Girls Weekend at the Shore
Boozy brunches, spa days, beach time, and late nights with your crew. Find the perfect shore town for your girls getaway.
Boozy Brunch
Bottomless mimosas everywhere
Spa Time
Group packages available
Beach Days
Sun, sand, and catching up
Best Towns for Girls Weekends
Asbury Park
Hip & funRooftop bars, beach clubs, boutiques, nightlife
Stay: The Asbury Hotel (rooftop bar)
Atlantic City
Party vibesPool parties, clubs, shows, casinos
Stay: Borgata, Hard Rock, Ocean Casino
Long Branch
Upscale casualPier Village, Ocean Place Resort
Stay: Ocean Place Resort & Spa
Cape May
Relaxed eleganceWine tours, fine dining, Victorian charm
Stay: Congress Hall, Virginia Hotel
Long Beach Island
Beach house partyPrivate rentals, laid-back bars
Stay: Beach house rental
Wildwood
Fun & affordableFree beaches, boardwalk, nightlife
Stay: Doo-Wop motel or beach house
Activities for Your Crew
Boozy Brunch
Bottomless mimosas and great food with your crew.
Spa Day
Group packages with massages, facials, and champagne.
Wine Tasting
Six wineries on the Cape May Wine Trail. Book transport.
Beach Day
Sun, sand, and catching up with friends.
Rooftop Drinks
Sunset cocktails with views.
Shopping
Boutiques, vintage shops, and outlet stores.
Pool Party
Dayclub scene at Atlantic City casino pools.
Dancing
Late night clubs and dance spots.
💰 Budget Guide by Group Size
2-3 Friends
$250-450 for weekend
Boutique hotel ($150-250/room/night)
- ✓ Split hotel room
- ✓ Share rides
- ✓ BYOB dinners save big
Best for: Low-maintenance trips, spontaneous plans
4-6 Friends
$200-350 for weekend
Beach house rental ($400-800/night split)
- ✓ Sweet spot for cost savings
- ✓ Private space for getting ready
- ✓ Kitchen for pre-gaming
Best for: Most groups - best balance of cost and fun
7-10 Friends
$150-300 for weekend
Large beach house ($600-1200/night split)
- ✓ Lowest per-person cost
- ✓ Designate a coordinator
- ✓ Create shared Venmo/Splitwise
Best for: Birthday weekends, bachelorette-adjacent
10+ Friends
$150-350 for weekend
Multiple houses or boutique hotel block
- ✓ Split into activity sub-groups
- ✓ Book private dining
- ✓ Consider party bus transport
Best for: Major celebrations, milestone birthdays
🎯 Which Town Matches Your Group?
Party Animal
→ Atlantic City
Clubs, pool parties, 24/7 energy. Your people are here.
Foodie
→ Cape May
Wine trails, BYOB fine dining, culinary scene without pretense.
Instagram Queen
→ Asbury Park
Murals, rooftops, vintage shops - endless photo ops.
Spa Lover
→ Long Branch
Ocean Place Resort spa, upscale vibes, relaxation focus.
Budget Queen
→ Wildwood
Free beaches, affordable motels, still has great nightlife.
Beach Bum
→ LBI
Beach house rentals, chill bars, maximum sand time.
Sample Weekends
Hip Weekend
Asbury Park
- Friday: Check in at The Asbury, rooftop drinks, dinner at Talula's
- Saturday: Beach club day, vintage shopping, dinner and bar hopping
- Sunday: Boozy brunch, Silverball Museum, departure
Party Weekend
Atlantic City
- Friday: Casino hotel check-in, dinner, club night
- Saturday: Pool party, spa, show, late night dancing
- Sunday: Beach walk, brunch buffet, departure
Relaxation Weekend
Cape May
- Friday: Arrive, dinner at BYOB restaurant, sunset walk
- Saturday: Beach morning, wine trail afternoon, elegant dinner
- Sunday: Trolley tour, brunch, shopping, departure
Planning Tips
Book a Beach House
For 6+ people, a rental is cheaper than hotels and offers private space.
Make Restaurant Reservations
Popular spots book up 2-4 weeks ahead for summer weekends.
Designate a Driver or Uber
Plan transportation for bar hopping - especially outside AC and Asbury.
Consider Shoulder Season
May-June and September offer better value and easier reservations.
BYOB Saves Money
Many shore restaurants are BYOB - bring your own wine.
Plan Beach Badge Logistics
Buy badges as a group or pick free beach towns (Wildwood, AC).
📸 Instagram-Worthy Photo Spots
Asbury Park
Greetings from Asbury Park Mural
Mural💡 Go early morning for no crowds
The Asbury Hotel Rooftop
Views💡 Best at golden hour
Convention Hall
Architecture💡 Pink and blue backdrop perfect for groups
Silverball Museum
Retro💡 Neon signs make great backdrops
Atlantic City
Ocean Casino Pool
Pool💡 Day beds create perfect group shots
Steel Pier Ferris Wheel
Boardwalk💡 Sunset timing is everything
Borgata Chandelier Bar
Glam💡 Dress up for sparkly photos
Hard Rock Guitar Sign
Iconic💡 Best lit at night
Cape May
Congress Hall Lawn
Classic💡 Yellow umbrellas are iconic
Victorian Houses
Architecture💡 Walk along Columbia Ave for variety
Cape May Lighthouse
Landmark💡 Climb to top for sunset views
Winery Vineyards
Wine Country💡 Willow Creek has beautiful grounds
Long Branch
Pier Village Boardwalk
Upscale💡 String lights beautiful at dusk
Ocean Place Resort
Resort💡 Pool and beach backdrop combo
Seven Presidents Park
Beach💡 Rock jetties for variety
📅 Booking Timeline
6-8 Weeks Before
CRITICAL- ☐ Finalize dates and headcount
- ☐ Book accommodation (beach houses go fast)
- ☐ Collect deposits
4-6 Weeks Before
HIGH- ☐ Make restaurant reservations for Saturday dinner
- ☐ Book spa appointments
- ☐ Reserve wine tour transport
2-4 Weeks Before
MEDIUM- ☐ Finalize activity list and costs
- ☐ Confirm everyone's arrival times
- ☐ Assign grocery/supply runs
1 Week Before
FINAL- ☐ Share final itinerary
- ☐ Confirm all reservations
- ☐ Set up Splitwise with all attendees
✨ Drama-Free Planning Guide
We've all been on trips where things got awkward. Here's how to avoid the common pitfalls.
Initial Planning
✓ Do This
- Send poll for dates (give 3-4 options)
- Set budget range upfront
- Decide destination democratically
✗ Avoid This
- Booking before everyone confirms
- Assuming everyone has same budget
- One person making all decisions
Booking & Deposits
✓ Do This
- Use Splitwise from day one
- Collect deposits within 48 hours of confirming
- Get cancellation policy in writing
✗ Avoid This
- One person fronting everything
- Vague "pay me back later" agreements
- Booking non-refundable without full commitment
Activity Planning
✓ Do This
- Mix planned activities with free time
- Let people opt out of expensive add-ons
- Have backup plans for weather
✗ Avoid This
- Overscheduling every minute
- Guilt-tripping people who skip activities
- Forcing everyone to do everything together
During the Trip
✓ Do This
- Morning check-ins on daily plans
- Let people nap/recharge without FOMO guilt
- Settle costs in real-time
✗ Avoid This
- Keeping score of who paid what
- Passive-aggressive comments
- Forcing group consensus on every meal
🛡️ Group Safety Tips
Stay Connected
- •Share locations on Find My Friends for the weekend
- •Create group chat with everyone's number
- •Establish check-in times if splitting up
- •Keep phones charged - bring portable chargers
Night Out Safety
- •Buddy system for bathrooms and bar runs
- •Never leave drinks unattended
- •Agree on departure time before going out
- •Have designated sober person or rideshare plan
Beach House Safety
- •Know emergency exits and fire extinguisher location
- •Share rental address with family back home
- •Lock doors even in "safe" beach towns
- •Keep valuables in car trunk, not visible
Transportation
- •Never drink and drive - zero tolerance policy
- •Pre-book rideshares for bar hopping nights
- •Have backup Uber/Lyft on multiple phones
- •Know taxi numbers for areas with spotty rideshare
Girls Weekend FAQ
What are the best towns for a girls weekend at the Jersey Shore?
Asbury Park is our top pick - rooftop bars, beach clubs, boutique shopping, and LGBTQ-friendly nightlife. Atlantic City offers casino pools and clubs. Long Branch has spa and shopping at Pier Village. Cape May suits groups wanting wine tours and relaxation.
Should we stay at a hotel or rent a beach house?
For 4-6 friends, a beach house offers better value and private space for late nights. For 2-4 friends wanting amenities, boutique hotels (The Asbury) or resorts (Ocean Place) work well. AC casino hotels have pools but less privacy.
What activities are best for a girls weekend?
Popular activities: boozy brunch, spa day, wine tasting, beach day, shopping, sunset cocktails, bar hopping, and late night dancing. Many restaurants offer group dining options with prix fixe menus.
How much should we budget for a girls weekend?
Budget $200-400/person for a weekend including: accommodations ($100-200), food/drinks ($75-150), activities ($25-75). Beach house splits work out to $75-150/person for lodging. Add more for spa treatments or bottle service.
What are the best spas for group bookings?
Ocean Place Resort (Long Branch) has a full spa with group packages. Borgata Spa in AC is high-end with excellent service. Cape May Day Spa offers group treatments in a Victorian setting. Book 2+ weeks ahead for weekend availability.
Where can we find the best shopping?
Asbury Park has vintage shops and boutiques along Cookman Ave. Pier Village in Long Branch has upscale stores. Cape May's Washington Street Mall has unique shops. Tanger Outlets near Atlantic City has major brands at discount prices.
Are BYOB restaurants worth it for groups?
Absolutely! BYOB restaurants save $50-100 on drinks for a group. Bring prosecco or wine from home (no corkage fee). Cape May and Ocean City have the most BYOBs. Call ahead for large groups - many can accommodate 8+ with notice.
What if we have different budgets in the group?
Mix free activities (beach, boardwalk walks) with splurges. Split costs for accommodations equally but let people opt out of expensive activities. Free beaches (Wildwood, AC) save on badges. BYOB dinners keep costs manageable.
When is the best time for a girls trip to the shore?
May-June and September offer warm weather, lower prices, and easier reservations. Weekdays are less crowded. Summer weekends (July-August) are festive but expensive and crowded. Off-season (October-April) is very affordable but some venues close.
How do we handle transportation between activities?
Stay in walkable areas (downtown Asbury, Pier Village, Cape May downtown) to avoid driving. Uber/Lyft works in AC and Asbury but can be spotty elsewhere. For wine tours, book a van/limo service - don't drink and drive.