Girlfriend trip! Utter those two magical words to any woman, and you immediately have their attention. And, you better spill the details quick because we girls are already on our pda’s looking at potential dates and verifying babysitter availability. A girlfriend trip is like finding the perfect designer dress at Last Call at Neiman’s, and it’s an extra 40% off! Yes, girlfriend trips are just that good.

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I recently traveled south of the border with some girlfriends on a much-needed, week-long respite to a place that many tourists don’t typically think of as a destination when traveling to Mexico. Despite the drug war and the State Department warnings – and oh yes, the Swine Flu – what we found was paradise. Mazatlan is a beautiful, peaceful diversion and only a two and a half hour flight from Houston. The people were friendly, the resort exquisite, the company sublime, and the tequila plentiful.

Where did we go?

Mazatlan, located on the Western coast of Mexico, is a thriving fishing port, as well as a successful tourist resort. While less glamorous than its closest west coat rival, Puerto Vallarta, it is less commercial and more importantly, less crowded. It’s a favorite destination among American and Canadian tourists due to its mild climate and proximity with direct flights to much of the southern and western United States. Best of all, Mazatlan’s climate is pleasantly tropical and the beaches are beautiful. The city boasts the longest malecon, or seafront promenade, in Latin American with about ten miles of golden sand.

One of the luxury resorts in Mazatlan – and where we lounged, daily – is Pueblo Bonito’s Emerald Bay Resort. Named to Conde’ Nast Traveler’s 2008 Gold List of the World’s 721 Best Places to Stay, Emerald Bay placed 16th on the prominent listing. An exclusive, gated community, the hotel features 324 suites in thirteen buildings each with kitchenettes. The hotel’s graceful neoclassical architecture features numerous statues and works of art throughout the property along with beautiful gardens containing a myriad of tropical plants and flowers, live peacocks and flamingos.

Yes, it’s swank, but how’s the pool?

The property contains three pools including an infinity pool where the water appears to merge with the Pacific Ocean, and it’s fabulous. And yes, there are cabana boys who will bring you food and drinks aplenty. You don’t even have to get out of the pool; they will float the drink out to you. True, Carlos was our personal favorite at this task. Or, you can sit at the Aqua Bar located in one of the pools. Either way, easy access to food and drink is guaranteed.

So how’s the beach?

Spectacular! Located on ten miles of beach front, the sand is golden and the tropical breeze sweet. The resort has cabanas and lounge chairs along the beach, and yes, most importantly, the waiters will attend to your every whim oceanfront. There are convenient showers to wash off the Mexican sand before you return to the paved resort area.

Anything else there to do?

Activities abound at Emerald Bay throughout the day for both adults and children. From parasailing to fishing to wave runners, there are ample opportunities to participate in water sports and recreational activities. Mexican bingo happened daily, along with volleyball, and I wish I could tell you that we tried it, but Carlos kept us well-supplied under our umbrellas by the pool and that was our home base for the most part.

Emerald Bay recently completed a first class Spa and Gym where a variety of treatments and equipment are available. They are fabulous! Did we work out? No, but we saw them. There are tennis courts and a driving range that we toured. There were no waiters so we left.

¿Tiene hambre?

The resort has two uniquely different restaurants and yes, we tried them both. You can dine indoor or ocean-side at La Cordeliere where theme nights rule. We tried the prime rib night, and it was delicious. The restaurant features a huge salad bar – didn’t eat much of that – and a fabulous dessert bar. Yes, we tried a lot of that. The restaurant was pricy but the food and the ambience were worth it.
New to the resort is The Bistro, which is a chic, art deco restaurant that overlooks a serene pool. The dishes are quite continental and delicious, and the guy who sings Spanish karaoke ala Tony Bennett is not bad either.

With the exception of the Swine Flu and the less than thorough screening by the airport medico, Mexico and girlfriends, as always, were a delight; Adios amigas!