Congratulations—you’re getting married!
Now that you have that gorgeous ring on your finger, you can focus on the real reason you’re tying the knot: the bachelorette party (kidding… sort of). It’s a time to celebrate this next chapter of your life, aka get drunk with all your best friends and a couple of other girls you haven’t seen since college because someone needs to fill the extra beds in the Airbnb.
Of course, planning a bachelorette party is no small feat. With so many logistics and decisions to consider, it can start to feel like a full-time job. But because we’re just so nice, we put together this guide to help you make one of the biggest commitments a bride can make: Deciding where to go on your bachelorette party. You’re welcome.
For The Party Bride
Las Vegas
Ah, Las Vegas, the quintessential bachelorette destination. There’s a reason your stomach twists in excitement at the thought of a weekend away in Vegas with your girlfriends (or, if you rarely make it up past 10pm, dread). No matter your vibe, stock up on PTO days since you’ll need a whole week off work to recover from this getaway.
We recommend the The Palazzo at the Venetian, The Bellagio, The Wynn Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, or MGM Grand for your home base—they’re perfect to stumble home to at 2am. Priorities.
Once your accommodations are taken care of, planning your itinerary is next. While some may want to wander the strip and pop into casinos, booking a cabana at Encore Beach Club will not disappoint. Spend the day dancing at a pool party before heading home to get glam with the girls for dinner and a fun night out. It will be difficult to choose between Nobu, Cipriani, TAO, Gordon Ramsay Steak, and CATCH, all of which offer five-star meals and are the perfect setting to start your evening of activities.
From dinner, you can head to a show. Both Cirque du Soleil and Magic Mike Live are top attractions, (I mean, have you seen the commercials for Magic Mike Live?). But the best way to end the weekend is at OMNIA Nightclub or Marquee, the only way to send off the party-lover bride. You’ll all head home with party favors that include Advil, Gatorade, McDonald’s hangover meal of choice, and a reminder of why you are never going to Vegas again (that is until the next bachelorette of course).
Miami
A bachelorette party in Miami is for the girls who want to relive “Kourtney and Khloe take Miami” for a weekend and hit the town in a bright pink mini dress with one too many margaritas. Make the 1 Hotel South Beach, Fontainebleau Miami, W South Beach, Faena Hotel, or The Setai your party pad, preferably a room on the top floor with a balcony for those “I’m in Miami Bitch” Insta-pics we all love to hate.
Now, the itinerary for a weekend in Miami is not for the faint of heart. You may spend your days lounging by the pool, hitting up the beach, shopping at the Miami Design District, or, if you really have the cash, renting a boat for the day—but everyone knows the real party in Miami begins at sundown. Swan, Sexy Fish, Hasalon, or Nobu are the go-tos for spotting celebs, but everyone knows if you don’t go to Kiki on the River or Kyu, you didn’t really have your bachelorette party in Miami.
End your night at Story, Liv, or E11even—when you see the sun starts to rise you’ll know it’s time to go home, and that you’ve fully experienced what a Miami bachelorette is all about.
New Orleans
You can never go wrong with a trip to New Orleans, but especially not for your bachelorette party. The bride that goes here is the fun, ~chill~ bride… who also wants to totally throw down and hardly remember the entire weekend. She also happens to be the friend in your group who usually plans the dinner reservations. Naturally.
Book your stay at one NOLA’s gorgeous hotels, including the Hotel Monteleone (don’t forget to swing by the Carousel Bar, it literally spins in a circle), W, or the Ace Hotel. You can opt for a chic Airbnb—we’d recommend somewhere in the CBD so that you’re close enough to the French Quarter without all of the, well, tourists.
The party obviously doesn’t stop in New Orleans, so start your day with some of the city’s finest brunch spots. Willa Jean, Brennan’s, Atchafalaya (hello, make your own Bloody Mary bar), and Elizabeth’s are some of our favorites. Go for a walk in Audubon Park or shopping on Magazine Street before heading off for dinner.
Skip out on a night spent along Bourbon Street—unless you’re heading to the dueling pianos at Pat O’Brien’s—and head to Frenchmen Street or take a cab uptown to Tipitina’s instead. Trust us on this.
For The Adventurous Bride
Telluride
If nightclubs and strippers aren’t your idea of a bachelorette party, but *strongly requesting* your friends to go on a hike with you first thing in the morning is, Telluride is your spot. Book your stay at the Mountain Lodge or Madeline Hotel or one of the city’s luxe Airbnbs. Either will work when you deck out the rooms in the bride’s highly-requested disco-cowboy theme for the weekend, naturally.
Start the weekend with a hike through Bear Creek Trail, Jud Wiebe Trail, Blue Lakes Trail, or Ridge Trail will be the perfect way to obtain all your Instagrammable shots. By then, you’ll be ready for a cocktail or two.
Start by checking out Club Red, The Liberty, or Telluride Brewing Co before dinner at The Chop House, Cosmopolitan Restaurant, or Allreds. If a Winter House-themed party is more your vibe, the weekend can include a trip to The Butcher & The Baker or The Coffee Cowboy before hitting the slopes until aprés Ski (the best part of any winter bachelorette, but that’s just me).
Aspen
An Aspen bachelorette is for the chic adventure girl. She wears a coordinated ski suit from Revolve and is all about competing to see who can do the double black diamond run the fastest. For this trip, your choices range from $$$ to $$$$ for just about everything, so you better start saving in advance. As in, as soon as you finish reading this.
We recommend Hotel Jerome, The Little Nell, The St. Regis (hello, Marriott points) as far as hotels go. There are plenty of Airbnbs that will also give you the the winter wonderland vibe you crave—white on white for days.
After a day spent hitting the slopes, you’ll want to aprés ski at The Snow Lodge (yes, this is, in fact, the Surf Lodge’s sister, so you know what to expect) before heading to dinner at The French Alpine Bistro or Kenichi. After a few espresso martinis—trust us, you’ll need them to keep up—head to The W Rooftop, Escobar, or Belly Up, where the party really starts. The next day will most likely be spent recovering in the hot tub, which sounds necessary because I’m tired just writing about this bachelorette.
Scottsdale
Scottsdale is becoming the new hot bachelorette destination—ideal for the brides who want to be *unique* but would be damned if they didn’t go for a hike in an all-white Lululemon or Alo Yoga set and have the house decked out in the “Disco Cowboy” theme.
Plan your stay at The Scott Resort, Hotel Adaline, The Turquoise Pool Airbnb, or this Modern SW Retreat. Trust me when I say you’ll need a pool to cool off after experiencing the desert heat. Start the weekend with a hike, an ATV Tour, or, of course, a bachelorette party bike.
After you’ve worked up a sweat, you’ll be ready for dinner at STK, Mastro’s, Toca Madera, or Nobu (I mean, where is Nobu not at this point). Venture out to the W Hotel Rooftop Bar, Club House at Maya, or Riot House, all of which are a great way to end the night (and sweat off all your makeup).
For The Chill Bride
Palm Springs
If your idea of a fun bachelorette is relaxing by the pool for three days, then a weekend in Palm Springs is just the way to do it. Lounge poolside at The Boho Bungalow, The PS Aloha, The Parker Palm Springs, or The Girls Getaway, where you can play ridiculous party games, enjoy DIY facials and make your own cocktails before venturing into town for dinner
Sandfish Sushi & Whisky, Mr. Lyons, Eight 4 Nine, and TaqQuila are all great dinner spots, but if you want Japanese food that could put Sugarfish to shame, I recommend Sandfish. After eating all the sushi and whiskey you can, try Toucans Tiki Lounge. Toucans does live drag shows, music, comedy, and cabaret, which is the epitome of Palm Springs.
If you want something more low-key, the High Bar roof is a luxurious spot for cocktails and plenty of Instagram-able shots. After waking up from a well-rested night since everything in Palm Springs closes at approximately 10:30pm, head to Norma’s, Farm, or Cheeky’s for brunch before spending the day in Joshua Tree National Park or riding around town with Sunny Cycle.
Malibu
There’s a reason all the celebrities live in Malibu. It really is as dreamy and relaxing as it seems—ideal for the bride who wants to pretend she’s a celeb for the weekend, without actually going to Los Angeles.
We’re fans of The Surfrider and Calamigos Ranch—or even booking an Airbnb right on the water so you can fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. How zen.
Spend the day lying on the beach or visiting Malibu Wine Hikes before dinner at Nobu or Geoffrey’s. Maybe you’ll even run into a celebrity before you make your way to Santa Monica for a night out at SHOREBar, or the influencer hot spot, The Bungalow. Angelenos are known for their brunching habits, so you can’t leave without trying Malibu Farm or Little Beach House Malibu—so bring your best white outfit for those Instagram stories.
Austin
Country girls can rest easy because Austin will satisfy all your western-themed bachelorette needs. From live music to cowboys everywhere you look, enjoy the best Austin offers from one of these frequented hotels.
Arrive Austin, The Line Austin, and Tommie Austin are all great spots, or some of these seriously-amazing Airbnbs, including the Modern Mansion, Pristine Pool Palace, and the Insta-Worthy Home, are also great choices.
For dinner, try Perry’s Steakhouse, Franklin Barbecue, or Eberly. A great way to get a taste of Texas. After dinner, you can head to 77 Degrees, Kitty Cohen’s, Upstairs at Caroline, Maggie Maes, Higher Ground, or The White Horse. Depending on your vibe, these bars have live music, a rooftop, or a honkey tonk vibe—we’re not kidding when we say Austin really does have something for everyone.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Austin without hitting up the Greetings from Austin or the “I love you so much” mural for the obligatory Instagram. Or buy yourselves a pair of cowboy boots so you can head home singing Luke Bryan and daydreaming about the next country-themed bachelorette.
For The Luxurious Bride
Napa
Home to a Michelin star restaurant and some of the best wines in the world, Napa just screams rich and luxurious. If you want a taste of an elevated lifestyle (and to get drunk off red wine for three days), then Napa will offer up everything on a silver platter.
Choose between Carneros Resort and Spa, Alila Napa Valley, or Solage for your accommodations (hotels that overlook vineyards and have spas you want to live in—so be forewarned, you’ll never want to leave). Because this trip is all about living as your most elevated selves, you’ll, of course, want to hire a private driver who can take you around to all the wineries for a day of sampling champagne and cabernet.
Visit Castello Di Amorosa, Beringer Vineyards, Domaine Carneros, Opus One Winery, Turnbull Winery, and Duckhorn for an opulent experience. Castello Di Amorosa is a literal castle, so definitely don’t miss that one. For dinner, make reservations at RH Yountville or the infamous French Laundry (seriously, reservations book up months in advance). To end your luxury getaway, why not take a hot air balloon ride before extensively thanking your friends for attending this weekend that was definitely worth an entire month’s paycheck.
Charleston
Southern Charm fans, this one’s for you. Grab your most colorful dresses, and be ready to style your hair high for a weekend of brunching, boozing, and southern hospitality in Charleston, South Carolina.
Choose between The Charleston Place, The Ryder Hotel, Hotel Bennett, The Mint Julep House, Manor House, or The Sullivan for your accommodations. Also, be sure to load up on tons of party favors for this one. We’re talking customized white claws, printouts of your fiancé, and matching t-shirts. You’ll want to start your weekend with a boozy boat tour before heading to The Tempest for dinner.
By then, it will be time to head over to Ink, Prohibition, Republic, Uptown Social, or The Rooftop at Venue with high hopes of running into one of your favorite Southern Charmers, which, let’s be real, Austin, Shep, or Craig can probably be found. End the weekend with brunch at Church and Union before trying out a ghost tour or relaxing at a spa.
The Hamptons
If Beyoncé vacations in the Hamptons, then you know it’s a top-tier spot for a Bachelorette party—just get ready to spend a pretty penny throughout the weekend.
To make the most of your weekend, book your stay at The Surf Lodge, Gurney’s, or an Airbnb to live like the cast of Summer House for the weekend. And you better bring your fashion A-game, too. This is the place to run into all of the celebs and influencers you love to hate, hate to love and everything in between.
Start your weekend with dinner at Calissa, Highway Restaurant and Bar, Morty’s Oyster Stand, or The Crow’s Nest, before heading out to The Surf Lodge, Southampton Social, or The Stephen Talkhouse (or simply “Talkhouse” for those in the know). We all know any Hamptons bachelorette party would not be complete without a party on the beach.
If you aren’t too hungover from night one, I recommend fitting in paddle boarding or workout class—take your pick between SoulCycle, Barry’s, SLT, the list goes on. From there, you’ll head out on a winery tour and get ready for night two, where you repeat night one all over again, because after all, if New Yorkers know how to do one thing, it’s party, rally, and party.
Featured image courtesy of Getty Images.
