This One's For the Girls

Whether you're single, married, or floating in some hazy gray area in between (and this isn't really the blog to get into that) - all of you ladies out there can cash in on some huge savings at resorts around the Caribbean. Recent findings from a AAA Girlfriend Travel Research Project have shown that women accounted for nearly 32 million trips in 2008 - spending a pretty penny (around $200 million) in the process. And as it turns out, we like to shop (74%), dine out (86%), lay by the beach or pool (70%) and check out the spas (73%) while we're at it. Not really surprising, but thank you, research.

So what's all this mean for you? The findings have struck a chord with a lot of Caribbean resorts, and in turn they've dreamed up tailored vacation packages - with big savings - just for the ladies.

At Jamaica's super-inclusive Grand Lido Braco resort, gals can grab their friends and enjoy the Girlfriend Getaway for $916 per person, which includes four nights of Royal Beachfront accommodations, all meals and drinks, complimentary mani-pedis, a choice of 30-minute spa treatments at the Blue Maho Spa, a welcome basket stocked with beauty products, and a bottle of champagne. For the active set, you'll also get complimentary windsurfing and scuba lessons, personal golf instruction, and cooking and pastry classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Over in the Grenadines, the 35-acre private island resort Young Island is offering its own Girlfriend Getaway for $900 per person, which includes five-nights in Superior Cottage accommodations, a three-meal-per-day plan plus a voucher for their exclusive waterfront French Verandah Restaurant, a 60-minute massage at Spa Kalina, a scuba diving course, use of the resort's watersports and tennis amenities, and a welcome bottle of wine in your room.

These are just two of my favorite promotions that have come our way recently, but a ton of other Caribbean resorts are offering similar Girlfriend Getaways, so here's the perfect excuse to start shopping.

This One's For the Girls