Your hen do should be a holiday to remember. However, if you’re feeling that the whole budget-airlines-and-city-breaks shtick has been ‘done’, you might want to think further afield.
Why not jet off somewhere far, far away?
If you’re looking for a hen do with a difference, and a million miles from the L-plates and pink cowboy hats of yore, get a load of these long haul hen do holiday ideas from the travel experts at Destination2.co.uk.
Cancun
Nine hours from the UK, you can set off at breakfast to be ready for margaritas by the pool at dinnertime. Cancun is the perfect hen do destination for lazy days on the beach and crazy nights on the buzzing club scene. This is the place where the party doesn’t stop until the sun comes up. Clubs like Coco Bongo keep punters entertained all night with Spiderman acrobats flying through the air and Michael Jackson impersonators lip-synching on the bar.
The amount of luxury resorts, cool bars and top class hospitality around the area allow your bride-to-be to let her hair down in style before the biggest day of her life.
Bangkok
Bangkok is a city like no other. Prepared for an eye-opening experience as you join the most extravagant and outrageous party in Asia. But there’s a lot more to this incredible city than lady boy shows.
The essence of Bangkok is really on its streets, and your night out here should wandering around the after-dark shopping areas, to soak up the true Thai experience. Afterwards, climb on-board a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya river and see the city laid out before you, as it twinkles in the evening dusk. Then jump in a taxi and explore the best that Bangkok has to offer.
Day time – and while there is less neon, the energy of the city isn’t subdued. Visit the markets, marvel at the colour and majesty of the landscape, take in some of the ancient and beautiful temples. But overall, go for the food and realise that you haven’t tasted Thai cuisine until it’s cooked up for you on the side of the road while tuk-tuks and mopeds whizz by. This is a hen do that is all about adventure, new experiences and bags of fun.
Dubai
For a five star experience, Dubai is the ideal hen do destination. If it’s sumptuous hotels, gourmet food and an incredible range of activities that you want, this place has it in spades.
Private beaches are plentiful, boat cruises are available throughout the day and there is plenty of opportunity to explore the many souks of this Emirate – as well as indulging in some retail therapy in the biggest shopping mall in the world.
There are two sides to this place – the glitz and splendour of the hotels and the traditional Arabia of places like Bastakia and Karama, where you can enjoy a much more multicultural and less ostentatious taste of Dubai. However, it can be argued that both sides are equally as enjoyable.
Night times need to kick off choosing where to eat out of the staggering choice of restaurants available. This is the foodie capital of the Middle East and definitely one to plan for. For a slight detour from the main Dubai hub, we recommend treating your hens to an evening in the desert for a night to remember – dune driving, camel rides and a delicious barbecue dinner under Bedouin tents followed by shisha and dancing.
Mauritius
Mauritius is one of the closest places to paradise we’ve come across on our travels. The Indian Ocean island is the perfect place for a hen do that is all about relaxing before the craziness of the wedding.
You can reach this slice of heaven within twelve hours of leaving the UK, and a warm welcome is guaranteed. With a huge selection of high quality luxury hotels, resorts and villas to stay in, we recommend a bite to eat, a spa treatment and a dip in your room’s plunge pool to revive you after your flight.
Mauritius is all about what you make it. If you want to have a night out that goes down in history, there are plenty of beach bars and ocean clubs in Grand Baie, where top name DJs play and people dance under Banyan trees until dawn.
If you want to remain in the peace and tranquility of this tropical Eden, there are plenty of things to do during the day. Whether it’s the wildlife in the Black River Gorges National Park, dolphin spotting out in the sea or little boat trips out to nearby island, Rodrigues, the lure of the island creates a hen do holiday you will wish never ends.
Barbados
Island life on Barbados reaches a crescendo in June where carnival comes to town. This party is so much of a fixture of life here that it goes on for over two months. The Crop Over festival occurs in peak-hen do season and promises calypso music, street food and non-stop partying.
It would be rude not to pay a visit to the Mount Gay rum distillery on your hen do, and your party might enjoy the catamaran party cruises that are organised on the west coast for rum punch cocktails, good food and snorkelling.
Day trips should take in the beautiful and intimate Miami beach (a far cry from its brash American counterpart). The wonderful Shark Hole and the too-perfect beach paradise of Bottom Bay are well worth spending a few hours relaxing, exploring and taking pictures.
This is hen do for beach bums and good time girls – and will ensure you’re all wonderfully tanned and relaxed in time for the Big Day!
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