You arrive in Oaxaca de Juárez around midday on Tuesday 24 November and the group gathers that afternoon. It's a small group, eight women at most, so introductions are quick and the first dinner together sets the tone for the week. Oaxaca City is compact and walkable, and the host points out on day one that it's a safe city for travellers, including women exploring on their own.

Most days follow a loose pattern. Mornings are slow, with breakfast and some quiet time or a guided reflection. The middle of the day goes to getting out into the city: the food markets, the streets around the zócalo and the Santo Domingo church, local makers and Oaxaca's well-known cooking traditions. Evenings are for long dinners and talking. Food is central to the whole trip, and Oaxaca is a good place for that. It's the home of mole, tlayudas, fresh chocolate and mezcal.

Thursday 26 November is Thanksgiving, and the trip is built around it. Instead of a traditional turkey dinner, the group shares a Friendsgiving meal in Oaxaca and takes some time to say what they're grateful for. For a lot of women, this is the point of the trip: spending the holiday somewhere new with company that chose to be there.

What sets this apart from a typical yoga or spa retreat is the balance. The focus is on food, culture, fun and women supporting women. Rest and reflection are part of it, but there's no strict schedule of classes. If you want to spend Thanksgiving week eating well, learning about Oaxacan culture and meeting other women, it fits. If you want daily workouts, look elsewhere.

The trip is run by OtehliaTravels, which also organises a women-only Oaxaca food and culture tour. The host describes the week as something she wanted to share after her own experience in Oaxaca, so it comes across as personal and small-scale rather than packaged. You leave on Sunday 29 November, with checkout at 11:00.

What's included

- 5 nights accommodation in Oaxaca City (double occupancy) - Friendsgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day - Group meals focused on Oaxacan food - Cultural experiences and city outings - Women-only reflection and gratitude sessions - Host support throughout the trip

What's not included

- Flights to and from Oaxaca - Travel insurance - Single room supplement - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Meals and drinks not part of the group programme - Tips

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