How to add sparkle to your stag and hen bookings
Katherine MastersWorking with bigger groups can have its challenges, but with a few tricks up your sleeve, you can be the fairy godmother or godfather your prospective brides and grooms need to send them and their crew away in style
Hen and stag groups can be lucrative business for agents, with insurer Aviva reporting the average cost of an overseas stag or hen do now tops £1,208pp. And when you consider this booking could be an add-on to an existing wedding booking, they become even more worthwhile.
For the Top Weddings & Honeymoons agent at this year’s TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies, offering to book the stag and hen parties is an intrinsic part of their service. Jennifer Lynch, general manager at Arrange MyEscape, says: “We promote to all our wedding and honeymoon couples that we can organise stags and hens. We find travelling abroad is most couples’ first choice for their stags and hens.
"The most popular destinations are reasonably priced European cities such as Krakow, Budapest and Amsterdam, plus beach party locations such as Ibiza, Marbella, Benidorm and Mykonos.”
In Madrid, they were able to organise for a stag group, part of Worcester City FC, to play a local football team. Clients have also booked longer-haul celebrations to Dubai and Las Vegas, for which the agency crafted an itinerary for hens that included VIP tickets to pool parties, happy hour on the High Roller observation wheel and a night at Magic Mike Live!
There’s also an emerging trend, Lynch has noted, for brides to request second parties: “They may already have one booked with friends,” she explains, “but they want a more low-key, laid-back option, involving family members. Weekend retreats, UK lodges and overnight city breaks are popular for these.”
She also notes that a P&O cruise out of Southampton worked well for a group of mature hens. “It was easy for everyone to get there, it had different options for everybody in the group onboard and it wasn’t all about 24/7 partying.”
Love boats
James and Natasha Oliphant, travel consultants with Not Just Travel, agree that a shorter-duration cruise can be a great option for multigenerational stag or hen parties, adding that it can also help keep costs to a fixed amount.
Their most popular destinations are Ibiza, mainland Spain and weekend city break favourites such as Prague.
They find the value they can offer is all about eliminating the stress of managing a group booking, by making sure rooms are booked near each other and reservations are made for restaurants.
“Booking stags and hens was a learning curve for us,” they explain. “When you start researching hotels, you see some great pricing, but then realise you have to call to make the booking if 10 or more people are in the party.
Not all hotels will take stag and hen parties. We found booking two separate smaller parties an issue, as the first booking might go through at one price and when you go to book the second party, the price could increase or there’s no availability. Never separate a large booking!”
They tend to use operators such as Jet2 and easyJet. “They are easy to use, easy to speak to on the phone and have the best pricing for budget-conscious groups.”
Book it
For hens: HM Jaime III hotel, on the doorstep of Palma’s bar-lined promenade, is perfect for sightseeing and dancing the night away – and, with its on-site spa, for relaxing and detoxing too. Jet2City Breaks offers three nights’ room-only departing Leeds-Bradford on 23 October from £499pp, based on four adults sharing; jet2holidays.com
For stags: Prague Centre Superior offers great value accommodation within easy reach of the main tourist attractions and bars in Prague. For traditional Czech relaxation, there’s a beer spa around the corner at sister hotel, Prague Centre Plaza. Jet2City Breaks offers three nights’ B&B departing Birmingham on 6 October from £399pp, based on four adults sharing; jet2holidays.com
Group holiday deal: With a location that enjoys the best of the both worlds – the beach at Playa d’en Bossa and easy access to Ibiza’s famed nightlife – easyJet holidays offers seven nights’ B&B at the Vibra Algarb for £475pp including transfers and flights from London Luton departing 15 October. Price based on nine adults, across three rooms; easyjet.com/en/holidays/deals/group-holiday-deals
HIS ’N’ HERS – HOW THE DOS COMPARED
Earlier this summer TTG’s credit controller Kate Nicholls went to Albufeira in Portugal for her hen do while Kate’s fiancé, Dave, went to Las Vegas for his stag do – they share their experiences:
THE HENS IN PORTUGAL
Where did you stay?
Grand Muthu Oura View Beach Club – we could sleep four to a room. It was the perfect location, right by the beach, with lively bars and restaurants nearby and a 10-minute taxi ride to the Old Town.
What did you do in Albufeira?
We chartered our own catamaran for a sailing trip, made cocktails at Cooper’s Bar, belted our hearts out singing karaoke, and spent a day at No Solo Agua Beach Club.
Why did Albufeira work for a hen do?
Everywhere we went people were so helpful and lovely. Albufeira definitely caters for large groups/stags and hens, and it didn’t feel super-young, like some other party destinations can. It has stunning scenery, beautiful restaurants and lots of live music.
What are your top tips for a hen do?
Location is everything! Make sure it’s somewhere the group doesn’t need to be getting in and out of taxis all night. Check out TikTok to get a feel for the destination; it shows a lot more reality than a website. We had a colour theme rather than fancy dress, which made packing much easier, especially as we opted for carry-ons.
Would you choose Albufeira for a hen do again?
How much would I love to do it all over again! I hadn’t been to Portugal since I was a child but now I would love to go back with my fiancé and little girl.
THE STAGS IN LAS VEGAS
Where did you stay?
New York-New York Hotel & Casino. It was by no means luxury, but it was perfect for our group, which had a mix of ages (28-70). The piano bar was a particular hit, with the eldest member (Kate’s dad) still propping up the bar come last orders at 2.30am!
What did you do in Las Vegas?
We did the Wet Republic Pool Party at MGM Grand, XS nightclub at Encore and Topgolf.
Why did Las Vegas work for a stag do?
Everything is within walking distance, which is a massive bonus, as waiting around for cabs kills the vibe. Everyone was really friendly and we never had problems being in a big group. The only downside was that it is very expensive for alcohol.
Did you wear fancy dress?
Yes, I had at least two different outfits a day, from being dressed as a baby to a bikini for the pool party. All fancy dress had to be in the daytime because the clubs and bars had a no fancy-dress rule in the evening.
What are your top tips for a stag do in Las Vegas?
We had most things booked in advance, and that was key. It was worth paying extra money for tables in clubs because it made it easier having a base and kept everyone together.
Would you do it in Las Vegas again?
Absolutely! You just can’t beat having quality time with your best mates, the excitement on the plane, and having big nights out without any trouble.
Katherine Masters
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