Bachelorette Party Ideas #16: Cocktail Recipes to get the Party Started

What's a bachelorette party without a few killer cocktails? Get the party started with these:


Wild Cosmopolitan (shown)

3 parts Alizé Wild Passion

2 parts citrus vodka

1 part fresh lime juice

Splash of cranberry juice

Shake well over ice, strain and serve straight up in a martini glass.

Firefly Arnold Palmer

Mix equal parts Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade. Serve of tall glass of ice with a sprig of mint.

Island Piña Colada Recipe

Ingredients
1 Pineapple
1 Coconut or Vita Coco
1 Can of Goya Coconut Cream
1 small bottle of dark rum
Instructions:
Combine ½ cup of chopped pineapple, ½ cup of rum, ¼ cup of fresh coconut juice or Vita Coco, ½ cup of coconut cream and ice cubes. Mix in a blender and serve with a sliced pineapple wedge as a garnish. Top off with a small pool of dark rum over the top.

Crack of Dawn
Created by Jonathan Pogash for Cockspur Rum.
1 ½ ounce Cockspur Fine Rum
¾ ounce fresh lime juice

¾ ounce honey syrup (equal parts honey dissolved in warm water)

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a slice of lime.



Bachelorette Party Ideas #15: Bachelorette Party Games

No matter where you're celebrating, it's not a bachelorette party without a few games. You'll need to play this one early on when you're sober enough to construct not only a sentence, but a full story. Taking us back to our elementary school days, Story Club Games provide you with a story starter and a person, place and thing and you let your imagination fun wild from there. It sounds complicated, but with the right crowd, your sure to wind up with some hilarious results.

A story could offer up the following starting points, for example:
Story Starter: Opening his mail, Todd was surprised to see an anonyomous letter about X...the love of his life.
Person: Aubrey, an interior designer who has redesigned her own face
Place: Friend's wedding
Thing: Line from a song

Read about more must-play bachelorette party games.

Bacehlorette Party Ideas #14: Hot Hunky Hairdressers

All right, girls--if you live in Chicago you have to try out this service for us: Hot Hunky Hairdressers come to your home or hotel room, take off their shirts, then style your hair. They're all licensed professionals and you can opt to have your hair cut, colored and styled, get a mani/pedi, a massage, your makeup applied or a spray tan--guess a Brazilian wax would just be a little too awkward. But seriously, does it get any better?

On Our Radar: Bachelortte Party Ideas #13: Group Girlfriend Getaway at Atlantis

Can you convince 19 girlfriends to come along to your bachelorette party? If yes, you can get some slamming rates at the Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas. 

Girlfriends who book 20 or more can save up to 45% on accommodation (starting at $195 per person per night) and get some fun and original ad ons, including: 


Roundtrip Transportation in 2 stretch limos from airport
Accommodations for 3 Nights
VIP Entrance to Aura for 2 nights and personal paparazzi photographer for 1 night out at Aura -- we've always wanted do this!

Girlfriend Gift Bags
Lychee Martinis at Nobu -- don't miss the rock shrimp tempura!

Fitness Center Passes -- how many friends out of 20 do you think will use these?
Dolphin Cay Deep Water Interaction -- on our bucket list
Margaritas at Mesa Grill by Bobby Flay
Yoga on the Beach -- a surprisingly effective hangover cure

Bachelorette Party Ideas #12: the Tides Miami

We've already told you how to do a Miami bachelorette party on cheap, here's the next step up. The Tides, like the Colony Hotel, sits on Ocean Drive steps away from the beach and tons of craziness. The front steps of the Tides itself is a popular cafe bar and gathering spot. When we were in town this spring, we took a tour of the recently remodeled hotel and liked what we saw.

 The Tides lobby was decorated in shades of white and grey.

The Tides Bar is a tiny room but had serious texture and character.

If we could stay anywhere, it would be in the Tides top floor suite. It reminds us of a condo one of your wealthy relatives might keep in town and let you borrow once in a while. It had sweeping views of the ocean, a couple of bedrooms,  and huge bathrooms.

Tides Bedroom

The best part was the private access to the rooftop which included this bathtub. That's Hope and yes, she's sold!

The pool was small, but very classy and not too loud for Ocean Drive standards.

Between now and November, when you pay with an Amex, you get the third night free. Pay with another card and you get the fourth night free.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #11: The Amazing Bachelorette Race

We've already covered the Andaz 5th Avenue as a great bachelorette destination.  While you're there consider the Amazing Bachelorette Race. It can be tailored to suit your style; but usually starts with champagne and chocolates in your hotel suite, then teams split off in luxury town cars to compete in a scavenger hunt and challenge course that runs about three hours. Highlights may include the bride's favorite places or where she met her fiance. Challenges could be taking a picture with ten strangers holding hands or impromptu karaoke. The winner of the race gets a special prize.  Afterwards the party can meet for a spa treatment, cocktails or dinner.

For contact information go to Pogo Events.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #10: Montreal

Montreal is a top bachelorette party pick for many reasons:

• You feel like you're in Europe, even though it's only a short flight away from many American cities
• It's home to a number of festivals, including jazz, fireworks, and the weekly (in the summer) Piknic Electronik dance party.
• The food is amazing, the wine is cheap and the waiters are across the board some of the hottest we've ever seen. 

Last, but not least, Montreal is home to Le 281, the only all-male strip club in North America. 

Read more about what JSG's Annie has to say about Montreal Bachelorette parties on AOL's Aisle Dash.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #9: the New Andaz 5th Avenue

What better city to celebrate a bachelorette party than one with tremendous energy and endless possibilities? New York is the perfect place to design your bachelorette party.

Start your trip by checking into the new Andaz 5th Avenue which opened July 5th and is located across the street from the main branch of the New York Public Library and Bryant Park. Their loft-like guestrooms designed by Tony Chi will make you feel like a local with floor to ceiling windows and views of the library and the Empire State Building. (It will be the place to stay when the library celebrates its 100th anniversary and the completion of the $50 million, 3-year renovation project.) Better yet stay in a suite with a private balcony or a landscaped terrace and have a pre-party with the complimentary mini-bar (booze not included). Other features that impress us are the free WiFi and the self-check in using a hand held PC. The Andaz' location in midtown Manhattan makes it a great launching pad wherever you're headed out in the city.

Introductory rates start at $295 through September 1st, after which rates rise to $435.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #8: Miami On the Cheap: The Colony Hotel

We admit that we're partial to the Collins Avenue area of Miami that includes the W, the Ritz, the Setai, and the Delano. But we also have budgets and sometimes you've got to find a good time for less. A good example is our bestie Lauren who stayed at The Colony Hotel on Ocean Drive this spring. It's one of those iconic Art Deco South Beach hotels that sits right in the middle of all the action. The best part was that for three girls they only paid about $150 each for three nights.  Considering you can find flights from the east coast for $150, you've got a great girls' getaway or bachelorette party that won't break the bank. 

Of course not everything was perfect. Their complaints about the hotel were that there was only one small mirror in the room, which is a serious deficiency. Lauren took to putting her makeup on in the hallway.  The other problem was the "Spring Break" enthusiasts that were roaming the halls. You can figure when the price is that low, even college students will be flocking there.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #7: Napa River Inn

We're suckers for a comprehensive girls' getaway package and the Napa River Inn has a tempting offer.  What more can we ask for than good company, good food and great wine?
The Girls Gone Wine package includes:

• Two nights for four people in a guest room with two double beds for $199 per person
• A bottle of Sophia Coppola sparkling wine upon arrival
• Breakfast from Sweetie Pie‘s Bakery each morning delivered to the guest room
• VIP table and comp'd cover charge at SILO‘s Jazz Club
• And of course, a full-day wineries excursion with transportation and picnic lunch from Platypus Tours

On Our Radar: The Yacht Week as Bachelorette Party Idea #6

Here's one idea we hadn't thought of before: renting your own yacht for a week of bachelorette fun through the British Virgin Islands. We weren't sold until we saw the video (below). Check it out yourself and find details at The Yacht Week. Bon voyage!

Bachelorette Party Idea #5: Sea Island, Georgia

We realize some of you don't consider wild nights in Miami and Las Vegas the best time; so we're throwing out a beautiful and relaxing resort as our next bachelorette party recommendation.  Sea Island, Georgia has an expansive, private beach; is a short drive from Jacksonville Airport (which we prefer to Atlanta); and has arguably one of the best spas anywhere.

You can stay in a hotel room in the Cloisters or rent a villa also on the resort.  The spa is offering a "Women Who Wine" package which begins with your choice of a facial or massage and finishes with a bottle of wine, dark chocolates, and a discussion with a wellness advisor about nutrition, skin care, aromatherapy or fitness.  It's designed for groups of two to six with access to the spa suite and a spa gift.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #4: Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas

No bachelorette party month would be complete without an update (or five!) on Vegas. First up is the new Mandarin Oriental in the City Center. This is the place to stay when your bachelorette party includes girls who love to gamble and girls who hate casinos -- the Mandarin Oriental is gaming-free. Mandarin Oriental's are known for their exemplary service, and the Las Vegas branch lives up to expectations. The rooms are sophisticated and elegant, without sacrificing comfort.

For your friends who want to gamble, shop, party, etc. The hotel is connected via a sky bridge to to Crystals at City Center, a shopping and dining mecca. You can also visit Aria for gambling and clubbing--all without ever setting foot outside. Word of warning: That doesn't mean they're just an elevator ride away. Be prepared to walk a lot.

When you book a room for two nights at the Mandarin Oriental in Vegas in August, you get the third night free.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #3: Helping a JSG Reader

JSG Reader Suzy writes:

"I am planning my best friend's bachelorette party.  The wedding date is in February, so I know I am a bit early in the planning.

We live in Miami, so already a great location for a party, I just have no idea where to start.

I was also thinking some sort of weekend getaway, just to be able to get out of Miami since we live here.  Some of her friends live in the New England area, so I figured it would be fair to travel somewhere so that everyone travels.

We are also trying to stick to a decent budget.  As you may well know, money is tight for everyone nowadays.

Would you be able to suggest some ideas?"

Suzy-
We applaud your early planning. It's always best to nail down a date and get everyone on board a few months ahead of time, as the weeks leading up to the wedding can get crazy--plus you have to factor in the holidays, too. You may not want to hear this, but your best and most affordable option is to stay in Florida. As the wedding is in February, we're guessing the bachelorette party will be in the fall or winter and guess what? All the girls from New England will be dying for some fun in the sun.

But that doesn't mean your limited to Miami. Why not explore other areas of the state? That way, you're doing something different for the locals, the New Englanders still get to escape the harsh climes and towns like Key West or St. Pete can be more affordable than South Beach, too.

Reader Lorena Crowley went to Key West for her bachelorette party and had a blast. Or what about the surf-inspired Postcard Inn in St. Pete (shown above)? It frequently offers discounts to residents of the Sunshine State, so you may be able to score a deal!

Let us know where you end up!
XOXO
Anne & Hope

Bachelorette Party Ideas #2: Where the Boys Are

Thanks to Southwest Airlines and Match.com for doing the work for us and for polling folks to find out where the most popular beach is for finding and meeting singles on vacation. Top on the list? No surprise here — Miami ranks number one with 43% of the vote. Also popular: 

• Key West, FL 17.2 %
• Manhattan Beach, CA 12.1%
• South Padre Island, TX 10.1%
• Waikiki Beach, HI 9.3%
• Hamptons, NY 7.5 %

Got the itch to go to Miami for your own bachelorette party? Southwest and Match.com are sponsoring a Destination Summer giveaway, which includes two round trip tickets on Southwest, $2,000 for food and hotel, two six month Match.com memberships (Uh--you might want to give those away to your bridesmaids!) and more. Enter Destination Summer.

Bachelorette Party Ideas #1: Bachelorette, the Play

We're kicking of bachelorette party month with a play that's all about what not to do at your own bachelorette party. The well-reviewed Bachelorette starts off innocently enough with four friends in a luxe hotel suite chugging champagne —sound familiar? But then one friend is green with envy because her boyfriend has yet to pop the question, one friend gets trashed, the bride's dress gets towrn and the girls pick up two guys at a bar and bring them back to their hotel suite. Eddie Kaye Thomas, American Pie's MILF-lover is one of the dudes.

Better hurry if you want to catch this off-Broadway show. The run closes August 28. It's the first in a series of plays about the seven deadly sins by playwright Leslye Headland. Bachelorette represents gluttony--we can't wait for lust!