The ‘Spend’ do: UK travellers spend £434 on average for staycation stag or hens but a stag-gering £998 per person if they go abroad
47% of 18-45s find stags and hens boring because of the predictable itineraries and 49% would prefer to head off the beaten track
Hotels.com has teamed up with engaged Love Island favourites Alex Bowen and Olivia Buckland to share their top tips for planning the ultimate stag and hen [include local market expert for other markets]
With wedding season well and truly upon us, it’s also prime time for stag and hen dos. Whilst pre-wedding getaways are a great way to toast the impending nuptials, new research from Hotels.com® reveals that almost half of Brits feel that itineraries are becoming stagnant (47%) and the majority feel that the expense is simply staggering (81%). The latest poll from the accommodation experts reveals that going abroad for a stag or hen will set you back an average of a whopping £998 abroad and £434 if you stay in the UK.
The poll of 2,000 UK adults found that this ‘stagflation’ is increasing with almost two thirds (64%) of Brits having seen prices rise over the last two years. It’s no wonder that Brits feel that the expense is growing out of control as men would be happy to spend up to £229 on celebrating abroad - £769 less than the national average, whereas women want to spend only £190 – over £800 less than the national average.
Understandably, this spiralling cost has meant that over a third of Brits have had to make financial sacrifices to attend the festivities including giving up holidays (32%), not buying clothes (43%) and avoiding socialising with pals (54%). The costs have become so high that 29% of people have chickened out of a stag or hen altogether.
Johan Svanstrom, President of Hotels.com brand said, “Stag and hen dos are a great way to celebrate with friends (and maybe some family!) either at home or abroad but we’d encourage everyone to do a bit of research to avoid the ‘been there done that’ feeling and the rising cost. There are so many affordable options in interesting locations that can prevent the ‘stag lag’ and if you have multiple stags or hens in the pipeline, consider signing up to our Hotels.com Rewards programme. After booking 10 nights, you receive a reward night for free, which you can either use to treat yourself to a night away or reduce the cost of your next stag or hen. You can even accrue the nights in one go if you are the best man or maid of honour and in charge of the group booking!”
Another way to make the party less resenting of the cost is to change up the activities, with over half of bride tribes and stag parties happy to splash the cash if the itinerary is something they haven’t experienced before (59%). Indeed, 49% of those polled said they’d actually prefer to go on a stag do off the beaten track and away from tourist destinations with the research showing that there is a clear thirst for quirkier stag and hen destinations with cities such as Valencia, Sofia and Zagreb creeping into the top 30 most popular stag and hen choices.
Whether you’re looking for a tree-house in Sweden, an all-inclusive stay in Bulgaria, or a chic apartment for your squad in Zagreb, at Hotels.com, there are a whole host of properties available to choose from so you can spend more time saying ‘I do’ to stag and hen invitations.
Having recently returned from their own pre-nuptial breaks away, Hotels.com has teamed up with Love Island alumnae Alex Bowen and Olivia Buckland to share their top tips for planning the ultimate stag or hen. They imparted wise words such as “don’t tie the stag naked to a lamppost, always do a fancy dress night and consider a laminated itinerary!”
Follow Alex and Olivia’s lead and head to Hotels.com to ensure your pals don’t chicken out of the next hen or stag do. Find the top stag and hen do deals in surprising and inspiring locations, from Zagreb to Gloucester below:
Zagreb – Zagreb Tesla Boutique Apartments
Stags and hens looking to explore everything that the charming capital of Zagreb has to offer should look no further than the Zagreb Tesla Boutique Apartments. Set 300 metres from the main Ban Jelacic Square in Zagreb, the hotel offers modern furnishings and kitchen equipped with a microwave, toaster and fridge – perfect for some late-night snacking! It is also comes complete with a bathrobe and slippers for some much-deserved pamper and relaxation.
Zagreb Tesla Boutique Apartments are available to book from a very reasonable £67 per night on Hotels.com.**
Sofia - Sofia Cherry Orchard Residence
Perfect for popular brides or grooms, this cottage sleeps up to 21 people. With a rooftop pool with its own snack bar and an outdoor dining area, this is an ideal place in which to kick off your stag and hen celebrations. Relax in the on-site jacuzzi or toast the bride and groom from the sun terrace for a stag, hen or sten to remember.
The Sofia Cherry Orchard Residence, sleeping up to 21 people is available to book from £900 per night on Hotels.com.**
Bristol – Thornbury Castle
Those looking to appease any hen or stag-zillas, should head to Thornbury Castle in beautiful Gloucestershire. While there, treat yourself and the girls or boys to a champagne afternoon tea that comes compete with freshly baked scones, miniature cakes and finger sandwiches.
Thornbury Castle is available to book from £195 per night on Hotels.com.**
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