chairlifts. Night-time provides the perfect excuse to reward yourselves for all the calories burnt and indulge in veritable Japanese feasts. Try and go with girls who are all similar abilities to enhance the group atmosphere, or split into smaller sub-groups for your days, before reuniting to your chalet for some après ski.

Niseko is full of chalets catering for groups but by far one of the most luxurious is Yasuragi. With it’s own on site onsen, high spec design and super luxe feel, this is how to do skiing in style. Sleeping a maximum of 7 in the three bed apartments, it’s ideal for a small group. Located down the quieter end of the village, a stay here usefully comprises of daily drop-offs and pick-ups at the mountain, plus it’s super close to the popular Yukuro onsen. There’s a well-equipped kitchen in the apartment but Niseko’s restaurants are too good to miss out on. Just be sure to book your group dinners in advance as places fill up quick. Our top picks would have to be Abucha 2 for a raucous night of izakaya food, Rakuichi for sublime soba noodles in a traditional setting, Ezo Seafood for drool worthy king crab legs and Saika for smoky yakitori. Don’t forget to make a visit to Gyu, the fridge door bar for your nightcap.

Yasuragi by Odin, Niseko, Japan. Fly direct with Cathay or via Tokyo with Japan Air Lines

For Beach Seclusion – Phu Quoc

Living in a city dominated by its nightlife scene can mean that girls’ gatherings are plagued with lingering hangovers and memory loss. Sometimes you just need to escape and seek utter rest and relaxation. More mainstream beach destinations will inevitably lure you into the beach bar scene, so if you and your friends are really seeking the ultimate retreat then head to Phu Quoc. An island off the south of Vietnam, accessible from Ho Chi Minh, it offers an untouched paradise of white sand beaches, turquoise waters and delicious Vietnamese food.

The tourism industry is only just finding its feet meaning there are only a few luxury places to stay but our pick of the bunch is the wonderful Chen Sea Resort and Spa. A thirty-minute drive from the busier stretches of the island it sprawls along a deserted white sand beach and simply screams relaxation with its endless infinity pool, cabana style spa and restaurant overhanging the sea. What makes it even more perfect for a group sojourn is that the rooms, scattered amongst the gardens, are more like villas. Sleeping 4-6 over two stories they even come with their own mini swimming pool providing the perfect backdrop to a girls’ weekend away. Read our full review here!

Chen Sea Resort and Spa, Phu Quoc, Vietnam. Fly via Ho Chi Minh and then onwards with Vietnam Airlines.

For Hedonistic Pursuits – Bangkok

Image sourced via Pinterest

With cheap flights and a plethora of hotels, Bangkok makes for the ideal city break destination. In its essence, the city sums up what most Hong Kong girls love most; great value shopping, vertically soaring rooftop bars, delicious food and indulgent places to stay. The perfect destination for a hen do or simply a weekend of hedonism, Bangkok is the ideal city to grab a group and re-enact The Hangover, female style.

Spend a day browsing the myriad of stalls at Chatuchak Weekend Market and if you wanted to throw in some culture then spend another idling down river to visit the enchanting floating villages. Bangkok really comes alive at night with breath-taking rooftop bars providing the perfect backdrop to girls’ having fun. Start off at the Banyan Tree’s Moon Bar but don’t miss The Hangover-featured Sky Bar at the Lebua. The food in Bangkok exceeds the cocktails so work up an appetite and dine in style. Sassy’s top picks are Issaya Siamese Club for a peaceful, civilised night, Nahm for world class Thai food or Long Table for a sociable night of delicious revelry.

In terms of hotels in Bangkok, there really is something for every taste. With so much supply prices are amazingly low so we recommend you check out the range of hotels on offer through Mr and Mrs Smith and pick one to suit your tastes. Read our review of the show-stopping Hansar Bangkok here.

Bangkok, Thailand. Fly direct with a number of airlines including Thai and Cathay.

For Pampering in Style – Macau

Macau sometimes gets the wrong publicity. It may be dominated by casinos and garishly lit hotel lobbies playing host to Vitamin-D deprived mainland gamblers, but hidden behind the scenes is a more luxurious side. Perfect for one-night escapes, Macau is reached by a straightforward one-hour ferry from Hong Kong (but don’t forget your passport!), or if you really want to do it in style, you can even take a helicopter.

When it comes to accommodation for style focused HK women, there is no other option than the Banyan Tree (read our full review here). Housed in the Galaxy Macau complex, as long as you stay away from the casino you could almost feel like you were in Thailand. Delicate music and spa smells radiate from the hotel’s every corner and smiling staff, welcome you with the warmth of Thai hospitality. Perhaps the most show-stopping aspect are the rooms; all come complete with their own mini swimming pool along with the other prerequisite luxury touches that promise to delight. With great value rates to start with, splitting a room with a group (you’ll not be short of space, all rooms are larger than your average HK apartment) makes it a wonderfully affordable indulgence. And it will leave you with change leftover for some much needed spa treatments. For the ultimate girls’ retreat, order room service for dinner after a drink at their top floor bar. If you wanted to explore beyond the spa, be sure not to miss the peaceful outdoor pool surrounded by cabanas or sample from Sassy’s top picks of Macau activities. And this is a great place for foodies too, just check out our Top 5 Macau Street Eats here!

Banyan Tree, Macau. Best reached by the Cotai Jet ferry.

Staycation in Style – Hong Kong

Mention a staycation and it normally conjures up images of couples treating themselves to a night of romance. For Sassy girls, it means a weekend of non-stop female focused fun. Book this one in during summer months when the mercury soars and the only way to spend a day is surrounded by water. Rather than spend the day with drunken friends on a junk, we recommend you and your besties book yourselves in for the wonderfully affordable 828 package at the Grand Hyatt.

The package is an astounding $828 per person (minimum two people per room) and allows you to check into the hotel at 8am on Saturday morning and not check out until 8pm on Sunday night. That’s 36 hours of exceptional value. The real clincher for the offer is the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool. Located on the harbour front it’s Hong Kong’s largest hotel pool and feels like a true tropical paradise. We recommend you get there early to nab your prime spot and spend the day sunning yourselves and sipping on cocktails. After the sun sets, choose from the fantastic range of on site dining options before setting up camp in one of the many bars. Eat off the hangover with your complimentary breakfast buffet before setting up shop again by the pool. And if you really want to treat yourself, book a treatment in their super relaxing Plateau spa. See our full review here.

The Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong. Email to book their 828 package; subject to availability.