Is a girls’ trip worth it? 9 honest hot takes!

You might have noticed that anything “girl-coded” has become more popular in the past few years. “Girl math, girl dinner, girl trips. We see it all around us, whether it’s on Pinterest, TikTok, or Instagram. And you might see matching outfits, cute dinners, sunset pics, and matcha dates. And don’t get me wrong, we absolutely love seeing all of these classic ‘girl-coded’ moments, but a ‘being a girl’ and ‘going on a girls trip’ is so much more than sharing lipgloss, taking cute videos together, or braiding each other’s hair for the next surf lesson.

I don’t think people talk enough about what actually happens on a girls’ trip, on what actually happens when women connect and bond together, on what actually happens when you fall in love with being a woman again. Girls ask me all the time whether going on a girls trip with strangers is “worth it”, but genuinely, it is so much more than just a trip.  The women that have entered my life since starting Dream Life Getaway have made a vast, significant difference in my journey. In my opinion, girlhood is the deepest and yet most underrated form of love we’ll ever experience in this life and a girls’ trip with strangers somehow showcases all of that. So putting that feeling down on paper isn’t easy, but let me give it a try anyway. 

1. Connection heals all of us, and happens faster than you think

Connection. Time and time again, these trips have shown me that connection doesn’t take years, connection doesn’t need time, it needs openness. Talk, lay out all your feelings on the table, discuss your wildest dreams. Sometimes it happens over a long dinner, a sunset or a conversation that goes far past midnight. And before you know it, strangers give you the best advice, tears well up or you feel like something has lifted off your shoulders. Or sometimes you laugh, deep into the night. And you become friends, faster than you would have ever expected. And it makes you question why we ever believe that deep connection has to take years.

When you put a group of girls in a completely new environment away from routines, usual people, and responsibilities, something changes. People open up quicker, talk about real things faster. And suddenly you’re having conversations on day two that you wouldn’t even have with people back home. And that’s just a beautiful thing to experience and witness. <3 

2. You start seeing yourself differently

There’s something about being in a completely new environment, surrounded by people who have never met you before. No expectations, no history, no version of you to live up to. And in that space, you naturally start to show up a little differently, not because you’re trying to be someone else, but because there’s nothing holding you back from just being.

You’re not “the shy one”, not “the loud one”, not “the one who always plays it safe.” There are no labels. You’re just you. And in that space, something shifts. You start seeing new versions of yourself reflected back through other women. In the way they move through the world, in the choices they’ve made, in the courage they carry so naturally. And somehow, it makes you realize those versions exist within you too.

It’s like holding up a mirror you didn’t know you needed,  one that shows you not just who you’ve always been, but who you could become. And suddenly, the version of you on that trip feels a bit freer, a bit more open, a bit more confident. And definitely more full of life. <3

3. It allows you to reassess your (dream) life

I don’t think all of us realize that we are, for a very big part, completely in charge of designing our own lives. From the people that are in it, to the daily routines we have, the field of study or the job we are doing, and the place we live in.  It’s easy to get pulled into a life, into a certain direction and not question it for a while. Or maybe you’ve built a life you once dreamed of, but then stopped questioning it as you grew and as your dreams evolved. 

Until you go abroad. And then suddenly you’re somewhere completely different and you find yourself doing all of these different things. You wake up, go for a surf, have breakfast together, spend the day outside, watch the sunset. And your brain just… slows down. You talk to others, you start to see how many ways there are to live a life. And it makes your world feel bigger, more open, full of possibilities you hadn’t considered before. 

And all that allows you to check in and see how you feel about your life. Almost from a bird’s-eye view.

And all of the sudden inspiration feels different. Not overwhelming or out of reach, but close. Tangible. Like something you can actually step into. Inspiration to change things. You can build your dream life ! And having the right people around you makes all the difference. Or maybe you come to the conclusion that you are utterly obsessed with the life you’ve built, which is amazing too. Either way, that is the goal. Falling deeply in love with the life you have built for yourself.

4. You realize how many women feel the same as you & have the same dreams as you

Sometimes it can feel like you’re the only one carrying certain thoughts. The only one questioning your direction, overthinking your choices, or quietly dreaming about a different way of living. And then you find yourself at a dinner table with women from completely different countries, backgrounds and lives, and suddenly you hear your own thoughts coming back to you through them. Similar dreams. Similar questions about life. It makes you feel understood and even more so, it makes you feel inspired. 

And what follows is a quiet ripple effect. You borrow courage from each other without even noticing. Someone shares a dream, someone else has already started. Someone says “I’ve been wanting to do that,” and suddenly it doesn’t feel so far away anymore. And somehow, things that once felt scary start to feel possible. 

And it doesn’t end with just having these conversations over a dinner table in Morocco or Sri Lanka. The support from the women around you continues.  In messages, in shared wins, in small updates from all over the world. Whether it’s starting a business, changing a routine, or booking that one trip they kept dreaming about. 

I’ve seen girls finally start writing that novel they’ve been thinking about. I’ve seen girls break up with their partner after having doubts for years. I’ve seen girls move abroad and quit their jobs. I’ve seen girls finally start that content creation account they’ve been thinking about. I’ve seen girls finally start that business that they’ve had in mind for years. And you realize how powerful it is when women keep choosing to show up for each other, even from a distance.

5. The return of your inner child 

When you feel safe and held by a group of women, you can be your silliest self! And all of the sudden life starts to feel like play again. Light, spontaneous, wild, maybe even crazy or a little messy.  The way it used to feel when you were younger. From sliding down the dunes in Morocco, to twirling and dancing on the beaches in Sri Lanka, and from laughing till you are in tears during dinner. From inside jokes, to late-night talks and sleepover nights.  You remember parts of yourself you didn’t even know you had lost. The playful, curious, carefree parts. The ones that come back so effortlessly when you feel safe and free at the same time.

6. The power of living in community

There’s something deeply powerful about sisterhood, about doing life together instead of on your own. In a society where we’re so often taught to build a life with a romantic partner,  as if that’s where life is meant to revolve. But if you look at how humans have lived in the past, it was never meant to be just two people carrying everything alone. Life used to be shared within communities, villages, tribes , where women were surrounded by women, and support was woven into everyday life. And it makes you wonder ‘what if we started viewing it differently? What if life wasn’t only meant to be shared with one person, but with a whole community? 

And then you step into something like a girls’ trip, and it almost brings that feeling back. A reminder of what it feels like to live inside a circle of women again, even if just for a week. You’re waking up together, sharing meals, spending the day side by side, laughing over nothing and everything at the same time. 

You start realizing you don’t have to carry it all alone or figure everything out by yourself.  You start unlearning the idea that strength means doing everything alone, and instead begin to understand the softness of being held by others. There’s strength in sharing, in leaning in, in letting yourself be supported.

And in that, you realize how powerful it is when women come together: everything feels lighter, braver, and so much more possible.

7. Your standards are higher

Without even noticing, your standards begin to shift,  in friendships, in love, in life. Not because you’re actively trying to change them, but because you’ve experienced what real connection and genuine support from a community actually feels like. And once you’ve felt that, it becomes impossible to fully ignore what’s missing elsewhere.

There’s something deeply healing about being surrounded by women who genuinely want to see you win. No competition, no comparison, just support. People who show up for you, celebrate you, and hold space for you without needing anything in return. And suddenly, that becomes the standard.

You stop settling for dynamics that feel one-sided, performative, or draining. Not from judgment, but from awareness. Because now you know what it feels like when connection is actually mutual, safe, and real. <3 

8. It pushes you out of your comfort zone (in a good way)

Booking the trip is already a big step, but also getting on the plane, meeting strangers, trying new things… it all stretches you a little. But in a way that feels safe. You’re not doing it alone. And I think that’s what makes it so powerful. You’re growing, but you’re surrounded by others, so you can do this together. Getting uncomfortable expands your comfort zone, and seeing you can do big, bold, scary things is truly one of the biggest confidence boosters. <3

9. You build meaningful friendships

There’s this assumption that a girls’ trip is just a “fun, adventurous week”,  something temporary, and then everyone returns to their separate lives and the connection slowly fades. But what I’ve seen again and again is the opposite.

Something about being away from your usual world and being fully present with new women creates a depth of connection. And because of that, girls stay in touch. They visit each other in different countries. They book another trip together. Some talk every day, others fall into a slower but steady kind of friendship. And some of them have become my closest friends, the kind that stay with you long after the trip ends.

It’s one of the most meaningful parts of what we do. Because it’s not just about creating memories for a week, it’s about creating bonds that continue to live in everyday life. And seeing that unfold, especially knowing it’s something I once deeply craved myself, is incredibly special.

Our girls’ trips aren’t really about the destination. Although yes, our destinations are beautiful. Our girls’ trips aren’t really about the surf and the yoga. Although yes, we are quite frankly obsessed with surf & yoga. But it’s mostly about how you feel while you’re there, and how you feel when you come back. And I know this might sound a bit cliché, but I’ve seen it too many times not to say it… our girls’ trips  can actually change something for you. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s just a shift in how you see yourself, your life, or what’s possible.

So to answer your question ‘is it worth it?’ For me, and for so many of the girls I’ve met through Dream Life Getaway…it really is.