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Want to Skip Town? 5 Perfect Girlie Valentine's Getaways -- and We're Giving One Away!

Pura Vida Adventures

The mother of all relationship holidays is rolling around, and whether you're in love, or on the lookout, it's still a lot of pressure. Which is why we've come up with this brilliant alternative: If you're feeling dodgy on Valentine's Day, why not grab your girlfriends, and get out of dodge?

It doesn't really matter what you do, but we've rounded up getaways to suit every taste. Want spa? We got it. Up for scouting guys apres-ski? Checked that box, too. And, just because we feel you, we're giving away one free week-long surf/yoga retreat to a lucky MyDaily reader and her even luckier girlfriend. Don't worry -- it's not until May, so you'd have plenty of time to pack. Read on.

1. A Week-Long Surfing/Yoga Retreat in Paradise (And We're Giving It Away!)
What's better than six days / seven nights of surfing, sunning and yoga-ing in Costa Rica with your best buds? Free surfing, sunning and yoga-ing! One lucky reader (and her even luckier friend of choice) will win a gratis Pura Vida Adventures Girls Only Getaway for two in the unspoiled, remote beach town of Malpais, Costa Rica. All you're responsible for is the airfare to get you there. Find out what's included -- and how to enter -- here.

Meanwhile, the rest of us can just sign up! Embrace Costa Rica's country-wide "Pura Vida" motto (meaning "pure life") and forget the saccharine sentiments and waxy chocolate at home, as you elevate yourself with yoga practice, surf school, outdoor massages, beach-/jungle-side hammock lolling and yummy light food. At night, retire to open-air bungalows or private villas on Playa Carmen Beach for dreamy restful nights. Wait -- St. Valentine who?

Feb. 12–18, starting at $2,395 per person.

W Hotels

2. The Sleepover Staycation (That Won't Break the Bank)
Are you sick of V-Day even before it's happened? W Hotels in NYC and beyond are offering a Love Sick package including a Max Brenner chocolate "prescription" with Chocolate Syringe, in-room movie credits (hello, George Clooney!), breakfast in bed, champagne, late checkout and car service to the W New York Downtown for ice skating and cocktails (ideally in that order to avoid drunken faceplants). W Hotels across the country from L.A. to Austin to Miami to Atlanta and Boston offer variations on staycation packages, so, no matter what your home town, you'll barely have to budge to escape it all. Which is good because you're clearly sick; sick of love.

Feb. 11–14, Starting at $259 per person, per night.

hotelterrajacksonhole.com

3. The "Powder Princess" Hybrid Escape
Over construction paper hearts and carnations? Go tell it on the mountain! Get the royal treatment via eco-boutique Hotel Terra at Jackson Hole's 3-night Powder Princess Package for two (you and your BFF). After lounging in your Terra Guest Room with 32-inch flat screen TV, 9-foot ceilings and natural linens, enjoy lift tickets to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort with its new Burton snowboarding course, après ski treatments at Chill Spa like Relax Wellness massages and High Altitude Therapy facials (not to mention the rooftop hot tub), and two $100 gift cards for shopping at on-site Rodeo Boutique for everything from J Brand jeans to Frye boots and, of course, jewelry fit for a princess. Best of all? No prince to complain as you peruse!

Feb. 11–13, starting at $734 per person; details here.

Solage Calistoga

4. The Spa Detox in Sunny, Calif.
Mud slinging takes on new meaning at Solage Calistoga, where their Relax, Renew, Reconnect: Girls Getaway package for pals includes a signature Mudslide Experience at The Bathhouse at Spa Solage, which begins at the "Mud Bar" with a custom blending of essential oils and mineral-enriched California clay, continues to a mud lounge for application of the full-body masque, then to a private tub for soaking, and finally to a sound-vibration chair to help find harmonic balance. Cocktails and breakfasts at Michelin-starred Solbar bookend days of bike riding to vineyards like August Briggs Winery, yoga classes, geo-thermal plunges and lounging in eco-style studio digs. Now, that's the kind of down and dirty any gal can get behind.

Through March 31, starting at $850 for two-night, two-person stay.

Edition Hotels

5. The We'll-Take-Hawaii Bikini Bootcamp
All the single ladies! Hawaii is not just for proposals, honeymoons and valentines: Return relaxed and even more beautiful than before after The Waikiki EDITION's Bikini Bootcamp. A team of pro-surfers (READ: hotties), naturalists, yogis and trainers will whip you into shape against the backdrop of this brand spanking new hotel with private Sunset Beach. After lush jungle hikes to Maunawili Falls, kayaking jaunts to Mokolua Islands and kick-ass core classes, earn your Morimoto dinners, spa treatments and hard partying evenings at the Crazybox Club. Or, conversely, luxuriate in relaxing early nights in your upgraded boudoir, where you can dream nightly of Paul Rudd and lemons to the soundtrack of "The Greatest Love of All."

Feb. 17–20; $775 per day per person (with reduced $445 a day for a second guest)



Nora Zelevansky is a freelance journalist, essayist and editor for publications like ELLE, Vanity Fair online, Salon.com, Travel + Leisure, The Los Angeles Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, Town & Country, InStyle and Daily Candy. She is a Contributing Writer for C Magazine.

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LT

I always get out of it; by not having relationships, period. I don't have anyone to boss me around, except for the cat. If women these days would actually have a few morals and remain faithful, I might consider dating someone again, but that's highly unlikely in today's degraded society. At least hookers don't demand gifts and jewelry, and all sorts of other crap, and they leave immediately afterward.

February 10 2011 at 1:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hungry

So women need to escape Valentines Day. Really? What woman was ever expected to give a man a Valentines Day anything? As a man who's seen it all, listened to it all, and most certainly done it all.... Trust me if a woman is misserable for not having a Valentine: There's 100 men who wish they weren't expected to do the extra BS for that day. Don't we deserve a break too? Who's sexist? Welcome to the 21 century. Wait the last 1 was just the same after the 70's. Women wanted to be treated like men and they got it, now we're still supposed to go out of our way to be sensitive to their needs. Awe poor babies you don't have a date for one day. Here's an idea, PUT OUT! Yeah, I said it. If you want a Valenitne then act like you want one.... better yet actually want one. And put your girlfriend on the same page. Then you won't need a girlie week. You can go out for a couples dinner. Oops. a little too much reality for most of you to handle. Oh well. Enjoy your trip if you win. I hope it carries you the rest of your loely, pathetic life.

February 10 2011 at 12:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nicarolen

Agree with your signicant other that Valentin's Day (like most holidays) is a scam perpetrated on those who are scammable (not me), and refuse to go along. This day makes most men cringe, so telling him not to bother would only endear you to him. And, guys, do something nice and unexpected on some other day when you are not being told by retailers to do it.

February 10 2011 at 12:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to nicarolen's comment
JEREMY

nicarolen,both you and CeeCee sound like a couple of miserable old bitches.

That women like you actually managed to find a significant other is living proof that God does indeed work in mysterious ways.

You diss thew whole concept of Valentine's day the way some people diss Christmas and Easter.

No Matter.

In the next few decades,malcontents like you will be bred out of existence.

Then maybe....just maybe.....there will be peace.

February 11 2011 at 6:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cindycer

Why is there any pressure over Valentine's Day? My husband and I agreed years ago it was a Hallmark holiday we didn't need to celebrate - end of story.

February 10 2011 at 12:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rosemary Hirsch

I believe that Hallmark started Valentine's Day in order to sell more cards. Then the florists, candy manufacturers, jewelery stores, etc. decided to join the fun in order to sell their products too. It has always been a good promotional effort to sell merchandise. It is a frivilous event;I buy myself a small nosegay of red roses and a box of chocolates for the event. No harm is done.

February 10 2011 at 12:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
eva

carrie-what are you talking about?

February 09 2011 at 8:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cesar

Yea Carrie, don't be a JERK

February 07 2011 at 6:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Logan

Geeze, get a sense of humor.

February 07 2011 at 6:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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