• The destination is key.

Places with lots of variety are best for group trips, unless everyone's truly on board with a week of vegging out at the beach. Type A's need activities, whether it's a beach volleyball tournament or the ability to go sightseeing nearby. It's also important to have alternatives for days when the weather doesn't cooperate – because a bunch of ladies fighting over one remote could get ugly fast.

• Who's on a diet?

Girlawhirl's Super Pals are a varied bunch when it comes to food: some love sweets and others shun them. The same goes for exercise. A few consider vacation to mean just that, a vacation from their workouts while one friend in particular uses vacation days to add an extra workout to her day. Making sure there are activities and meal options to suit all types goes a long way towards keeping everyone in their own kind of zone.

• What about sleeping arrangements?

Four (or more!) to a room worked during college spring breaks, but now that they're all adults, Girlawhirl and her friends prefer to spring for their own rooms. There's less of a hassle getting ready without having to share the bathroom and a little privacy can keep things on an even keel after a few days together.

• Don't force it.

Got one friend who loves the idea of a cruise and another who hates the thought of being on a boat for more than an afternoon? If that's the case, Girlawhirl looks for another idea. Compromising is ok, even a necessity, but asking too much of one person is a recipe for resentment, which could lead to disaster.

• Don't break the bank.

No one should feel pressure to financially overextend herself. Girlawhirl and her Super Pals all wrote down on a piece of paper how much they felt comfortable spending on the vacation, and put the papers in a hat – ok, it was a dish. After opening them all, they discussed options that cost only as much as the lowest number thrown in.

Truth be told, Girlawhirl's not sure if she'll be taking a girlfriend getaway with her Super Pals this summer, but with the guidelines above, they're having a lot of fun daydreaming, planning and discussing their options.