Your bestie is getting married, so it’s time for one last trip as a single lady. But planning a bachelorette party can be overwhelming, especially with a chorus of voices chiming in, each with an opinion on where and how you should celebrate.
The most important voice, though, is the bride’s. Finding out what she wants from her bachelorette party is key to narrowing down the options and finding the perfect hotel to call home. It’s all about the vibes.
Once you know what she wants — gobs of beach and pool time, a hoppin’ bar scene, outdoor adventures, a unique cultural immersion or lazy wine-soaked days — it’s time to start planning.
Read on for some of the best resorts where the bride can have the pre-wedding vacay of her dreams. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Bars and Nightlife
Here’s the sitch: Your girl is a night owl who wants all the fruity drinks, karaoke and dancing till dawn she can handle. She wants a place where wearing sequins isn’t an option — it’s expected.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is known for its vibrant nightlife scene, and San Juan is the heart of it all. Take the crew to bar hop in Old San Juan or La Placita — or both. Stay at the beachfront San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino where you can salsa and merengue all you like and sip mojitos by the pool.
Nashville, Tennessee
If country music is more your vibe, head to Nashville, known for its live music, food scene and Southern hospitality. At night head to Broadway, which is lined with honky-tonks and bars. The JW Marriott Nashville is close to the Broadway’s action and offers plush accommodations, a rooftop pool and a relaxing spa. Before you head out, grab a cocktail at the rooftop lounge.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Cancun might get all the clout, but just a short drive from the east coast party hub is Playa del Carmen, which is perfection for bachelorette parties. Spend the day at the pool or the rooftop bar at Aloft Playa del Carmen and then hit the town for shopping, freshly made margaritas and plenty of live music.
Art and Culture
If your bride is a world traveler whose sophisticated tastes lean more refined than rowdy, immerse yourselves in a cultural experience where you’ll come away learning more about the world while still having a blast.
Mexico City, Mexico
You won’t want to miss the color and history of Mexico City: Visit the opulent Palacio de Bellas Artes and the world-famous anthropology museum, and take a day trip to the Aztec ruins at Teotihuacan. Stay at the chic W Mexico City in Polanco, surrounded by the city’s upper crust, including Michelin-starred restaurants with unforgettable cuisine.
New Orleans, Louisiana
There’s nowhere like New Orleans, or NOLA, a vibrant city on the Mississippi River with a unique culture all its own. Check in to centrally located AC Hotel by Marriott New Orleans French Quarter, where you can easily wander the storied streets of the French Quarter, tour the mansions of the Garden District or seek out live music in NOLA’s many nightclubs. Stumble home from late nights at the jazz clubs on Bourbon Street without having to cross town.
St. Martin
A trip to the island of St. Martin is like visiting two countries in one. The French side, called St. Martin, elegantly mixes beaches and boulangeries. The Dutch side, called St. Maarten, feels like a windswept version of Amsterdam. Stay at the oceanfront JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa for a central location that will put both sides of the island within reach. Make sure to check out the guest rooms with private plunge pools.
Outdoors
Got a little adrenaline junkie for a BFF? If she craves fresh air and green space, here are the spots she’ll want to explore. From zip lining and hiking to paddleboarding and snorkeling, the bride-to-be will love these sporty spots.
St. John, USVI
Three-quarters of this U.S. Virgin Island is designated as a National Park, which means St. John is awash in outdoor adventure. Post up at The Westin St. John Resort Villas where you can all kick back in a two- or three-bedroom suite before heading out to snorkel off the shore at Trunk Bay or hike on the Reef Bay Trail.
Banff, Canada
If your bestie is a ski bunny, there’s a good chance she’ll want to hit the slopes before she slaloms into married life. There’s a distinctly fun vibe at Moxy Banff, just a stone’s-throw from some of the area’s best ski resorts. Plus, the Moxy has a lot of group-friendly rooms with multiple beds and an expansive lobby allowing you to celebrate together.
Maui, Hawaii
Head for the adventure island of Maui for an adrenaline-filled fete. Stay at the Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui, which has many cool amenities for your bachelorette bash, like oversized luxury cabanas at the adults-only Olakino Wellness Pool, oceanside picnics, onsite Hawaiian cultural activities and free snorkeling lessons. Take a tour to watch for turtles or whales, go snorkeling or diving, or paddleboard and kayak to your heart’s content.
Wine
If a chardonnay-soaked trip to see wineries and rolling hills is what the bride’s after, these properties will be a perfect jumping-off point for an oenophile’s getaway. Drop your bags in California or South Africa for delicious sips and stunning views of wine country.
Sonoma, California
Known for its relaxed wine tasting scene, rolling countryside and farm-to-table cuisine, Sonoma is an ideal spot for bachelorette party. The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, Autograph Collection is where you should book for beautiful views and built-in tastings. The hotel features well-appointed cottages perfect for your crew. Walk to Sonoma Square for shopping and more tasting rooms, and hire a private van tour of the vineyards so you don’t have to worry about who’s driving.
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Just an hour from Cape Town lies the Stellenbosch wine region, home to more than 150 wineries producing all manner of grapes, from chenin blanc to cabernet sauvignon to pinotage, South Africa’s signature grape. Make Protea Hotel Stellenbosch and Conference Centre, with its sweeping, stunning vineyard and mountain views, your home base for tasting your way through South Africa’s wines.
Beaches and Pools
After the whirlwind of wedding planning, what your girl wants is a little vitamin “sea.” Look to the tropics for grand luxury resorts, boutique beach hotels and milelong sandy strands.
Punta Mita, Mexico
Within the private community of Punta de Mita, you’ll find several luxury accommodation options, including The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort. Settle into a beach cabana, spend leisurely days at the pool or riding around the peninsula in golf carts, and make sure to snap a photo of the bride-to-be learning to saber Champagne.
Turks & Caicos
A bachelorette party in Turks & Caicos, known for amazing beaches, is bragging rights for any beach bum. Stay at the indulgent Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Turks & Caicos, where the clear turquoise water serves as a backdrop for pure serenity at the lagoon-style pool or while lounging in a cocoon chair at the spa.
Marco Island, Florida
Southwest Florida is called the “Paradise Coast” for a reason, and Marco Island feels a million miles away from all that wedding stress. The JW Marriott Marco Island sits on a wide strand of flat white sand, dotted with thatched umbrellas just off the pool deck. Sunsets are sacred here, so be prepared to toast to your friendship each night of your journey.
No matter where you decide to host your bachelorette soiree, keeping your bride’s wishes front and center will guide your getaway. And choosing the right hotel sets the tone for an incredible trip only to be outshined by the wedding day itself.
Related Articles
