The Betches’ Bachelorette Guide To Asheville

Planning sucks, and bachelorette parties are a ton of work. So we’re taking all the guesswork out of planning a bachelorette party by breaking down top bachelorette destinations. Our guides will tell you where to stay, eat, party, how to get around, and give you a sample itinerary that you can follow. You’re welcome. Read on for our bachelorette guide to Asheville.

If you haven’t heard, Asheville, NC, is the spot for all your beer, food, and outdoorsy needs. Having lived here for a solid five years, I can honestly say that Asheville is a place that offers something for everyone. It’s got history for mom and dad, it’s got an amazing food scene for your Instagram thirst trap friends, it’s got amazing beer and breweries for people who give a sh*t about that, and it has stunning scenery and mountain views f*cking everywhere.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is about to become your new contender for bachelorette parties. Although those words may potentially ruin the city for those of us that live here, I’m fine sharing this slice of Appalachian heaven with some bride tribes and giving you our official bachelorette guide to Asheville.

How To Get There

Getting to Asheville is pretty easy whether you’re driving or flying—it just takes a little know-how. From Charlotte or Atlanta, Asheville is only two to three hours away if you drive like a sane person. Raleigh and Nashville are looking at about four-hour trips, and Richmond will take you about six hours. If that all is making your head spin, yes, you can also fly. The Asheville Regional Airport offers a few direct flights from Newark, LaGuardia, DC, and Philly for about $200-$300 roundtrip. There are several direct flights out of Chicago for around $400 roundtrip; non-stops from Dallas and Houston for around $300; and tons of flights from all over Florida for about $200.

Pro tip: If you’re having trouble finding a reasonable flight directly into Asheville, you can fly into the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, which is only about 45 minutes away from Asheville. You can also fly into Charlotte and make a friend pick you up, or you can take the shuttle.

Once you get to the airport in Asheville, you can grab an Uber or Lyft to bring you to your hotel or Airbnb. If you’re flying into Greenville, the airport shuttle will take you directly into Asheville for a decent price.

Where To Stay

Airbnb is going to be your best bet in Asheville since there are tons of bigger homes located around downtown (look for things in the Montford area) that can easily house four or more. If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, you can hunt for better options—there’s cabin-type sh*t and mountain views a little outside town in Black Mountain, which is east of Asheville and about 20 minutes from downtown; or in Arden, which is south of Asheville, closer to the airport, and also about 20 minutes from downtown.

If you’re determined to stay in downtown, though, there are TONS of brand new hotels. The AC Hotel by Marriott is smack in the middle of the action and has a stellar rooftop bar and restaurant. Hotel Indigo is on the edge of downtown and makes for an easy walk into the action, and Aloft is located near the southern side of the city where a lot of the breweries are.

 

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How To Get Around

Asheville has a few different areas, all of which are walkable in and of themselves. To get between said areas, though, you will need an Uber, Lyft, or (the least fun option) a DD. Downtown is completely walkable, and if you were feeling up to it, you could trek over to the River Arts District, as it’s only about a mile away, but I’d recommend a car. West Asheville, where you’ll be heavily judged just for being part of a bachelorette party, is less of a destination, so I wouldn’t recommend bar hopping or shopping much over there; just book a restaurant and GTFO. Biltmore Village is walkable and has some super cute shops, but if you’re going to the Biltmore House, you will need a car to drive around the estate.

Where To Eat

There’s no shortage of places to eat your weight in, well, anything. Between James Beard-nominated restaurants and breweries with really good food, I’d highly suggest starving yourself the whole week before you get to Asheville so you can stuff yourself once you get there. (Don’t actually do that.)

For a fancy or nice dinner, book a month out for Cúrate , Rhubarb, or Benne on Eagle. All three have been nominated for countless awards, received accolades from fancy culinary folks, and/or have been recognized by the foodie establishment for being f*cking delicious. Cúrate specializes in Spanish tapas, a great option for a bachelorette party looking to share literally everything and take a lot of really annoying pics. Get the sangria—you won’t be disappointed.

Rhubarb is your classic farm-to-table eatery, but they take it up a notch. Sit out on the patio where you can be serenaded by wandering musicians and buskers, which Asheville has a lot of.

Benne on Eagle is where African meets Appalachian and has some seriously decadent and delicious not-your-average Southern dishes. And while I say these three are for “fancy” dinner, honestly, you could wear old, stained denim shorts and a baseball hat to any restaurant in Asheville and no one would think twice. Thanks, hipsters!

 

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For a more casual atmosphere, you’re going to want to hit up Chai Pani. Indian street food may not sound like a great idea when you’re binge drinking, but, I promise you, this sh*t is amazing. Get the kale pakoras and okra fries for a life changing experience.

Another adorable spot is Noble’s The Greenhouse, where the bright pink interior is begging to be in all your Insta stories.

 

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Decisions are hard, so why choose – Get. It. All. 😋⁣ ⁣ Thanks for the stunning pic @bryanroof 👌🏽 #repost ➡️ Indian street food at @chaipani in Asheville.

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If you need to up your sugar intake, stop by the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. It’s right in the middle of downtown and is sort of a dessert mecca. There will be a line on Friday and Saturday nights, but once you get inside you can indulge in their cookies, cakes, mousses, or liquid truffles—all made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate. Bonus points if you get a wine float, where, like, you put ice cream in your rosé.

 

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Our @highlandbrewing Mocha Stout Cake is a mainstay on the #frenchbroadchocolatelounge menu, and it’ll never, ever, ever leave. . . #frenchbroadchocolates #frenchbroadchocolate #cake #cakeforbreakfast #cakeforlunch #cakefordinner

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Brunch is a way of life in Asheville, so be sure you’re carving out time in your day for that sh*t. Tupelo Honey is, honestly, sort of a tourist trap, BUT for good reason. Get the Shoo Mercy pancakes and be ready to never eat again.

Sunny Point Cafe always has a two hour wait, but the West Asheville spot is incredible for when you’re hungover (which you will be).

Taco Billy, which specializes in breakfast tacos, is also an amazing breakfast eatery—plus it’s across the street from Hole Doughnuts, where you kind of need to go for freshly fried and slightly misshapen treats smothered in cinnamon sugar.

 

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Cranberry ginger from us to you with ❤️

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What To Do

As soon as you settle on Asheville for your bachelorette destination, go ahead and book your tickets for the Biltmore Estate. The Vanderbilts’ giant Versailles-in-America home is open year-round and you can tour, do wine tastings, take amazing Instas, and pet some cute f*cking animals. Yes, you read that right. There are goats and chickens and sheep and a few giant Clydesdale horses and they all just want LOVE and are conveniently located down the path from the winery. It’s like a white girl triathlon.

 

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Experience the beauty of #Biltmore’s Walled Garden, alive with brightly colored mums! Follow our fall color report for updates on fall color developing at Biltmore this season: biltmore.com/fallcolorreport

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After you drink and cry over cuddly wuddly animal friends, I’d suggest a visit to the largest brewery in Asheville: Sierra Nevada. Even if you aren’t a huge beer fan, this Denver-based beer’s operation offers tours, seriously amazing food, a giant outdoor area with fire pits, a stage, games, gardens, and lots of places to just sit, drink, and relax. It’s located in South Asheville, and it’s definitely a must-add destination to the to-do list.

 

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Something wild is joining the party next month. Are you curious? #MardiGras

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If you’re fancy, book some spa treatments (and say goodbye to your paycheck) at the The Grove Park Inn. The entire spa is cave-like, pools open up to mountain views, mimosas are free, and, if you’re a hotel guest, you can stay all day. Just be sure to double-check daily availability, as hotel guests are always given first dibs. If you can’t or won’t afford a $200 pedi, stop by the inn at sunset for drinks on the sunset terrace instead. Then take pics and annoy everyone.

 

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Relaxation in a whole new light. #SpringRenewal #SelfCare #SpaDay #MindfulLiving #DigitalDetox #Unplug #GroveParkInn

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Lastly, if it’s warm and you like the outdoors, Asheville has tons of hiking trails and water adventures on the French Broad River, which runs right through town. There are several tubing companies, so you can pack a floating cooler with booze and meander down the waterway.

Where To Drink

Unlike Nashville, Miami, or NYC, Asheville isn’t a party-till-sunrise location, which works in our favor for those of us that like to be in bed before 2am. There are not a lot of places open past, like, midnight, so think more daytime drinking and late-night tapas and less rage-all-night clubs. So if going to bed before the sun comes up is your jam, you’ll f*cking love it here.

The good news? Asheville has more breweries per capita than any other city in the U.S. Yeah, think about that for a minute. There are a few bigger breweries that require more than a quick stop, plus tons of smaller breweries where you can jump in, grab a beer, and be on your way. We already talked about Sierra Nevada, which is located sort of out of town (actually super close to the Asheville Airport—about 20 minutes from downtown). New Belgium Brewing also has a huge spot in Asheville. It sits right between downtown and West Asheville, making it an easy day stop. There’s always a food truck, lots of beer flight options, and dogs to pet (v important).

 

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If you’re downtown, which you will be, there are a few must-stop breweries. Burial Beer Co. is run by really mean hipsters who make really great dark beers—so if you’re into coffee stouts, porters, and playing “whose beard is best”, this is the place to go. Wicked Weed is one of the OG breweries in town and is a stop that offers beer for everyone’s needs. They also operate the Funkatorium, which makes tons of sour beers. That sounds gross, but they’re really good and get you pretty f*cked up. Yay! One World Brewing is also in downtown, located in a not-sketchy alleyway. The bar is in a basement with lots of games, so you can collectively embarrass yourselves.

 

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A triumphant resurrection. __ To Streak Blood Across My Brow Double India Pale Ale. Everyone’s favorite hop extravaganza has returned, with even more hops. Double dry-hopped with 2019 early harvest Galaxy hops. Gobs of peaches and cream, passionfruit and gooseberry sorbet, and mango chunks. Unrelenting enjoyment. All day. __ Cans are taproom only. Release is 3/6 in DTR and AVL.

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If you get tired of beer, there’s a wine bar in the River Arts District—just outside downtown—called Bottle Riot. You can also stop by the plēb urban winery which opened fairly recently in downtown.

 

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From the concrete rises our 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. Open top barrel fermented on native yeast, this wine has blackcurrant, blackberry, and sarsparilla spice aromatics with notes of pipe tobacco, tomato leaf and ripe red fruits on the palate. . Available Saturday, November 9 . #ncwine #urbanwine #ashevillewine #ashevillewinery #naturalwine #drinklocal #minimalinterventionwine #lowinterventionwine #riverartsdistrict #riverartsdistrictasheville #plēburbanwinery #plebavl #urbanwinery #foundation #foundationavl #visitasheville #winetourism #wineenthusiast #winespectator #realwine #avllocal #vinonaturale #vinonatural

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Friday, Day 1

  1. Land at the Asheville Airport and take in the mountain views. Ah, nature. Grab an Uber and head to your Airbnb.
  2. Arrive at the hotel/Airbnb and unpack before heading out for drinks and an app (see: margaritas) at En La Calle
  3. Dinner at Cúrate, where you share all the tapas and drink far too much sangria. Try to speak Spanish with a Catalonian accent and definitely offend the chef.
  4. Time to make downtown your bitch! Stop by Burial , Wicked Weed, and One World Brewing before stumbling to French Broad Chocolate for late night chocolate cake, mousse, and wine.
  5. Uber back to the Airbnb. “Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my liver to keep.”

Saturday, Day 2

  1. Bonjour, Asheville.
  2. Brunch at Tupelo Honey. Eat your weight in pancakes, biscuits, and drown it all with their house-made Bloody Mary.
  3. Grab an Uber and try to make your 1pm house entry time at the Biltmore. Hit the estate winery on your way out for a free tasting, then pet all the animals you can find.
  4. Head back to the hotel/Airbnb to get ready for pre-dinner wine at Bottle Riot before walking next door for dinner at Bull & Beggar in the River Arts District.
  5. Walk or Uber over the bridge to New Belgium for after-dinner beer.
  6. If you need more, Uber to The Double Crown in West Asheville—a locals bar with beer in cans and mixed drinks that are 95% alcohol. This is where you die of alcohol poisoning in a fun way.
  7. Somehow get back to your bed, control the spins, pass out.

Sunday, Day 3

  1. A very quiet brunch at Taco Billy, with doughnuts afterward at Hole. You try desperately not to throw up on the bride-to-be while cursing this f*cking mountain town.
  2. Head back to the hotel/Airbnb to pack and trek to the airport. Swear off beer forever.
  3. Dry heave into a paper bag on the plane and try not to make eye contact with anyone.

Images: @lovenoricreations / Unsplash; achotelasheville, curatetapasbar, chaipani, frenchbroadchocolate, biltmoreestate, omnigrovepark, newbelgium_avl; Instagram

What Your Bachelorette Destination Says About You

There’s one event every little girl dreams of from the moment she waltzes out of the womb. Her dress, her friends by her side, and all eyes in the vicinity on her. She pictures the photo ops, the food, and the painfully tacky matching outfits that she’ll force her girls to wear.

I’m talking, of course, about her bachelorette party.

Let’s be clear, whether it’s a weekend full of wine and whining about exes or a week-long drug fest in the middle of the desert, there’s no right or wrong way to say goodbye to your single life. And while the party is ultimately about what *you* want (and how much you can afford to spend), the destination you choose might say a little more about who you are than you (or your carefully curated Instagram) would have thought.

Disney World/Land

The only thing worse than a bachelorette party in Florida is a bachelorette party in Florida that doesn’t involve going to the beach. Enter: The Disney-obsessed bride. Whether you make the trek to Orlando or Anaheim (at least it’s Cali), having your *gag* last fling at a place designed for CHILDREN is the epitome of a nightmare for most. Not, however, to your friend who will INSIST that everyone gets matching ears and Mickey ice cream bars for a picture that screams more “sober sorority sisterhood retreat” and less “this is my last chance to get truly ratchet that’s all about me.”

Sure, the bride who grew up with princess syndrome and a thirst for waiting in longgggg lines for infant rides will be in heaven. Her friends, however, will be in an overpriced hell that doesn’t serve nearly enough vodka. But come on, what else would you expect from a bride who plans to enter her wedding venue on a horse and carriage and calls her fiancé Prince Charming?

Bridal Personality: What personality? KIDDING! When she’s not wishing upon stars and singing with woodland creatures, she’s having missionary sex with her high school sweetheart-turned-fiancé.

Savannah, GA

Charleston’s more exciting southern cousin, Savannah, has recently become a go-to destination for the less-ballsy of brides. Don’t get me wrong—thanks to the lack of open-container laws, there is still plenty of drinking to be done here, but the girl who chooses Savannah for her party is more of a “bless your heart” and less of a “let’s do f*cking lines in the bathroom” kind of bride. She tends to turn her nose up at shots, specifically stated that strippers were a no-go, and wanted either a day of exercise or sight-seeing to be a part of the itinerary. Fun!

Savannah, like the bride, is cute. Safe. Fun, but not overly so. A big fan of brunch, cocktails, and getting some solid sleep and sober bonding time, the girl who chooses this Georgia town is the epitome of normal. Not cliché, not lame, but not wild. Just your standard, in the middle, could-be-anyone kind of bride.

Bridal Personality: Her bridesmaids will be in blush, she’ll be in an A-line, and her first dance will be something sung by either Ed Sheeran or John Legend.

Napa Valley, CA

It takes a special kind of bride to forgo the traditional weekend of debauchery and sleazeball flirting for free drinks in exchange for a quiet weekend of memory making and merlot. Whether this bride is officially over her crazy streak or she never had one at all, the fact that she’s choosing to rock maxi dresses instead of bikinis and wine glasses instead of shot glasses says it all—for better or for worse.

While no, you might not feel like the grand or so you dished out (more if you’re flying from the East Coast) to sit around a cheese-filled table, drink wine, and talk sh*t is worth it, the bride, while generally a nice-enough girl, doesn’t really care. A true bitch on the inside, she’s not going to go to a party destination just because it’s expected of her. She’s happy to force her friends to travel far and wide to do the same thing they could do literally anywhere else in the country, but this time in sun hats.

Bridal Personality: After getting married at her parents’ country club and honeymooning in either Paris or going on a week-long cruise, the bride and her run-of-the-mill hubby will immediately get working on popping out their 2.5 babies before she opens up her Etsy shop and spends afternoons at the local barre class.

A Cruise (Most Likely To The Bahamas Or Equivalent)

For the bride who doesn’t actually want to go somewhere, but still expects her party to shell out way more money than anyone can afford, I give you: The Cruise Bride-to-be. With her captain’s hat, mouthwash bottles full of green-colored vodka, and matching shirts for her group that say either “last sail before the veil” or “let’s get ship faced,” she’s hoping a weekend boat ride to f*cking Cancun will give her enough Insta content to last until her wedding photos come in.

While it might not seem like it, the bride who chooses a cruise is possibly the most attention-seeking one of them all. Not only will the bach organizer (most likely the bride in this case because, hello? Not much planning goes into a cruise other than, you know, getting ON the cruise, and this bride probs didn’t trust her MOH to do even that) avoid any chance of last-minute cancelations that leave her with the bill, but she’ll feel like a little celebrity on the ship until she realizes just how small a giant boat can feel, especially if there’s a competing bride onboard.

While sure, sharing an inside cabin for 72+ hours with four other people who tend to be insufferable when drunk is the definition of hell, the bride honestly couldn’t care less. She just wanted to avoid arguments over splitting dinners and Ubers, work on her tan, and ensure no one can tune out her drunken ramblings while scrolling through Instagram because the odds of your wifi working are slim to none. Sneaky bitch.

Bridal Personality: Slightly insufferable. Chill—I said slightly! Sure, she loves a good daiquiri and beach day, but instead of keeping it low-key and going to Florida or some sh*t, she’s literally holding you and your frenemies hostage for a weekend that will involve hula hoop competitions and *shudders* cruise-planned group activities.

Nashville, TN

The Luke Bryan-loving, boot-wearing, cowboy-hat-with-a-veil-rocking friend of yours is INSISTING that all of her best bitches meet her in the land of hot chicken and honky-tonk: Nashville. While sure, it’s not the most original place to visit, let’s be real, the bride has never been a “think outside the box” kind of gal. She’s more of a “chug a whiskey, ride a mechanical bull, and almost cheat on her fiancé the first night out” sort of bride.

Still, what she lacks in originality (and sobriety), she at least makes up for in the fact that you’ll be visiting a city where getting sh*tfaced and wearing Daisy Dukes is a requirement. If you’re not a fan of country music (unlike your bridal bestie, of course), you’ll be in a twang-talking hell, but this bride? She DGAF. She’s here for three reasons only: flirting with Southern boys, blacking out on Lower Broadway, and coming back completely bloated on fried food.

Bridal Personality: She has at least one item of non-ironic camo clothing hanging in her closet.

Las Vegas, NV

Honestly, from the moment we learned what Las Vegas even was, almost all of us have dreamt of throwing our last hurrahs (ugh, hate that term) there. Still, as bills, life, and other bachelorette parties ensued, the idea of making everyone we know travel to the middle of f*cking nowhere, Nevada to party in the desert seemed like a little too much. But not, of course, for the bride who still insists on a Vegas bachelorette.

The epitome of a “no sh*ts given” bitch, the Vegas bachelorette bride isn’t looking for a low-key weekend of yoga and bonding. She’s looking for an “all eyes on me, drinking ’round the clock, soul-crushing hangover” kind of party. She doesn’t care that a Vegas bachelorette is the epitome of cliché. She’s throwing on her biggest pair of hoops and flipping off anyone who has a problem with her party destination of choice. Whether it’s because she’s the hottest, the loudest, the richest, or all of the above, in your group, she’s used to being the center of attention. So, naturally, a place where bars literally BEG you to come drink for free and take thirst-trap Instagram pics and where pool parties are meant to put your relationships in question, is the definition of a good time for her. Enjoy throwing your money away at the slots and pulling the bride away from the hot bartender before she crosses a line she can’t uncross.

Bridal Personality: “Jenny, I don’t give a F*CK if you’re tired. It’s only 4-f*cking-am. Did we come to party or did we come to be a little bitch?”

Austin, TX

As someone who lived in Austin for five years post-grad, it’s easy to see why this is quickly becoming one of the best bach party destinations. With lots of bar areas, tons of painted murals for validation-hungry gals to take pictures in front of, and an absurd amount of tacos, it truly has something for everyone, and the bride who chose this spot knew that 100%. A people-pleaser, she chose the destination that will make all of the bridesmaids happy (or at least not totally pissed off for having to shell out money on Disney apparel).

Between the non-stop food trucks, the nature-friendly activities, and the debauchery that takes place on Dirty 6th street, this one is a smart political choice for the girl who isn’t looking to ruffle any feathers. Sure, the girl picking this is a little weirder and more out there (as goes along with Austin’s motto) than your average Vegas bitch, but at the end of the day, she wants a party that’s well-rounded, liked by all, and juuust wild-enough. Yes, she’s playing the popularity game, but at the end of the trip, she’ll be the least likely to lose friends over a bachelorette-induced fight.

Bridal Personality: A night out for her college friends, mural posing for her blogger friends, a hike for her outdoorsy friends, and a bomb-ass brunch for the foodies, this bride is the epitome of a “make everyone else happy even if I hate my own event” kind of girl.

New Orleans, LA

Between the lack of an open container law, the plethora of strip clubs, and the abundance of absinthe, the bride who chooses NOLA for her bach is not. here. to. mess. around. Most likely she was the party girl in college and despite toning it down a bit post-grad, she’s still usually the first to suggest doing shots on a casual night out. While it’s not exactly original and you’ll see at least three other bachelorette parties as you parade (literally) down Bourbon, it makes up for it in the sense that you can stock up on cheap alcohol and carry it in the street as you go from bar to bar (or po’ boy place to po’ boy place).

And this bride? She’s not looking to be completely original. She’s looking to have a Vegas-caliber party in an Austin-type town, with Charleston-esque food, and Nashville-level hospitality. Plus, you know, with some voodoo sh*t thrown in. There’s a 0% chance the bride will leave until she’s flashed a stranger, been face-first in some titties, gotten tangled up in some voodoo sh*t, and gone up two sizes due to her constant diet of beignets. It’s not for everyone, but this is a bride who knows exactly what she wants.

Bridal Personality: If it’s not fried, flirting, or freaking her tf out, it’s not for this bride.

Miami, FL

Rich? Extra? Has had at least one major plastic surgery? Say hello to your Miami bachelorette bride, the friend who has no idea what the concept of money or packing light is. As soon as she rolls up to the overpriced Airbnb or sketchy hotel where you sleep four to a room with her four suitcases in tow, you’ll know you’re in for one of the most exhausting bachelorette parties in wedding history.

Sure, every bach party is expensive, but the Miami party girl brings it to a whole other level. From the pool parties that come with $1,000 food and drink minimums to single dinners that cost more than your weekly grocery budget, it’s easy to rack up a hefty bill, even with all of the spots on South Beach bribing you to come into their bars so they can fill them up. So, why did she pick this place for her pain-inducing party? Three words: She’s a babe. And the best place to show off her meticulously toned muscles, expensively highlighted hair, and “paid for by her fiancé” boob job? You guessed it. Mi-f*cking-ami. Pro tip: if your group isn’t up for Miami, go the chiller (and cheaper) route of Fort Lauderdale.

Bridal Personality: Is she rich? Yup. Is she hot? Yup. Do you kinda hate her? Yup! Still, it’s better to be miserable and be friends with her than to not be friends with her at all.

Somewhere Out Of The Country

You all tried to talk your friend out of having her bach party abroad the same way you tried to talk her out of getting bangs in college. But now, like then, it fell upon deaf ears. Too good for what everyone else does, the bride who makes a whole bunch of her friends fly across the world in order to get some IGs is not only to be feared, she’s not to be messed with.

As soon as you get the “make sure your passports are up-to-date, ladies” text, take a few deep breaths and accept the fact that you’re already in too deep. This friendship is in charge of your life now, and you’re just along for the ride. Anyone who would willingly make her friends get drunk abroad instead of at any of the zillion locales they could do the same thing at in the U.S. is officially the bridezilla we’ve all been warned about. From insisting you all get matching passport-holders, luggage tags, and side-by-side first-class tickets, to getting pissed when someone dares to suggest she’s being a little too extra, this bride is officially too far gone to be reckoned with. Hold on for dear life and report your credit card stolen for fraud when you get back t0 the states—this one’s going to be a doozie.

Bridal Personality: Have a problem? She doesn’t want to hear it because she’s the f*cking bride and by God, she’s going to get EXACTLY what she wants.

Images: Andrew R Simoneaux; Sogol Salehi, Ashley Knedler, Trevor Gerzen, Fernando Jorge, Drew Hays, Nicola Tolin, Clark Van Der Beken, mana5280, mprage, Jealous Weekends / Unsplash

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The Betches’ Bachelorette Guide To Austin

Planning sucks, and bachelorette parties are a ton of work. So we’re taking all the guesswork out of planning a bachelorette party by breaking down top bachelorette destinations. Our guides will tell you where to stay, eat, party, how to get around, and give you a sample itinerary that you can follow. You’re welcome. Here’s our Betches Bachelorette Guide to Austin.

Yeeeeeeehaw. When you think of Austin, you may think more tacos, barbecue, and cowboy boots and not think bachelorette party extravaganza, but you would be misguided in your thinking. This Texas capital is a true hipster’s (or foodie’s) paradise, with tons of eateries, late night spots, tattoo parlors, mechanical bulls, and wine. Plus, it isn’t already drowning in bachelorette parties, making it a great spot for you and your posse to stand out. Here’s our official Betches bachelorette guide to Austin! C’mon y’all!

How To Get There

There are several ways to get to Austin, the first being by plane, duh. From the NYC area (so, LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark) airports, nonstop flights range from $300-500, which isn’t, like, amazing, but is pretty decent for roundtrip and no stops. From Atlanta, you’re looking at anywhere from $85 on Spirit (v questionable) to about $300 on Delta—all nonstop. Midwest betches can snag a flight for about $200 on average out of Chicago, and West coast biddies are about the same. Unless you live in like, a close southern state, flying is going to be your best option since Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is a big hub and has tons of flight options every day. Plus, the airport is SUPER close to downtown, making coming and going truly painless. Just a note: When booking your stay, try to avoid the weekend of SXSW or Austin City Limits unless you want an extra thousand people at your bachelorette party. Just saying.

Where To Stay

Obviously, you’re going to want to be in the middle (or within walking distance of) all the action, so either a hotel in downtown or an Airbnb is your best option, That said, I’d always advise an Airbnb since a) they’re usually a little cheaper and b) you can all hang out in one big space and not have to deal with the whole adjoining door situation. Airbnbs in Austin are an especially good option since whether you have four or fourteen betches, you’ll be able to find a spot to stay.

 

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Ready to (pool) party. ? our daily pool passes are now available for the 2019 season — complete with access to the pool, pool bar + sweeping views of South Congress and the Austin skyline. Full details on reservations and pricing can be found in our bio. #seeyouatSCH Photo: @livelikearedhead

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For the hotel route, we recommend Hotel San Jose for a local feel; South Congress Hotel for a boutique feel (and they have a bunk room that can sleep eight); or East Austin Hotel for a hipster feel. All these options are within the downtown area and are reasonably priced. They also all hav their own bars or lounges, with East Austin Hotel hosting a super chill rooftop bar. Plus, you have the in-room breakfast option if you just can’t quite manage to get out of bed one day, which is reasonable considering the amount of drinking you’re about to do.

How To Get Around

If you’re downtown, walking is a breeze. However, Austin is huge and there are a lot of little niche neighborhoods, so have Uber or Lyft at the ready. You can also brave the bus if you want to annoy the locals and deal with grifters, but, overall, count on breaking out your phone to order a car or wear comfy shoes. Remember: If you (stupidly) decided to book a bachelorette in Austin, TX, during the heat of summer, a car with AC is going to be your best bet. It gets hot af down there.

Where To Eat

 

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Monday is reserved for #AllDayRose, from 11 AM to 12 AM when we’ve got $5 Rosé Wine, Sparkling Rosé & Frosé! ? : @sydneyvize

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Tacos and barbecue are abundant in Austin, so you need to make sure you work both of those foods into your eating schedule. For brunch, you best start your day at Irene’s, which has some delicious options like Brioche French Toast or Migas (eggs, peppers, onions, cheddar, fried tortilla strips, salsa verde, black beans and potatoes), PLUS frosé, which we all know is the lifeblood of betches that brunch. Hot L Coffee/Carpenter’s Hall and Le Politique are also solid options if you aren’t into hotel breakfast or sh*tty coffee at your Airbnb.

If you (stupidly) decide to skip breakfast, there are tons of light and heavy options all over the city. Pool Burger is right by Deep Eddy swimmin’ hole, so you can scarf down lunch and then go swimming and ignore everything your mom ever told you. They also have cute tiki drinks, so there’s that. You could also head to El Arroyo, where they’re serving up classic (and delicious) Tex-Mex. Yes, they’re the home of a very famous internet marquee that you need to Insta so everyone knows how hilarious you are. El Alma is a great option, too

 

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Lastly, June’s All Day is a solid lunch choice thanks to its slightly elevated offerings like Grilled Lamb Merquez and Poached Eggs or Buckwheat Crepes. Nom nom nom.

And if you want to pay true tribute to Texas and go the barbecue route, you can wait for two hours in line at Franklin Barbecue or skip that sh*t and head over to Terry Blacks (where, honestly, I think the sides are better, anyway). Emily Ratajkowski was there literally 30 minutes after my posse and I were, and if that isn’t a hardcore recommendation, idk what is. Just prepare yourself for the meat sweats after you eat.

 

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This is a lunch I can get behind. ??? What’s your favorite sausage, the original or the jalapeño cheese?

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Finally, for dinner you’ve got a buncha great choices, but we love Launderette for its fun desserts; Mattie’s for its Southern classics; and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya for its fun drinks and amazing barbecue-meets-sushi menu. Other great standbys include Polvo’s downtown for incredibly delicious enchiladas and “interior” Mexican food; Loro since it has a giant f*cking patio and some amazing meats (Char Siew Pork Belly, I see you); and Uchi for its plethora of highly Instagrammable Japanese fare. Sidebar: a frenemy of mine sat next to Matthew McConaughey at Uchi, and I’m not saying that’ll def happen, but it’d be a lot cooler if it did.

 

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The Uchi experience goes beyond food. At the end of the day, our true passion is hospitality, to give. We want to make people happy and create memorable moments. If you leave saying, “OMG that was the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth,” then we’d call that a success. #uchiaustin

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Where To Relax

Wine and spas are within and right outside Austin, so you can get your drank on and get a professional massage to help alleviate the toxin buildup during this bachelorette trip.

For wineries, you’ll want to focus on the Driftwood, Dripping Springs, and Fredericksburg areas, all of which can be gotten to from downtown Austin in about an hour. There are actually wine tour companies, like Discover Texas Wine Tours, that have several options for getting you to and from the wineries, three on a half day and four on a full day tour. Plus, they’ll pick you up right in downtown Austin, so 10/10 would recommend. Of course, if you’d rather do your own thing, you can easily get to Duchman Family Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards, and/or go the liquor route and head to Deep Eddy Vodka’s Tasting Room about 30 minutes outside downtown.

 

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Real juice makes for bigger flavors.

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In terms of spas, you won’t need to venture outside downtown. Milk & Honey is right downtown and offers everything from massages to facials to pedicures, so you and your posse can get pampered in style. Viva Day Spa is in the South Lamar area and has a spa package and hangout space perfect for several betches at a time.

Where To Party & Drink

If you’re on the hunt for booze and dance parties, Austin is in no short supply. Based on what neighborhood you’re in, you can find many, many different options. For instance, the West 6th neighborhood features watering holes for the upwardly mobile, to borrow a quote from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. East 6th is a hipster’s paradise; Rainey Street is home to many, many frat bois; and Dirty 6th is where you go to lose personal space and dignity! A few honorable bar mentions include Bar Peached; P6, which has a rooftop bar and amazing views; Kitty Cohen’s; and Sour Duck Market.

 

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Looking for clerbs? Barbarella has a killer 80s dance party every Friday night, plus there are usually food trucks parked directly across the street, so you can get your drunk eating on. Elysium is a more alternative spot, but the drinks and bartenders are super great and the music is a mix of goth, industrial, and general fun weirdness. The Continental Club is more of your classic rock & roll-meets-country spot, also right in downtown. Barcelona is a classic basement dance club with a lineup of great DJs, and Speakeasy is a multi-floor, classier club with what feels like several different spots all under one roof. For a classic Austin standby, Broken Spoke should be on your list, too, cause, in the words of my Austin bestie, Beth, “it’s a boot-scootin’ boogie.” Honestly, there are tons of options, so just go where the night takes you *forehead kisses*.

Friday Day 1

Pro tip: Arrive as early as possible to get yourself situated. Then attack Austin with everything you have.

  1. Arrive in Austin at like, 9am (don’t @ me, just trust me)
  2. Explore South Congress’ weird and amazing shops with or without a light lunch stop at June’s All Day
  3. Head to Barton Springs for a dip in the natural pool, then get cramps cause you didn’t wait an hour after eating before you swam
  4. Get ready at your place for dinner
  5. Book a boat tour, which is v fun if you’re already drunk AND most of them are BYOB (!!)
  6. Late-ish dinner at Loro
  7. Head to Broken Spoke for cowboy sh*t and more booze (on the same street at Loro)

Saturday Day 2

Pro tip: Hope you popped those Tylenol before bedtime and chugged water. You’ve got a big day ahead of you.

  1. Heavy brunch at Irene’s, complete with a lot of frosé
  2. Wine and booze tastings at Duchman Family Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards, and/or Deep Eddy Tasting Room
  3. “Home” for naps and Instagram scrolling
  4. Dinner at Terry Black’s BBQ
  5. Hit the bars on Rainey Street

Sunday Day 3

Pro tip: Today is all about relaxing before gorging yourself on more food and drinks, so set yourself up for success and be prepared.

  1. Time for a classy brunch at Le Politique
  2. Spa day at Milk + Honey
  3. Head back for showers, naps, and pre-gaming dinner
  4. Dinner and drinks at Mattie’s
  5. Uber to more drinks at P6 / rooftop shenanigans

Monday Day 4

Pro tip: Try to book a later flight so you can have one last breakfast.

  1. Have a plate of biscuits at Hot L Coffee so you can stand up / check in at the airport… You could also just eat at the airport, since it’s a food and bev hotspot in and of itself (and all the sh*t is local to Austin)
  2. Travel home and try not to fall asleep with your mouth open mid-flight

Austin has so much to offer, there’s no way you’ll be bored. So get your bride on board with this cowboy town turned hipster foodie Mecca and book your trip to Texas.

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7 Bachelorette Party Ideas That Aren’t Overdone

When it comes to planning a bachelorette party, sometimes it can feel like you’re trying to reinvent the wheel. Like, there are only so many options, and chances are, you’ve already been to Vegas for a Bachelorette party, whether you wanted to or not. But by the time your wedding comes around, you might be sick of Vegas or Nashville (epitome of first world problems, we know). But that doesn’t mean you have to sit around drinking wine coolers in your friend’s basement. There are still plenty of options out there that aren’t super overdone. For your own bachelorette party, mix it up with one of these unique but just as fun bachelorette party ideas that are not something you and your group have done a million times already. Jenna Miller, Creative Director at Here Comes the Guide, and the blogger girls at Inspired by This outline their fave picks below.

1. Festival Fun

There is no shower quite like the one you take after a 3-day festival. That is THE shower.

— Betches (@betchesluvthis) April 15, 2019

If you are one of those people who has to post Instagram Stories of every concert, hit up a music festival for your bachelorette party. Just like Vegas isn’t your only option for a good bachelorette party, Coachella is NOT your only option for music festivals. There are plenty of local festivals going on year-round, featuring all different styles of music.

Some options include:

There are music festivals in pretty much every big city, so if you’re looking to roll a ‘gram-worthy destination in with a live music festival, just Google ” festivals in ” and we promise you, you will get a bunch of options.

2. Foodie Heaven

But if you’re into festivals but less so for music and more so for food, hit up a food festival instead. Events like Feast in Portland or LA Food Fest allow you to wine and dine your way to bachelorette bliss. Again, every city will likely have a million festivals, and these events are so common, but not all of them are good. So make sure you do your research beforehand. You actually want to have a good experience and not end up at the Fyre Festival of pizza festivals.

3. Bespoke Theater

“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” so we’ve had a difficult time procuring enough data for a proper comparative analysis. But we’ve learned the bachelorette party options out there are Chippendales and Thunder from Down Under. We’re not sure which one came first, but they’re pretty much the same concept: You watch guys dancing on a stage. If you’ve ever seen the movie Magic Mike, which is a semi-autobiographical film about Channing Tatum growing up in the 90s, you’ll know this was a popular concept back then… in the 90s. Obviously, it still exists to some degree but probably in its twilight years.

Fondudes is the 3.0 version of bachelorette party ideas. It was created for the modern bride. Bachelorette parties in Vegas only happen in large, general groups, which inherently make the experiences non-unique. Your wedding is the seed of your marriage, and your bachelorette party is the seed of your wedding, so make it special! Fondudes is different because they customize each show individually for each group. They invented the crazy concept and call it Bespoke Theater. It allows them to produce bachelorette parties that are exceptionally targeted and downright wild. Trust us.

4. Party Bike

You’ve probably seen, and envied, a caravan of drunk bridesmaids pedaling down a busy city street. Companies like Nashville Pedal Tavern and Denver Patio Ride allow you to sightsee, blast music, and pedal down the street while enjoying some tasty libations. 

5. Drag It Out

Bottomless mimosa brunches are delightful. But when you can enjoy your boozy brunch with great music and fab female impersonators? You have yourself an epic bachelorette party. Unleash your inner diva at the world famous Drag Brunch in New York and Miami.

6. Mix It Up

Grab your bridal party and take a group mixology class, because it will definitely come in handy later in life to know how to mix more than a vodka soda. Companies like Urban Matter in Chicago and EatWell DC invite you to stir, shake, and sip as you learn how to make some creative cocktails.

7. Booze Cruise

Who doesn’t love a booze cruise?! If you visit a location with a nearby body of water, this is such a fun way to spend an afternoon—or all day! Kill a couple of hours enjoying the fresh salty air with a drink in hand. If you’re in L.A. book with a company like Pacific Ocean Charters and watch your worries wash away with the waves.

Images: @betchesluvthis/ Twitter; Giphy (3)

5 Non-Basic Cities To Have Your Bachelorette Party

Planning a bachelorette party? I mean, it feels like everyone in the world is these days. We’re pretty much at a time where betches get engaged, and their best friends are posting the bridal party proposals like, three days later, and then they’re all piling on a plane to Nashville to wear monogrammed sh*t and drink mimosas. Every basic bachelorette party looks the exact same and is outfitted from the same four Etsy stores, and I honestly believe that it’s time to step the bachelorette party game up. Here are a few bachelorette party destinations that everyone else on your Instagram hasn’t already gone to.

New Orleans, Louisiana

NOLA is one of the best party cities in the country for a few reasons. First of all, it has the most bars per capita out of any city. Louisiana state law doesn’t enforce an official last call, so unless the individual bar does, you can basically just drink forever. There’s also not really an open container law, and you can totally just grab a to-go cup and bring your vodka cran with you on the street. The food is also unreal. All things considered, it’s def one of the best bachelorette party destinations.

Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs is like, the one place in the world you can still wear a flower crown and not look like an idiot. It was basically created for bachelorette parties (and Coachella-adjacent events). Some of the most insanely Instagrammable Airbnbs in the world are in Palm Springs, so you’ll definitely be able to meet your likes quota without ever even leaving the house. You can have your own Bachchella. (Please, if you’re going to use that Instagram caption, at least give me credit.)

Nantucket, Massachusetts

From waterfront hotels to adorable private cottages, there are so many places to stay in Nantucket that are perfect bachelorette party destinations. Plus, at the risk of sounding like an absolute grandma, the weather is usually pretty mild so your whole bridal party won’t have makeup running down their faces before you even get to happy hour. Nantucket is the perfect place for making your bachelorette party look classy on social media, even though you’re all actually blacked tf out. Just like, don’t get sucked in and do something drastic like purchase a pair of Jack Rogers sandals.

Denver, Colorado

Is your bridal party actually just a bunch of stoners? Why not head to Colorado for your bachelorette weekend? You can totally just spend the whole trip high AF, eating your way through various brunches and happy hours. It’s also a pretty cool spot if you want to have your bach party in the winter. Which might actually be a great idea, considering everyone else does it in the summer and your Instagram followers will be bitter and tired of seeing groups of girls all standing in front of the same “Same penis forever” banner time and time again. A winter party will definitely make you stand out, and you don’t have to worry about your party complaining about having to wear matching swimwear.

Montreal, Quebec

Montreal has something for every kind of bridal squad (omfg, please forgive me for using that phrase). If you’re a bunch of hardos, there’s a bustling nightlife. If you’re a bunch of hipster betches, there’s a pretty decent craft brewery scene. If you’re not really drinkers (why are you reading this?), there are a bunch of spas and sh*t that you can hang out and whisper at. It’s also a pretty great spot because you can get relatively inexpensive hotel rooms. You know, so you can blow more money on your embarrassing matching outfits. Cough cough, or Betchelorette tanks.

Images: Katy Belcher / Unsplash; Giphy (2)