Chick Vacations

Dallas, Texas is much more than big hair, Junior League divas and country/western dancing. The “BIG D” is a great getaway destination for your next girls weekend. As with many large cities, the uptown area is a hot location and is a prime spot in Dallas. Uptown Dallas features a host of delicious restaurants, a slew of beer pubs and live music, too.

HOTEL ZAZA
Start the weekend off right by booking your suite at the ever-chic Hotel ZaZa. A boutique hotel with just four floors, you immediately know you’re in girl heaven walking through the ornate double doors into a lobby decorated with red chandeliers, a huge day bed and what looks to be 1950s Hollywood memorabilia.
Go the extra mile and book one of their Magnificent Seven Suites, if possible. Each with its own theme, these spacious suites can accommodate you and several of your girlfriends. Crouching Tiger, an Asian-themed suite (2,145 square feet), features 2 bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, living room area, washer/dryer, and whirlpool, among other amenities. The Rock Star Suite (aren’t we all rock stars?) features an animal print motif, 2 bedrooms and a full kitchen (2,010 square feet—Isn’t this the one you want to stay in 2010?). These are just two of seven and wouldn’t it be fun to try out more than one?
If you can’t spring for one of the Magnificent Seven, you can book one of the Concept Suites. There are many of these to choose from. My favorite for a ChickVacation, is the Escape Suite (1,166 square feet). This uber-chic suite features a spa theme, complete with a hydrotherapy tub (think faded lighting and candles), 2 other full bathrooms, 2 king-sized beds, a table, couch, large closet, big-screen TV and mini bar. You can “escape” to this suite anytime throughout the weekend, and it’s also a perfect locale for watching a “pay-per-view” movie with your friends.
Hotel ZaZa highlights two other main amenities for their guests: the ZaSpa on the second floor and the hotel pool/ hot tub that is for relaxation by day and partying by night. Reserve early for ZaSpa as it is a fairly small spa but offers a typical full range of spa services. You and your girlfriends can book a full morning or afternoon of spa-licious relaxation, from massages, to facials and, of course spa manis and pedis.
The hotel pool is small but packs a lot of eye-candy power. If you’re there on a weekend, you might need to stake your claim on lounge chairs fairly early in the day as the area fills up by noon. This pool area is not where you’d go for a quiet relaxation but more for a fun party afternoon with your friends. Plan to order some drinks, enjoy the music and have fun people watching. And, when the sun goes down, the party heats up as the pool area turns into a club scene called Urban Oasis. Packed shoulder-to-shoulder with young beautiful people, the pool area is hopping with tunes from a D.J. and one of the hippest scenes in Dallas.

BREADWINNER’S CAFÉ AND QUARTER BAR
Like I mentioned, this uptown area is full of great eateries and fun bars. Breadwinner’s Café is a great place to grab lunch. Just about a mile from Hotel ZaZa, it’s within walking distance. This café dishes out delectable salads, soups and of course, sandwiches with fresh-made bread. You’ll also be tempted to take home a few loaves of their breads from the bakery (such as zucchini bread) or other desserts. If you’re in the mood to have a few drinks, there’s also the Quarter Bar (next to Breadwinner’s), which is a small arboretum area based on a typical French Quarter (New Orleans) bar.

SFUZZI
Perfect for dinner and only about a ½ mile from Hotel ZaZa, this Italian restaurant and bar features pizzas, pastas, and salads at reasonable prices. You can choose from indoor or outdoor seating; however, the outdoor area is not necessarily equipped for large parties. Sfuzzi’s is on the main drag, which is McKinney, so if you do get to sit outside, the atmosphere is lively.

BEVERLY HILLS NAILS AND SPA
If you’re looking for something fun to do with your girlfriends while you wait to check-in to your room at Hotel ZaZa (check-in time is 3pm), Beverly Hills Nails & Spa is about a mile down McKinney Street and is a small nail salon that offers quality nail care at reasonable prices. This is a fun place to sit with your friends and get a manicure or pedicure to start your weekend off right. They’ll offer you wine or champagne, which is a great way to start your relaxation and get in the mood to enjoy your weekend. Another perk to this day spa is that you get a nice neck massage with your manicure ($18 for spa manicure, $30 for spa pedicure or a combo special of both for $45). You’ll be treated to a good ‘ole Texas ChickVacation, complete with just the right amount of modern luxury for the goddess in all of us.

** Hotel ZaZa Uptown Dallas http://www.hotelzazadallas.com/ 2332 Leonard Street Dallas, Texas 75201 800-597-8399 or 214-468-8399
** Breadwinner’s Café and Quarter Bar http://www.breadwinnerscafe.com/index.php?page=locations 3301 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204 214-754-4940
** Sfuzzi www.sfuzziuptown.com 2533 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
** Beverly Hills Nails & Spa 2633 McKinney Ave., Ste 199, Dallas, TX 75204 214-953-0110