Along with wedding season comes bachelorette party season, filled with plastic tiara veils, scantily clad men and phallic-shaped everything. Deciding to have a bachelorette party is easy … the hard part is deciding where to go. Fear not, ladies! We’ve compiled a list of prime bachelorette locales. Now all you have to do is pick one, grab your gals and celebrate the last fling before the ring.
VEGAS
Great for: the night club hopper, the gambler
Flight time: 5 hours from Charlotte
Neon lights, poppin’ clubs, extravagant hotel pools and an abundance of male revue shows — Vegas is the consummate bachelorette party destination. Depending on where you stay, your hotel will likely be home to a night club, great boutiques, several restaurants and a live show. Check out Vegas.com to figure out which clubs and shows you’d like to be near. Head out onto the strip to sip cocktails and people-watch, or go check out your favorite stars made of wax at Madame Tussauds during the day. Bring walking shoes, because the massive hotels can feel as large as a city block. Once the sun goes down, you and the gals can dress up and hit one of the world-famous clubs where the celebs hang out like TAO or 1OAK. Of course you have to check out a casino or two while you’re there, but spend your money wisely (protip: Blackjack has the best odds).
BEVERLY HILLS
Great for: the shopper, the celebrity enthusiast
Flight time: 5 hours and 30 minutes from Charlotte to LAX
Rub elbows with the rich and famous in this iconic city filled with high-end shopping, luxurious spas and unique art galleries. You and the gals can tap into your inner Julia Roberts / Pretty Woman while window shopping at Prada, Gucci, Armani and the rest of the shops on Rodeo Drive. Then relax in the spa at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel before heading out on the town. Beverly Hills itself is home to lots of delicious and exclusive restaurants like the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, or you can grab a cab to nearby Los Angeles and hit the clubs. LoveBeverlyHills.com has lots of resources for booking your stay and creating an itinerary.
CHARLESTON
Great for: the history buff, the foodie, the preppy Southerner
Driving time: about 3 hours from Charlotte
It’s just a short drive to The Holy City, but you and the gals can certainly get into some unholy shenanigans in Charleston. Drop your stuff in your room at one of Charleston’s adorable historic hotels (the Francis Marion is beautiful and centrally located) and head over to Tease Blow Dry Bar to get ready before heading out for the evening (book appointments well in advance because they fill up fast!). Charleston is replete with amazing restaurants and unique bars like The Gin Joint, which has a “bartender’s choice” menu that lets you to choose two words from a list that will inspire a delicious drink. Check out Borrowed & Blue for lots of other great ideas for a perfect Charleston bachelorette weekend.
SAVANNAH
Great for: the foodie, the architecture enthusiast
Driving time: 3 hours, 40 minutes from Charlotte
Going to Savannah is a little bit like going back in time to the Old South, so it’s an ideal location for a Southern bachelorette bash. If you want to get a little beachy, book a cottage on nearby Tybee Island and take day trips into Savannah. If you want to stay in the city, pick a place in the Historic District so you’ll be walking distance to clubs and bars. During the day, burn off those liquid calories by renting a pedal cart from Savannah Slow Ride, which will take you and the gals on a 2-hour eco-friendly bar crawl throughout the city.
TURKS & CAICOS
Great for: the beach bum, the jet setter
Flight time: about 3-hour direct flight out of Charlotte
Make the bachelorette party a mini-vacation by spending a few days on the beach on this stunning Caribbean island. It’s a short direct flight from Charlotte but the serene views and tropical climate will make you and the gals feel like you’re halfway around the world. Beaches resort offers a twice-a-year BFF getaway package that includes professional hair styling tips and tricks from pro hair experts (perfect for wedding day prep), a private party, catamaran cruise, a seaside yoga and meditation session and a farewell dinner at the end of the trip. If your group is more adventurous, grab your goggles for snorkeling on Smith’s Reef or ride horseback into the shallows with Provo Ponies.
NYC
Great for: the theatre enthusiast, the label-lover
Flight time: 1 hour, 40 minute direct flight from CLT to LaGuardia
Admit it, you’re still a little nostalgic for the times you and the girls would spend watching Sex and the City marathons. Tap into your inner Carrie with a trip to the Big Apple. After taking in a Broadway show and salivating over the flagship stores on Fifth Avenue, hit up Lavo’s champagne party brunch for some day-drinking. HauteLiving.com has lots more ideas for how to do a NYC bachelorette party the right way.
NEW ORLEANS
Great for: the big drinker, the music-lover
Flight time: 2 hour direct flight from Charlotte, 10-hour drive
NOLA might be the quintessential Southern bachelorette party spot. There’s no shortage of half-naked men and ladies, plus the lax open container laws make it easy to cruise down Bourbon Street from bar to bar. Of course you and the girls will have to stop in Tropical Isle for the infamous hand grenades, and a stop to Pat O’s for a hurricane is a must. The next morning, nurse your hangover with coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde (don’t worry, you can burn off all those calories with a walk around Jackson Square).
Pro Tip: scoop publisher Susu is a native New Orleans girl. Her restaurant picks right now are Shaya on Magazine Street for lunch, Compere Lapin in the Warehouse District for dinner, Willa Jean for breakfast, Domilise’s or Parkway for po-boys, The Company Burger for a hangover, Bacchanal for random atmosphere, and Galatoire’s downstairs only to “make the turn” from lunch right into dinner.
