It's funny how we always make time to do the chores we have to do regularly - do the shopping, go to work, feed the dog. But when it comes down to looking after ourselves - and our girl friends - many of us really do fall far short of the mark.

Our girl friends can be wise, funny and sometimes a little crazy - but they're always there for us. We can tell them things we wouldn't even tell our own mother. And if a sorrow shared really is a sorrow halved, we should learn to lean on each other in times of trouble. But we can't do that if we don't stay in touch with our girl friends. We sometimes go for weeks without getting in touch - and let's face it, a feeble text really doesn't count. And how often do we intend to phone our friend one day only to let it slip into a week, then a month, before we actually get around to doing it?

With so many ups and downs in life, it's all too easy to see friends as only being there in times of sadness and difficulty, but catching up with our girl friends benefits us in so many ways. That's why a night away with them can be such a tonic. It's important to celebrate true friends - and a night away with nothing to do but have fun and catch up is most probably the most wonderful way of doing just that. It's so easy to make excuses and not bother to arrange a catch up, but when you finally get around to it, you'll probably wonder why you didn't do it months ago.

Many hotels offer really great girl's nights in, where groups of friends are made to feel at home and treated like princesses. And you can tailor your stay according to your preferences. Some girls want to put on the glamour and glitz, dining in style, whilst others are happy to sit in their bathrobes all evening, painting their nails and watching a DVD in their guest room. Whatever you choose, make sure the hotel can cater for your requirements. If you want some pampering during your stay, make sure the hotel has a spa that can offer the treatments you like - and it's probably wise to book them when you make your hotel reservation. If you think you might fancy a swim when you're there, make sure there's a swimming pool - and that you all pack your costumes.

Life can be stressful and quite often, after a tough week at work, the last thing you feel like doing is packing your bags and heading off with the girls. But how can a night of pure indulgence, great company, a bit of pampering and no housework in sight be anything other than fantastic?

So next time you're sat at home on the settee on a Friday night watching television, flicking through the channels looking for something worth watching and feeling bored, just think how much more fun it would be if you were sitting with the girls in a beautiful hotel room, catching up and letting your hair down.