Destination wedding plans set? How about a destination bachelorette party?

Barcelona—for bachelorettes with a Spanish spin

We call them bachelorettes; the girls across the pond call them Hen Parties. But beyond a name, there are some other major differences between pre-wedding girl gatherings in the States and in Europe. For starters, locations. We may have alcohol-fueled party buses, but they’ve got Barcelona. Or Amsterdam. Or Ibiza. We asked Sabrina Mable of Ireland’s Hen It, a professional bachelorette party planning company, to share her pick of the continent’s top five bacheorette sites. If you and your friends are crossing the Atlantic for your destination wedding, and have a few spare shekels lying around, any of these would make for an adventure you’ll be reliving for the next 30 years.

Amsterdam

And you thought things were a little out of control in Vegas. Also knowns as Sin City, Amsterdam attracts girls who want to throw on their jeans, let down their hair, and hit the clubs for techno, dub step,  trance, or just some old school hip hop (the Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein areas are club headquarters). While  prostitution and marijuana are both legal, Americans are generally more entranced by the city’s charming canals, gabled houses, and cultural scene.

Ibiza—the ultimate hen party island

Ibiza

Ibiza, which may have actually invented the after-party, is one of Europe’s most popular destinations for stag and hen parties. It isn’t too difficult to see why. A Spanish island paradise in the Mediterranean, Ibiza isn’t just the place to get a little crazy at night, it’s also famous for its beaches. So you’ve got your sun, sand and sea by day; sophisticated bistros and clubs once the sun goes down—and until it comes up again.

Barcelona

A weekend in Barca is barely enough time to get a satisfying helping of its sunny Spanish streets, eccentric architecture, beach life, and shopping. Bars, clubs, and lounges abound–tourists congregate in the Gothic Quarter (pubs, backpackers, flamenco shows); things get a little edgier in El Born; Raval is where the clubbers are hip and the discos legendary. If you want to party with a sea breeze, Port Olimpic is the place for upmarket beach terraces and anything-goes booze cruises.

Marrakesh

If snake charmers, camels, Arabian palaces, mosques, and belly dancers are more your scene, book it to this sophisticated Moroccan city. The architecture is a blend of Andalusian and North African (elaborate tilework; hidden courtyards); the cuisine is exceptional (tajines to pigeon pie); the discos are international and the roof terraces breathtaking. Thanks to its French roots, Morocco is the rare Mulsim country with a wine culture–salut!

The City of Lights: a super-sophisticated girls’ getaway

Paris

Could there be a more elegant spot for a hen weekend? For girls with a penchant for culture, fashion, arts, and glorious, glorious food, there’s no need to save Paris for the honeymoon. Spend a few days hopping from red-banquetted bistros to shaded cafes, late-night bars to mirrored clubs. But do make it back home for the wedding.

Author Sabrina Mable works at www.Henit.ie, specializing in creating packages for fun and memorable hen parties in Ireland. 

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Want to know more about planning destination wedding travel to Europe? Our travel partners at Coastline Travel Advisors, a Virtuoso agency, are ready to help.

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