Nene Was Here: Take a Trip to Drama With These 6 RHOA Vacation Spots

If you’re a fan of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, you know those sassy ladies love to break up and make up. But at least they do it in style, and often while vacationing in the lap of luxury. For spring travel inspiration, we’ve highlighted six of the Peach State divas’ juiciest and most tweetable moments that happened in fabulous destinations we’d love to visit.

Tucked away in the Northern Caribbean, Anguilla offers white-sand beaches and tranquil turquoise waters. The ideal time to visit this low-key island is usually from the end of August to October, and the cast visited, quite memorably, back in season 5.

Where they stayed: Ani Villas Anguilla, a five-star property overlooking Little Bay.

Memorable moment: It was the twirl seen ’round the world. On a couples retreat, Kenya Moore coined her famous catchphrase, “Gone with the wind fabulous,” during a poolside screamfest with Porsha Williams. On a positive note, Peter Thomas also surprised his wife, Cynthia Bailey, with a romantic, beach vow renewal, although we still don’t know what the beautiful Ms. Bailey sees in that trifling dude. 

A getaway to Savannah, Ga., offers a unique travel experience full of Southern charm, soulful, low country cuisine, haunted houses and cemeteries and must-see black history attractions. It’s also where the wives headed for a trip during season 6.

Where they stayed: The five-bedroom Wedding Cake Mansion with ornate stained glass and 19th-century crystal chandeliers.

Memorable moment: We all know the Underground Railroad wasn’t a real railroad, right? Well, for some reason, Porsha didn’t and Nene Leakes and the gang had to educate the granddaughter of late civil rights activist Hosea Williams when they toured the First African Baptist Church, a stop on the railroad for runaway slaves. This was one of the few trips where the women spent more time bonding than bickering. They even let their weaves down at a drag show headlined by legendary drag queen Lady Chablis. Yaaas!

3. Cape Town, South Africa

Post apartheid, Cape Town, South Africa, is a cosmopolitan hub that boasts great food and wine, beaches, spas, nature walks and shopping. No visit to the “Mother City” would be complete, however, without a tour of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders were imprisoned. The RHOA cast visited during season 4.

Where they stayed: The upscale Lawhill Luxury Apartments in the heart of Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront.

Memorable moment: The ladies were on their best behavior when they visited an orphanage, where they showered the adorable children with gifts. And a shaman even told Kandi Burruss that her future husband was with her. (Todd Tucker was a production manager for the show at the time). Too bad the good vibrations didn’t last. During most of the Southern belles’ 10-day stay in South Africa, the talls (Nene, Marlo Hampton and Cynthia) clashed with the smalls (Kandi, Phaedra Parks and Sheree Whitfield). And in a climactic scene, Marlo and Sheree got into a war of words that sounded like two hens in heat.

Classier than Cancun, Riviera Maya, Mexico, is a popular tourist playground known for its high-end all-inclusive resorts, balmy weather, long, white-sand beaches and Mayan ruins.

Where they stayed: The adults-only, beachfront El Dorado Royale complete with six swimming pools, eight bars and seven gourmet restaurants.

Memorable moment: During this season 6 trip, the palm trees weren’t the only source of shade in Mexico. Picking up where the he-said-she-said, Kenya-Phaedra-Apollo Nida drama left off, Kenya finally confronted Apollo, and Phaedra was pissed. This was also the trip where Peter and Gregg Leakes almost came to blows, and NeNe told Peter to stop acting like a “bitch”—fighting words that marked the beginning of the end of NeNe and Cynthia’s friend contract.

Perched on the Atlantic coast, San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the island’s capital and largest city, known for its busy oceanfront resort strip, bars and casinos. A stroll through quaint Old San Juan, with its cobblestoned streets and colorful Spanish colonial buildings, is a must.

Where they stayed: The artfully designed Olive Boutique Hotel, with top chef Mario Pagan’s ultrachic Sage Steak Loft on the first level.

Memorable moment: Tropical Old San Juan is known for its historic forts, but we can’t even repeat the verbal cannon NeNe fired at season 7 cast member Claudia Jordan during a group dinner in an episode called “Puerto Read-co.” Let’s just say that according to NeNe, a part of Claudia’s female anatomy was overworked and underpaid. This was a new low, even for mean girl Ms. Leakes. In between insults, however, the “housewives” found time to drink daiquiris and flaunt their donkey booties.

Spanish for “eight rivers,” Ocho Rios, Jamaica, is one of the island’s fastest-growing regions, and it offers plenty of opportunities to reach the beach, eat, drink and feel “Irie, mon.”

Where they stayed: The lavish Moon Palace Jamaica Grande, Ocho Rios’ newest resort, with 700 well-appointed rooms and a flurry of daily activities.

Memorable moment: Bible-carrying and baby-toting Kim “Tootie” Fields joined the cast in season 8, and was quickly schooled by resident troublemaker Kenya Moore on the RHOA facts of life. The tension reached a boiling point in the scenic setting, when Kenya went “gone with the wind crazy.” She tried to pull Kim’s chair from underneath her and applauded the Living Single star’s hasty exit. Somehow we don’t think Jamaica became Kim’s new island home. Animosity aside, the women had fun climbing Dunn’s River Falls and enjoyed a fish fry in Kingston.

Tracy E. Hopkins is a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based travel, lifestyle and entertainment writer. Visit her blog, Everything She Wants, and follow her on Twitter.

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