It is no secret that I love to staycation. Even if it is just a couple miles from home, I really enjoy getting out of my daily routine and experiencing the luxury hotels in my area. A staycation is always a good idea if you do not have enough time to leave town, but are yearning for a night or two of rest and relaxation.
Recently, my friends and I wanted to organize a girls’ getaway but none of us could align our busy schedules properly to find a solid three to four days to fly somewhere. This group of friends is one which I am vehemently proud of, strong women who are balancing successful careers, families, and social lives with ease and grace. One of the reasons why they all deserved a much-needed girls’ weekend! Most of my girlfriends in this group are several years older than I am, and are all new moms (apart from myself and one other girlfriend.) I suggested we instead do a staycation, so the girls did not have to be away from their children for more than one night, and could be close to home should anything arise.
I decided on the Waldorf Astoria for our girls’ staycation weekend, as it is new, chic, in the heart of Beverly Hills, and ideal for a weekend of pampering.
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is nothing short of opulent, in the best way possible. A perfect venue complete with all that you would need for a group of girls wanting a memorable holiday. The hotel’s dining program was curated by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the La Prairie spa is grandiose and indulgent, and the luxe interiors designed by famed French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon are extremely comfortable. The hotel is classic, elegant, but also decidedly cozy.
Before arrival, we were assigned a personal concierge, who was able to set up our spa bookings and our 10-person dinner reservation at Jean-Georges. Upon arrival, we were greeted kindly and shown to our rooms, each with ample room to fit two girls (I had my own, as I was feeling as if I might be coming down with a cold and had to leave the Monday after on an early flight to Hawaii.)
We spent the afternoon being pampering in the spa, and then ordered champagne and appetizers to the room to get ready together as a group before dinner. We all had the most fun during this part of our stay, where we were able to act like kids again, playing dress up, listening to music, drinking champagne, eating chocolate covered strawberries from room service and gossiping on the bed in our bath robes.
We had pre-dinner drinks at The Rooftop by JG, which boasts some of the best views of Los Angeles. After drinks, we went downstairs for dinner at Jean-Georges. Our table, set for 10, was decorated beautifully with red roses and pre-chilled champagne. The dinner was incredible, as we opted for family style in order to try almost everything on the menu. Some standout dishes included Santa Barbara Sea Urchin, Dungeness Crab Crostini, Black Truffle and Fontina Cheese Pizza, and Faroe Island Salmon Fillet.
The morning after we chose to order room service breakfast to eat on the terrace (I went with the delicious French toast and soft scrambled eggs.) After breakfast, I decided to relax some more in the room, having a bubble bath in the beautiful marble bathroom and enjoying a much-needed nap in the ultra-comfortable hotel bed.
When it was time to check out, I texted my personal concierge to set up a complimentary ride using the house car back home. Within a few minutes, the car and driver had arrived at the lobby valet and I was whisked off back to reality.
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