Three years of leading women's getaways taught me that the real magic happens when strangers become friends over shared sunsets and spontaneous yoga sessions.
Every January, I pack my bags for Punta Cana with a group of women who are ready to reset, reconnect, and rediscover themselves. This will be my third year leading this retreat, and I can honestly say it has become one of the most meaningful experiences I offer, not just to the women who join me, but to myself as a travel advisor.
The idea started simply. I realized there was a genuine need for women to connect with each other, to step away from the daily routines and give themselves permission to just be. I love to learn and transform myself personally, and I recognized that other women sometimes just need a nudge to get away with a girlfriend and reconnect with themselves. That recognition became the foundation for something beautiful.
Watching Friendships Blossom
The moment I keep thinking about, the one I tell everyone, happened last year. Two women who had lived four doors down from each other for 25 years had never actually met, never even seen each other before. And there they were, on a beach in the Dominican Republic, discovering they had so much in common. Watching everyone connect on different levels and realize how similar their lives and experiences are is incredible. These friendships don't end when the plane lands back home.
What surprised me most was seeing the transformation in women who initially said they were just going to put their feet up for the week. Instead, they jumped into the wellness opportunities at the resort. They tried water aerobics. Some practiced yoga for the first time in their lives. There's something about being surrounded by supportive, like-minded women that makes stepping out of your comfort zone feel less scary and more exciting.
The Rhythm of Renewal
We plan this trip every summer, usually in June or July. We get the group together, we book it, and suddenly everyone has something to look forward to through the darker months. For some of these ladies, this is the one trip they take all year, and it is the one they anticipate most. Throughout the six months leading up to our departure, we talk amongst each other, we get together, we share updates about our lives, and we start gathering other women who might enjoy the experience too.
I see the transformation happen in just one week. Everyone comes back happy, inspired, connected, and already excited about doing it again the following January. That kind of consistent joy tells me this trip works. It really works.
Who This Trip Is For
Honestly? Any woman would love this trip. Last year, we had women ranging from 50 to 80 years old. This is open for moms to bring daughters, for sisters, for cousins and girlfriends, grandmas and aunts. The common thread isn't age or life stage. It's the desire to unwind, meet new people, and fill your own cup for a change.
This January, I'm headed back to Punta Cana with 21 women. We're staying at the TRS Turquesa, and the excitement among the group is already electric. We are all just so grateful. When I speak about this trip, there is this passion behind it because I've seen what it does for people. I've watched strangers become friends, watched women who thought they'd just rest discover new parts of themselves.
I want to make sure I continue this opportunity for anyone to join. If you've ever felt like you need a reset, a chance to reconnect with yourself surrounded by women who understand, this is the trip. And now that I know all the ins and outs of making it happen, I can promise you'll leave transformed.
