Hen Weekends

She’s engaged! There’s a sparkler on the finger and you’re going to be a bridesmaid. Congratulations! If you thought picking a dress to suit the gaggle of girls walking down the aisle with you was going to be tough, wait until you plan the hen do. Guest lists, budgets, activities… it’s enough to test even the most brilliant bridesmaid.

TravelSupermarket has your back. We have five of the hottest travel picks for hen weekends abroad and girls’ weekend getaways on UK soil, while giving you some great girls’ weekend ideas. Will you play home or away? Let’s look at the pros and cons:

UK hen party weekends – pros

A girls’ weekend in the UK can be easy to organise and perfect for larger groups who might not know each other well, as there is a wealth of bookable activities that you can bond over. It’s also easy to split UK breaks between the relaxing and the raucous, so everyone can attend something suitable. The cost of travel can be kept low and latecomers can make their own way to the destination.

UK hen party weekends – cons

Is the bride an outdoorsy type? The unpredictability of the British weather could put a dampener on any outdoor activities. And, while there are some cracking girls’ weekend ideas out there – from cocktail-making lessons to quad biking – costs in the UK can be high.

Hen weekends abroad – pros

They can be a big commitment, but hen parties abroad are increasingly popular with brides and their hens. Why? Because better weather is a cert in typical sunshine destinations, the cost of eating and drinking can be cheaper than it is in the UK, and bargains on flights and hotels are easy to find. Overseas girls’ weekend getaways can be just as cheap as hen weekends at home and are well suited to smaller groups who know each other well.

Hen weekends abroad – cons

It can be more stressful for organisers to arrange a group trip abroad. You’ll need to know, or at least trust, your fellow hens if you are organising overseas travel as it is likely you’ll be paying upfront (probably best to collect those monies before you book).