

Take The Ultimate Girls' Trip To Spain's First 'Women Only' Hotel
OK, so I read a lot of y'all's comments, and if there's one thing that I know at least 85.9 percent of you are totally down for, it's a good bottle of wine. Well, guess what place is known for all of the best that wine has to offer? Spain! It's actually the third largest wine producer in the entire world. That, along with flamenco (a Spanish art form that incorporates song, dance and guitar playing); their beaches (including Canary and Balearic islands); its signature foods like the meat/seafood rice dish paella; the 2-3 hour-long naps known as siestas and of course, bullfighting—doesn't it seem like Spain would be the ultimate girls' trip? Yeah, I think so too.
That's why I thought I should take out a moment or two to hip you to something that I just read about this past weekend. If you decide to visit the beautiful village of Porto Cristo (which is on the east coast of Mallorca), there is a hotel that, quite frankly, I'm not sure which part excites me more—the fact that you can stay there for $80 per night or that it's a—get this—women's only hotel. Yep, you heard that right.
This past June, Spain opened up the Som Dona Hotel, its first hotel that is exclusive to women ages 14 and up. This makes it ideal for solo travel, rolling out with a few of your besties or any other female combo you've got in mind.
I'm thinking that for you avid movers 'n shakers, that's already enough info to book a reservation. But for those of you who would like just a few more details, here are some extra deets.
What Are the Best Things About the Som Dona Hotel?
The Som Dona hotel is a 39-room resort that has an "absolutely no men allowed" policy and is totally customized to suit our needs. As you can see from the picture above, each room is bright and modern. It comes with a queen-sized bed, a private toilet and a fully-stocked bar. There are on-site massages and face and body treatments, local and international cuisine menu options, free Wi-Fi and four-star, 24-hour service.
Something else that's impressive about the hotel is, although some men are employed at the hotel (due to the avoidance of discrimination laws), hiring women is the hotel's top priority. And, as far as the hotel's guests go, the hotel told Insider that it welcomes "singles, couples, mothers with daughters, businesswomen and incentives groups, friends, and relatives." (By the way, if you are a big-time solo traveler, for your own safety and well-being, take a moment to check out "The 50 Most Dangerous Countries for Women Travelers to Visit Solo, Ranked" in case you plan on getting a lot of stamps on your passport over the next few months.)
What Is There to Do in Porto Cristo?
I'm thinking that if you went to Porto Cristo and spent half of the time at the hotel, hanging out by its beach-style pool or sipping on a drink while sitting on its rooftop terrace, you'll be perfectly content. But there are some pretty cool things to do in the village as well. Not only is the Som Dona Hotel close to the very best beaches in Majorca, it's also walking distance from one of the area's favorite attractions— Caves of Drach (four conjoining caves that you are able to tour).
Visitors of Porto Cristo are huge fans of the bubble tea spot Zugga; the seafront promenade eateries, bars and clubs in Cala Millor, and walking to what looks like a tiny castle called the Sa Coma Viewing Point. Porto Cristo also has a safari zoo and a tropical park. Folks also really enjoy the historic town Artà where you can take boat trips, visit markets or do a little sightseeing of its landmarks.
And what if walking all over the place isn't really your thing? No problem. There are vespas (which pretty much look like scooters or tiny motorcycles) that are available for rent too.
When’s the Best Time to Go?
So, when is the best time to go to Porto Cristo? It's important to keep in mind that it's a part of the world that has a Mediterranean climate that consists of hot dry summers and pretty mild winters. This means that if you want to have the ideal summer vacation, it's best to go during the months of July and August, although you can comfortably swim in the beaches from June thru October. If you'd prefer to avoid rainy weather at all costs, September is the wettest month and January, hands down, is the coldest one.
As far as your coins go, of course, you'll need euros while you're there. But from what I've seen, it's pretty darn affordable across the board. At the time that I'm penning this, one dollar equals out to about one euro (it's more like .89). With that in mind, a three-course meal is around 15-20 euros, a bus ticket is 2-5 euros and a boat tour is somewhere around 50 euros. ATMs are everywhere (you'll typically get charged two percent per withdrawal), cash is king and hotels do take major credit cards and debit cards.
Yes, yes, y'all. If you and your girls have been talking about going on a vacation, but you can't figure out where, how could you possibly go wrong with a hotel that was made with you, a woman, in mind and has no other guests but women? Dope. Definitely dope.
For more info, visit Som Dona Hotel or email dona@somhotels.es.
Featured image by Shutterstock
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Different puzzle pieces are creating bigger pictures these days. 2024 will mark a milestone on a few different levels, including the release of my third book next June (yay!).
I am also a Professional Certified Coach. My main mission for attaining that particular goal is to use my formal credentials to help people navigate through the sometimes tumultuous waters, both on and offline, when it comes to information about marriage, sex and relationships that is oftentimes misinformation (because "coach" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, oftentimes quite poorly).
I am also still super devoted to helping to bring life into this world as a doula, marriage life coaching will always be my first love (next to writing, of course), a platform that advocates for good Black men is currently in the works and my keystrokes continue to be devoted to HEALTHY over HAPPY in the areas of holistic intimacy, spiritual evolution, purpose manifestation and self-love...because maturity teaches that it's impossible to be happy all of the time when it comes to reaching goals yet healthy is a choice that can be made on a daily basis (amen?).
If you have any PERSONAL QUESTIONS (please do not contact me with any story pitches; that is an *editorial* need), feel free to reach out at missnosipho@gmail.com. A sistah will certainly do what she can. ;)
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Blac Chyna Opens Up About Her Initial Fear To Share Her Spiritual Journey With Others
Watching Angela “Blac Chyna” White’s transformation in real-time has truly been a sight to see. It wasn’t that long ago that she announced that she was reversing her cosmetic surgeries in an effort to go back to who she was before the world came to know her as Blac Chyna. In previous interviews, she stated that she was dissolving her facial and lip fillers, removing her breast implants, and getting a butt reduction, as well as removing the dimple piercings that enhanced her fame and controversial tattoos.
In a recent Tamron Hall interview, the mother of two said that she has “fully recovered” from the procedures. She is also celebrating one year of sobriety and opened up about being worried about how her new journey would be received by others.
“I’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, right, and of course, like, you know, coming out, I’m like young, I’m gonna do wild things as we all have,” she said.
“...I feel like by me being vocal and showing everybody you can change your life and things can get better, like through myself, that right there is an accomplishment, and that’s a part of freedom, too.”
But as she started on her journey, many people have shown her grace, which is something she’s grateful for. “And then the fact that people have been showing me grace, it’s like amazing,” she said. “And I feel like when I did it, I just did it. It was more so like spiritual thing and I feel like people see that, and I’ve always been like my authentic self, so what you see is kinda what you get with me, and that’s just kinda what it is.”
Chyna, who recently received an honorary doctorate from Sacramento Theology Seminary and Bible College, has also repaired her relationship with her mom, Tokyo Toni. The social media celebrity surprised her daughter on the Tamron Hall Show. Prior to the sentimental surprise, Chyna dished on the reconciliation and having a better understanding of her mom.
“I must say, some of the things I have to take accountability for because, like my actions. As a mother, you don’t want to see your daughter doing certain things ‘cause it’s like it doesn’t matter what my past was or what we’re going through, I didn’t raise you that way,” she admitted. “So, it’s like, okay, maybe I was a little bit wrong. Maybe I was acting out a little bit. But I feel like as we grow older, I kinda see more, and I understand more.”
Chyna will be starring in season two of Fox's reality competition show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
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Feature image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images