Planning a destination bachelor party or bachelorette is the perfect way to check a new city off your bucket list while having one last hoorah before the big ring exchange. But between budget constraints, logistics and finding the perfect gang to travel with, planning an out-of-town shindig comes with a unique set of challenges.
Due in part to the rise of TikTok virality and loosened travel restrictions, Lily Szemplinski, travel advisor at Passport Stamps Travel, part of Global Travel Collection, says more soon-to-be-wed folks than ever are eager to book trips that look appealing on social media while being as far away from home as possible.
“Many times, the client [bachelor or bachelorette] wants to do something, but sometimes the budget with everyone else becomes challenging,” she says. What’s more is that when booking trips for large groups, she says it’s a lot more difficult to stay organized and on schedule, whether you’re managing passports, flights, activity timing or transportation pick-ups.
Flexibility is more crucial than ever when traveling long distances in large groups. When planning a recent bachelor party for 32 guys — “the largest bachelor party I have ever heard of,” she says — it was impossible for Szemplinski to book the accommodations of their choice. “We ended up booking them in hotel rooms since there was not a single villa that could hold them all comfortably,” she says. She ensured she booked dinner and club reservations and multiple rounds of golf with ample transportation for the whole group. “When traveling with so many people, things need to be organized like transportation or else it will become chaos,” she says.
How to plan a destination bachelor/bachelorette party
Whether you’re the best man or maid of honor, there’s no need to be a hero and assume the burden of the party planning yourself. Mandy Connor, owner of Hummingbird Events & Design, says to consider hiring a travel agent or professional destination event planner to ensure a smooth trip.
“These individuals can take the heavy lifting off of your shoulders in terms of finding the best hotels and airfare, securing all of the necessary tickets and booking needs and they can make great suggestions for the best dining and entertainment options,” she says.
Your first responsibilities as a bachelor or bachelorette party planner are to get a basic understanding of what the city has to offer, decide which activities you’re interested in pursuing (with or without the help of the groom or bride — they might want it to be a surprise!), relay that information to your travel professional and have them draft an itinerary of your trip and make your reservations from airfare to shuttle services and dinners to dancing. “All you need to do is show up and have fun,” she says.
While you can entrust the majority of your logistics to your travel agent, there’s some legwork you should take care of before the big trip. “Do not skimp out on travel insurance when booking a group trip aboard,” Connor says. “Having to deal with any possible changes or cancellations is challenging enough without losing money on top of it. For the extra investment of typically a few hundred dollars, you can feel confident that your trip is financially secure.”
While you can purchase travel insurance directly from a broker, check to see if a credit card you currently use offers features that can provide additional help with unforeseen circumstances, like illness before the trip and getting cash back on non-refundable bookings or out-of-your-control flight changes that compromise the timing of your trip.
Connor says it’s crucial to have a plan in place for common emergencies like misplacing your passport. “Knowing where the closest embassy is is vital in securing replacement travel documents,” she says. Be sure to also contact your phone carrier for long-distance plans that’ll allow you to stay in the loop with the rest of your group throughout the duration of your trip or consider a temporary solution like an international eSIM card. The last thing you need is to be stranded in a foreign city, only to run out of data or talk time.
Looking to skip town but not sure where to go? Szemplinski says destinations like London, Tulum, Cabo, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Paris and Iceland “are all amazing destinations that are fun to do with a group of people.”
What to pack for a destination bachelor/bachelorette party
Instead of scrolling through the group chat to figure out where you’re supposed to go next, ensure you have everything in one place with this travel planner. It comes complete with everything you need to stay organized: reservation numbers, to-do lists and blank pages should you wish to create the likes of a budget tracker or running list of inside jokes. This hard copy documentation is especially useful in the event your phone runs out of battery or — gasp — disappears entirely.
Between all the silly footage you’ll be snapping of the bride or groom and all the time you’ll spend coordinating meet-ups or making last-minute itinerary adjustments, your phone is bound to be in use for the better part of the trip. Our experts’ favorite portable charger ensures you — and the bride or groom, thanks to its dual ports — stay juiced up the entire day without having to miss out on all the fun and relegate yourselves to a wall socket.
Whether your group plans to imbibe heavily, be out in the sun for extended periods or take a several-hour-long flight, Connor suggests having some Liquid I.V. on hand to ward against dehydration. The electrolyte single-serve packs with more than 100,000 Amazon reviews come in delectable flavors and easily mix into water for a refreshing drink the whole group will thank you for.
“For any incidents that may occur over the course of partying,” Connor suggests always having a stash of Band-Aids on you since leaving wounds open while traveling abroad can increase your risk of infection. This travel-friendly pack comes with 20 waterproof bandages that’ll keep you protected from water, dirt and debris whether you’re at the beach, pool party or stuck in the rain.
Keep all your crucial travel documents like your passport, tickets and itineraries safe and secure in one easy-to-access pouch. This tester-approved passport holder is a must-bring for large groups traveling together and can be worn multiple ways for all-day comfort.
Your stag or hen party is likely to feature a mix of low- and high-end outings, from rugged paintballing to bottle service at an exclusive nightclub. Ensure your dressier garments look crisp and clean with our all-time favorite clothing steamer, featuring straightforward controls and convenient attachments that allow you to go over wide sections of fabric in a single pass.
It’s always wise to keep a stash of snacks ready to go in case you or someone in your group develops low blood sugar in between activities. We’re huge fans of these highly portable protein bars made with simple and energizing ingredients like almonds, dates, cashews and egg whites to tide you over until your flight lands or your next group dinner reservation.
Between all the partying and lack of sleep, misplacing a few essential items might be in the cards for you during your bachelor or bachelorette trip. Keep your essentials within arm’s reach with our editor-favorite Apple AirTag that operates on Apple’s Find My network to keep track of the likes of your luggage, phone, IDs and more. Before investing, poll the group chat to see if anyone else in attendance is interested in grabbing one — you’ll save a couple bucks on each if you purchase in bulk.
No bachelorette party is complete without a costume for the future bride. Be sure to pack this glittery kit complete with a sash, veil, crown and temporary tattoos so they can feel extra special over the course of your trip.
You can’t forget the groom. These easy-to-pack button pins send the message that a stag party is, in fact, in progress, without overwhelming the rest of his outfit. It comes with one for the groom, one for the best man and eight for the rest of the wedding party so everyone can feel included in the festivities.
It always helps to carry cash on you in the currency of your destination, especially if you’ll be tipping your service providers. Keep it safe with this discrete travel-friendly money belt that sits flush against your waistband under your clothing so thieves can’t get to it. It’s made from a breathable mesh material so you don’t have to worry about overheating.
This beach-bum-approved tote is lightweight and thin enough to fold up in your carry-on bag while being highly functional once you do bring it to the beach or pool. It’s made of mesh that allows sand and debris to fall out as well as a waterproof nylon and polyester material, and it features an exterior pocket for your phone or sunscreen.
Nothing puts a damper on a stag or hen party quite like painful and inflamed skin. Stay safe with our all-time favorite sunscreen that applies lightly, quickly absorbs into the skin for a film-free wearing experience and smells of delightful tropical coconut. While it won’t work in a carry-on (it’s larger than the TSA's limit of 3.4 ounces), our testers appreciate its travel-friendly slim design.
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