Planning a Bachelorette Party in Las Vegas
Thousands of women travel to Las Vegas every year to celebrate being single before they tie knot. Though many people get married in Las Vegas, many others visit Sin City with their girlfriends for the bachelorette party of a lifetime.
Why Las Vegas? From morning until late into the night, brides-to-be and their wedding parties can party hard, soak in the sun, eat and drink lavishly, be pampered and surround themselves with over-the-top memories before saying “I do.”
Planning
When you know you want to go to Las Vegas for your bachelorette party, it’s time to start planning. Avoid disappointment by making plans and reservations early if you know there are things you’d absolutely like to do or see.
There are dozens of airlines that fly into McCarran International Airport, so search for cheap flights to Las Vegas in order to snag the best deal.
Those in town for bachelorette parties have a large selection of Las Vegas hotels to choose from, but there are a few resorts that are particularly suited for girls’ getaways. Planet Hollywood has an energetic, hip vibe with on-site shopping at the Miracle Mile, and its central location on Las Vegas Boulevard is ideal for exploring other parts of the Las Vegas Strip. Hard Rock Hotel is located off the Strip so it’s a bit more difficult to reach, but the clientele is definitely younger than the average hotel and it is home to Rehab, one of the most popular pool clubs in Las Vegas. Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas are a bit more luxurious but their real selling point is the fact that there are several nightclubs packed onto both properties. Finally, if you want to splurge a bit, opt for one of the party suites available at Palms Las Vegas.
When you land at the airport, start your bachelorette party off right by arranging for a limo to pick you up. Renting a limo costs a bit more than taking a taxi or a shuttle but it’s not nearly as expensive as you might imagine, and most rides come with complementary champagne or wine.
What to Do
Once you’ve arrived in Las Vegas, it’s time to get your bachelorette party started.
During the day, hit the ground shopping. With thousands of stores ranging from discount to high-end, Las Vegas has become an increasingly popular destination for shopping. Many retail areas on the Las Vegas Strip offer unique shopping atmospheres (such as the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and Fashion Show Mall), but many women prefer to catch a cab to the Las Vegas Premium Outlets, which have dozens of name brand shops selling items at severely discounted prices.
Each day at the V Theater in the Miracle Mile in Planet Hollywood, women are invited to take a Stripper 101 class. This fun, unobtrusive and safe activity is a highlight for many bachelorette parties.
In the summer months, the place to be and be seen is a pool club. Chilling by the pool in Las Vegas is more than just an opportunity to soak up some sun. There are several 21+ European-style pools and day clubs that come complete with frothy drinks and poolside DJs who mix up the hot summer fun. If there is a nightclub on property, chances are there is a pool club as well. Top picks include Club Nikki at Tropicana, TAO Beach at The Venetian and Rehab at Hard Rock Hotel.
It wouldn’t be a girls-only escape if you didn’t spend some time letting someone else pamper you. You’ll find spas at all of the major hotels in Las Vegas, each of which offers standard treatments like massages and facials as well as specialty treatments. Spa highlights include Drift Spa at Palms, which has a coed hammam (a Turkish wet sauna with heated stones), the crème brulee massage at the bathhouse at Mandalay Bay and the Shio Salt Room at Aria, which offers vibration therapy. There are also several independent nail and hair salons scattered throughout the city beyond the hotels on the Strip.
In the evening, you may want to head out for a show. There are several that cater to the ladies, including Chippendales, The Thunder from Down Under, Men of X and American Storm.
Las Vegas is known for its nightlife. You have a wide range of bars and lounges to choose from for a pre-clubbing kick. Some, like Kahunaville in Treasure Island, specialize in high-energy bar fun complete with fruity cocktails. If you’re looking for something a bit classier, choose one of the wine bars. The Hostile Grape at M Resort and d.vino at Monte Carlo are two popular options. Mixology is hot in Las Vegas, and one of the best places to appreciate the art is Sage Restaurant in Aria, which has a bar menu that is planned with care and thought.
Las Vegas is home to dozens of nightclubs. They range from large, lavish clubs with massive dance floors and several DJ stages to small boutique lounges that encourage intimacy. XS and Tryst (both in Encore Las Vegas) are two of the most popular clubs for bachelorette parties, but the wide selection of nightlife options at Palms also draws lots of people.
Though Las Vegas is home to several strip clubs that cater heavily to guys, there are a few that have male strippers as well. Sapphire is one of the top choices for the ladies. In clubs that offer full nudity, only non-alcoholic beverages are available. Most strip clubs require a minimum purchase. If you arrive by taxi or limo, you’ll likely pay a bit more for cover than if you arrive in your own vehicle.
Keep It Safe and Fun
Sin City is a popular place to celebrate the final days before getting married. It is a lot of fun, a bit over the top and perfectly designed for any group of ladies looking to have a good time with their girlfriends. Make your trip a safe one by keeping an eye out for each other. At the pool, make sure you keep a healthy layer of sunscreen on your shoulders, and balance alcoholic beverages with water. Finally, snap lots of pictures, have lots of laughs and make it a bachelorette party you’ll never forget.
Photo credit: finalgirl, thinkpanama