Places to Stay

11 Unexpected Destinations for a Bachelor or Bachelorette Party

Because the world doesn’t need another Hangover.
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Planning a bachelor or bachelorette party can be a daunting task. While there’s always a party bus to somewhere (usually a bar or club in Las Vegas, New Orleans, or Nashville), the road less traveled promises far greater adventure. From a yoga haven in Jamaica to a sleepover in the Arabian desert, these intimate and creative getaways will delight every stripe of bride- or groom-to-be.

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    Vineyard hop in Portugal

    In Alentejo, the hot and dry wine region southeast of Lisbon, vintners are tapping into a global revival of an ancient technique: fermenting wines in clay vessels, or talhas. Start the party at Herdade do Rocim, a 247-acre wine and olive estate, before making your way to Cartuxa Winery, in a building founded by Jesuits, and nearby José de Sousa, a vineyard with an exceptional collection of seven-foot-tall talhas.

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    Hike the Isle of Skye

    The patchwork terrain of Skye—with its jagged peaks, imposing sea cliffs, and medley of moors and lochs—is best explored in the company of locals. Wilderness Scotland’s seven-day itineraries (from $2,359 per person) are led by “wilderness therapists” and cover meals, lodging, and transport. (Note: All-female hiking groups with female guides are available.) The trekking isn’t hard, but it may give some hikers vertigo. To wit: the climb up dizzying Quiraing, a 1,781-foot-high landslip.

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    Mountain bike through Mayan villages

    The customizable itineraries from Old Town Outfitters, an adventure travel operator in Antigua, Guatemala, lead guests to Indigenous markets and remote pueblos. The three-day Lake Atitlán Traverse tour (from $475 per person) climbs high into the 12th-century Iximche town of Patzún, descends into a steep ravine known as the matagringo ("gringo killer”), and culminates at the rim of a volcanic caldera. A stay at La Casa del Mundo, a cliffside eco-hotel, is included.

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    Go fishing in Savannah

    With the Atlantic Ocean at its doorstep, getting on the water from downtown Savannah is a breeze. Charter a private boat from Tybee Island’s Reel Em’ N (starting at $775), where Captain Derek Brown has been fishing for grouper, sea bass, and shark for the past 15 years. (He also runs dolphin-watching tours, if that’s more your speed.) Post-fishing, take full advantage of the city’s open-container laws aboard Savannah Slow Ride’s 15-passenger pub crawl pedal bikes—then sleep it off in a two-level suite at the riverfront Olde Harbour Inn (rooms from $201).

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  • Book a yoga retreat in Jamaica

    Nestled in the heart of an authentic farming and fishing community on rugged Treasure Beach in southern Jamaica, Jake’s Hotel (rooms from $115) organizes bespoke yoga retreats in an open-air studio overlooking the sparkling Caribbean Sea. Local farm tours, jerk seasoning cooking lessons, and a visit to the Appleton Rum tasting room round out the bonding experiences for celebrants.

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    Sleep under the stars in the Arabian desert

    A 90-minute drive from the glass-and-chrome-laden city of Abu Dhabi takes you to Qasr al Sarab (rooms from $374), a secluded Anantara resort in the world’s largest sand desert, a.k.a. The Empty Quarter. Toast the sunset from a room with a private terrace or travel by camelback to Camp Nujum, where guests frolic among the sand dunes by day (fat biking, archery, and sandboarding are all on the agenda) and spend their nights in traditional Bedouin tents.

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    Follow your gut to British Columbia

    Vancouver Island’s remote fishing village of Tofino is Western Canada’s top boat-to-table destination. Dig into grilled sablefish at upscale restaurant The Pointe or slurp freshly harvested oysters at SoBo, helmed by award-winning chef Lisa Ahier, before ending the night with a kelp-infused stout at Tofino Brewing Company. For the ultimate epicurean splurge, Tofino Food Tours will fly you aboard a seaplane to a private picnic location with a spread supplied by the finest local eateries.

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    Head west on Route 66

    EagleRider Rentals & Tours’ nine-day guided motorcycle adventure (from $2,880 per person) starts in Albuquerque; rolls through iconic Western landmarks like the Petrified Forest National Park, Grand Canyon, and Hoover Dam; and concludes at the Santa Monica Pier in Southern California. Ride with strangers (16 bikes max) or opt for a private guided trip. Either way, you supply the motorcycle license; EagleRider covers the bikes, guides, lodging, park admissions, and support vehicle.

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    Catch a world-class surf break in Nicaragua

    With more than 300 days of offshore winds, Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast is a prime surfing spot. Check in to the recently opened Aurea eco-resort, located within a private golf and beach community; the Eucalypto villa, with views of the nearby eucalyptus forest, is great for groups because it fits up to 14 guests. In addition to surfing lessons, Aurea can arrange sailing, paddle boarding, and horseback riding excursions, plus visits with the local community.

  • Eat hyperlocal in upstate New York

    The husband-and-wife team behind Table To Farm Tours in Roxbury curates half-day experiences at the Catskills’ best creameries, farms, and distilleries. The Delicious Delaware County itinerary, for example, includes lunch, a boozy cocktail, and tastes of artisanal organic kimchi, award-winning cheese, and hard cider apples (from $95 per adult, including transportation from Roxbury). Make a night—or a long weekend—of it by staying at The Chatwal Lodge in Bethel, opening this spring; our top pick for intimate groups is the two-bedroom treehouse lofted 25 feet above the ground.

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  • Visit the Maghreb of California

    The Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs is a Moroccan-inspired retreat with daily tea service and a Fez-worthy courtyard (rooms from $422). In the 1920s, painter Gordon Coutts modeled the villa after his beloved Tangier—so inspired was he by the San Jacinto mountains and scrubby desert terrain. Although it feels isolated, this scenic hideaway is just a short walk to both the hiking trails of Tahquitz Canyon and hip rooftop lounges like downtown’s boho-chic Sugar High.

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