How to Plan a Puerto Vallarta Girls’ Trip for a 40th Milestone
A few years ago one of my dear cousins, Dee, turned 40 years old and decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday somewhere warm, relaxing and festive (but still elevated). It came as no surprise when she landed on Puerto Vallarta as a destination. She tapped me and her sister to help plan and execute the five-day itinerary and I knew our assignment was to help make it unforgettable! While I had been to Mexico a couple of times beforehand I had not traveled to PVR, but having arranged logistics internationally many times over beforehand I felt comfortable negotiating these logistics.
Dee started formulating this trip 5-6 months beforehand (always start early!) and began reaching out to some of her closest friends to poll people’s schedules. She used a digital eCard service like Paperless Post, which I have used for years to design and send digital cards, to send invitations to her friends and family. This service is great because you can monitor who has received the invitation, opened it and whether they have submitted their RSVP to the event or not. Everyone who submitted ‘Yes’ to the invitation was added to Dee’s 40th birthday WhatsApp messenger group. With the dates and the headcount nailed down we were able to begin the bulk of the planning process. Though we largely encouraged everyone to get their own airfare, we coordinated flight times with everyone so that we could all catch the private shuttle together to and from the airport.
We also used WhatsApp as our central hub for planning and communication, especially when it came to coordinating villa payments. To keep things simple, one person put the villa on their card, and the rest of us sent our share via Zelle, Venmo, or EFT. At booking, we only needed to cover the deposit, with the remaining balance due six weeks before check-in. Once we arrived, we all chipped in for groceries and a group tip for the villa staff. By sharing costs upfront and clearly outlining payment dates and breakdowns in the group chat, we made sure no one was left covering more than their share.
Dee’s 40th birthday girls’ trip was one of the most joyful and creatively fulfilling trips I’ve helped plan. At the time, I was navigating postpartum life, caring for an aging parent, and working full time, so this getaway became more than just a vacation. The planning process itself was something I looked forward to. Text threads with Dee and April, creative brainstorming, and small touches made the trip feel special before it even began. I designed white and mauve t-shirts that said “Dee’s 40th Birthday Crew” for everyone to wear as a keepsake, and Dee created custom yoga shirts for our morning session (Etsy for the win). By the time we landed in Puerto Vallarta, we had all the birthday swag we needed and the energy to match. Shout out to my TUMI hard shelled suitcase for carrying all of my outfits, party favors and souvenirs! If you need a long lasting suitcase that’s durable and is backed by with a good warranty then I would recommend taking a look at TUMI’s line of luggage. I like their hard shelled cases best.
Our group flew in from different parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and touched down in PVR Wednesday, welcomed by sun, sea air, and a private shuttle waiting to whisk us to our Villa Mandarinas. Villa Mandarinas is a uniquely private luxury vacation villa rental located just past Mismaloya Beach on Puerto Vallarta’s south shore.The property was a dream: stunning blue ocean views, a pool with plenty of loungers, and a team that made everything feel seamless from the jump. When planning an event or weekend at an estate, you should consider a few two main things in my opinion: food and entertainment. What are people going to eat and drink? What are people going to do? Hotels and all-inclusives have these facets built-in but if you are hiring an estate for your event you may need to consider these yourself. Dee was able to find a villa that had staff onsite which included a chef(s), bartender, driver, housekeeper and house manager. We worked with the staff to develop a menu for our stay beforehand so that they could grocery shop and have the estate stocked when we arrived.
We kicked things off with chips, guac, and margaritas by the pool–How else do you start a girls trip in Mexico? Then came our color-coded welcome dinner, where everyone wore the color of their room. It was a small touch that made everyone feel immediately seen and celebrated…and also made for fun Insta-worthy photos.
Thursday was our full beach day. I’m publishing this in 2025 and we may have all forgotten what life was like in February 2022 but this was the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic era and traveling was still a risk. Being beachside in Mexico at that time for a bunch of California Mama’s was pretty epic. After breakfast at the villa, we headed out for snorkeling, whale watching, and some classic boxed-lunch bonding. It was a gift to celebrate Dee on the open water with new-to-me friends, watching whales peak their tails above the water. Some of the ladies were brave enough to go snorkeling, but at that time of year the water seemed too cold for enjoyment in my opinion. After some free time and pool lounging, we rallied for a villa dinner where the dress code was sequins—and yes, everyone understood the assignment.
Friday brought some grounding energy with morning yoga on the terrace overlooking the ocean, followed by outdoor massage time also overlooking the ocean, and dips in the infinity pool – no surprise here it was also overlooking the ocean. We also enjoyed a bit of “do nothing” time which was essential and restorative. All eight of us ladies were either working mothers, full-time mothers and home managers, or both! Having space to stare at the waves uninterrupted with a glass of champagne or coffee was the vibe we all needed. That night, we took things up a notch with a dinner reservation at El Dorado Restaurant, set right on the sand. We wore our favorite jumpsuits and shared everything from grilled octopus to flan, while live music played softly in the background and the waves lapped at the shore. That was the year the Bottega Veneta padded mule ‘Lido’ sandal and the girlies did not disappoint. It was all effortlessly chic and just indulgent enough, exactly the balance we were going for.
Saturday was our last full day, and we made it count. After breakfast, we hopped in taxis and headed to the buzzing La Cruz del Cerro street market. We browsed handmade jewelry, chatted with artisans, and hunted for the perfect souvenirs. I purchased a very sweet peach, plastic woven beach handbag. I have used this bag so many times since this trip and received lots of compliments. If you ever have the chance to visit a local craft market while you are traveling, I highly recommend it. It’s a great place to pick up a souvenir with a little more meaning than a t-shirt or shot glass. It’s also a great way to support local artisans instead of a foreign supply chain. Lunch was impromptu (as it should be on vacation), and we wandered the iconic boardwalk, visited Isla Rio Quale, and paused at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There was laughter, some spontaneous dancing, and a lot of “Wait—take a picture of me here.” That night, dinner was casual back at the villa, with everyone wearing whatever felt most like them. The night flowed into storytelling about how each of Dee’s friends met her, gratitude, and a little 90s/00s karaoke by the hot tub.
We closed out the trip on Sunday with one final breakfast and coffee on the patio, trying to slow time before our noon airport shuttle. I tried to take in the stunning view as much as I could knowing I was returning to a nursing baby (yes, I was pumping the WHOLE time I was away – worth it!) and so many other responsibilities. We took our required COVID-19 tests which, at the time, we needed a negative test result to return to our country. Thankfully, the house manager at the villa arranged for a nurse practitioner to come to the property and administer the rapid test for all of us. All eight test results were negative and we were able to return home.
This girls trip was a great mix of activity and relaxation and a perfect way to welcome your 40s. I admire Dee so much and am honored I was able to help in whatever way I could to plan and execute her destination birthday party. This wasn’t just a birthday party, it was a celebration of 40 years of growth, of friendship, motherhood, sisterhood, and knowing how to make a group chat dream come alive in real life!.
If you’re dreaming of hosting your own milestone girls’ trip or just want an excuse to get away with your favorite women. I can’t recommend Puerto Vallarta enough. And if you need a blueprint, this one’s tried, tested, and full of heart. Let me know in the comments if you want a printed 5-day Puerto Vallarta itinerary for a girls getaway! Want a little more hands-on help planning? Send us a message for a customized travel plan!
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