I have put together a top ten of winter hen and stag destinations which our team and clients love. Please note that they are in no particular order…
The Canaries
The Canaries is the only destination within a four — five hours flight from the UK which will almost guarantee you sunshine and 70 — 80 degree temperatures.
Keep south of Mount Teide in Tenerife (north of Mount Teide is generally cloudy in the winter). The busiest resort in Tenerife is Playa De Las Americas which has loads of hotels, bars and fantastic clubs. Other busy resorts are Playa Del Ingles and Maspalomas on Grand Canaria, and Playa Blanca and Puerto Del Carmen in Lanzarote.
Riga
Riga is cold. Bleeding cold. But that’s the whole point! The cold brings snow and ice which is what you need to race snowmobiles or throw yourself down an Olympic Standard bobsleigh course (on a bobsleigh, obviously).
Riga in the winter is also very cheap, so you can stay for two nights with flights, transfers, club and bar entries for less than £60 per person. In our mind Riga is a fantastic stag do destination.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is the warmest UK hen and stag destination in the winter — fact. Well, not an actual fact as I am no Meteorologist (weather man for the people who didn’t go to University like me!). However, Bournemouth has a micro climate which keeps this destination free from snow and frost most of the year round.
In the winter hotels are cheap, there are still loads of activities, and as Bournemouth is a university town it’s going to have very busy nightlife most of the year round.
Las Vegas
Let’s make no bones about this, Las Vegas is the place to party, suiting stag and hen parties right down to the ground. Set in the middle of a desert you are going to get great temperatures, and the non-stop sunshine helps fuel the infamous daytime pool parties; that and Vodka Redbulls. You then have 24 hour casinos, all night bars and clubs… to be honest you are never going to sleep.
Bristol
Bristol has become the saviour of the British stag and hen destinations. It’s a cool city with fantastic clubs, bars, restaurants and hotels.
When you’re not enjoying the nightlife the activity choices will blow your socks off, day and night. Book early as hotels get extremely busy.
North Wales
If you want to make sure your lads or ladies know they are on an adventurous hen or stag weekend then get yourselves to North Wales.
In the winter months hen and stag activities such as Canyoning and White Water Rafting are so much better. And don’t worry, you will be warm as toast in your wetsuits (discounting the initial cold). You can then sit around the log burner in your group hotel bar or self catering cottage and tell stories of true heroism and Machoism (if that’s a word) from your day’s activities.
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes has more indoor activity venues than any other UK destination. You can skydive indoors (that’s right, skydive), ski, snowboard and toboggan, race karts, take part in spy missions — this is the ideal destination for the agoraphobics! It’s also perfect for when the weather is really crappy outside.
Barcelona
OK, you are not guaranteed sunshine in Barcelona, but there’s a good chance you’ll get some. But hey, it’s not all about the sun, Barcelona has a fantastic atmosphere day and night with what can only be called ‘great street life’.
Fantastic bars and restaurants spilling out into the streets makes this Catalonian capital a perfect destination for the stag and hen party looking for a decent city break.
Reading
The city centre of Reading is so accessible you can walk out of your hotel and reach your comedy club, restaurant or nightclub within a five minute walk (and if it’s lashing it down this is a necessity).
You also have some of the finest activities all within a 40 minute drive; from hovercrafts and quads to clay pigeon shooting and pamper days. Reading… who would’ve thought it!
Edinburgh
Did you know that Edinburgh gets half the rainfall of Glasgow? Well, it’s true. As you know I am no meteorologists, but due to the location of this incredible city it gets sheltered from the west winds by the highlands and southern uplands. This makes Edinburgh the best place in Scotland for a hen or stag party during the winter months.
When you’re ready to do some decent activities the highlands of Scotland have the best white water rafting in the UK. Get yourself up there and get wet because, let’s face it, you’ll be dry in Edinburgh!
Guest post by Marco Walker of Designaventure
Images from Flickr by…
Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Cortto (CC BY 2.0 License)
Riga: Kishjar (CC BY 2.0 License)
Bournemouth: rich_f28 (CC BY-ND License)
Las Vegas: Matthias-Foto.de (CC BY-SA 2.0 License)
Bristol: Andrew Gustar (CC BY-ND 2.0 License)
Gorge Walking in North Wales: Proadventure.co.uk (CC BY 2.0 License)
Indoor Skydiving: Jamar Johnson (CC BY 2.0 License)
Barcelona: Jorge Franganillo (CC BY 2.0 License)
Hovercraft: Keith Williams (CC BY 2.0 License)
Edinburgh: dun_deagh (CC BY-SA 2.0 License)
