Girlhood is one of life's greatest joys, and I think I've just found the ultimate way to experience it.
Historically, it’s the time of life before a girl becomes a woman, when life is full of friendship bracelets and fun.
In recent years, the internet has adopted it as a powerful movement that encourages us to embrace the feminine and juvenile things we’re told to reject as we grow up.
When I was invited to The Fairmont St Andrews to check out its new partnership with luxury brand TBCo, I knew this was the girlhood escape I had been waiting for.
The cliff-top resort recently invited guests to "embrace the joy of staying in" with a quirky overnight experience and unique dress code - a pair of gorgeous new PJs.
So, alongside my very reliable reviewer (my mum), we decided to test this new summer promotion for ourselves.
Food and drink
We arrived at The Fairmont St Andrews to a warm welcome.
In fact, the staff at the reception, bar, Italian restaurant La Cucina, the spa and throughout the hotel really were nothing short of wonderful throughout our stay.
But my favourite kind of welcome comes in the form of a cream tea with lashings of cream and jam and piping hot Peppermint.
In the past, my main criticisms of cream tea have been when the scones are too dense, or they load up the stand with far too many treats that it simply goes to waste.
The Fairmount hit just the right note - we enjoyed light and fluffy scones, and I can assure you that nothing was left on our plate.
We both decided to order a cocktail ( it was the weekend after all!), which became an unexpected highlight.
Inspired by Aesop’s fables, each drink was its own interpretation of one of these tales, from The Lion and The Wee Moose to The Tortoise and The Torrance Hare.
Not only were the cocktails delicious, but discovering ( and reciting the stories the drunker we got) was a delightful touch.
During our stay, we also enjoyed a delicious meal at the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant – La Cucina.
It’s open 6 pm – 9.30 pm daily and offers a wide variety of options for all hungers, including aperitivos and pizzas to pasta and sharing plates.
We split the Diavola pizza alongside some sides before savouring a nightcap in the Kittock’s Den afterwards.
Although we left our jammies in the room, La Cucina’s relaxed atmosphere had us feeling quite at home.
Breakfast the next morning was included in our stay.
The Atrium lounge is a fresh and light space to take in a leisurely morning, and there was an impressive offering in the buffet.
I ordered the Eggs Benedict, which was perfectly fine; I was jealous of my Mum’s French Toast and wish I had more room to have ordered that too!
The room and hotel
We stayed in a beautifully decorated twin room which looked out over the hotel itself and the bright blue North Sea beyond.
Our room came kitted with two (extremely comfortable) double beds, an abundance of storage space, and a stylish bathroom with a deep bath and sleek shower.
It also boasted all the amenities you would expect from a hotel of its reputation, including a Nespresso machine, cosy robes and slippers.
Our only issue was connecting to the Wi-Fi. For whatever reason, it did not seem to like our phones, and it could be painfully slow at times.
However, a digital detox from Instagram for a swift 24-hour stay was hardly a hardship and was perhaps exactly what we needed to unwind.
One of the real highlights of the stay was our visit to the spa, which was also included in the package.
Whilst many people munched on a late breakfast or headed out for the golf, we lounged about the pool with our books, relaxed in the bubbles of the hot tub and melted our troubles away in the steam room and sauna.
It was genuinely the most perfect Sunday morning I have had in a long time.
The PJ package
You will remember that somewhere between girlhood and the hundred cocktails we sipped on, this experience was part of a special partnership with Scottish lifestyle brand TBCo, which meant that there were some other charming details in our room too.
On our (again, can't stress this enough - extremely comfortable) bed, we found two cloth bags with our jammies and a bottle of Perrier-Jouët Champagne.
Ahead of our stay, we had chosen our PJ preferences and sizes. I opted for the pink lattice cotton set.
Meanwhile, my mum chose the cropped green stripe ones.
Both PJs were true to size ( we wore mediums) and were beautifully made, like a dinner from a Michelin-star restaurant that you don't want to mess up by actually eating.
Once our pyjamas were on, we settled in with a glass of champagne and toasted the occasion. What I didn't expect was how emotional the moment would feel.
My mum and I are extremely close, but between work and everyday life, dedicated mother-daughter time can be hard to come by.
The experience gave us a rare chance to slow down, reconnect and reflect, and I found myself feeling immensely grateful for everything she has done for me over the years.
As the night went on, my mind flitted to the women and girls that I know (and don't) that would love this ultimate girlhood experience.
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The mothers and daughters, the sisters, the aunties, the best friends who grew up together or found each other later in life.
The women and girls bonded by nostalgic pop anthems, sleepovers and late-night giggles.
Because while girlhood may be a stage of life, it's also a feeling, one that stays with us long after we've grown up.
Thank you to the Fairmount St Andrews for the invite, and if you want to experience girlhood for yourself, packages start from £435, based on two people sharing.
You can find the full details via The Fairmont St Andrews website.
The offer runs until December 2027 and is available across both guest rooms and our Manor Homes.
Exclusions do apply.
Who would you spend this girlhood experience with? Let us know in the comments.
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