So, your best friend is getting hitched. As a member of the wedding party, you’ve got your hands full. Not to mention, your inbox is filled with near-daily emails asking “what’s up with the bachelor(ette) party?” Fortunately, that’s something KAYAK can help you with. Our Summer Travel Hacker Guide has 10 top Summer Friday destinations that are worthy of a weekend away… and for celebrating the last days of singledom.
The Classics
There’s nothing quite like a classic, and with Atlantic City’s casinos or Ocean City’s boardwalk, you can strike that ideal bachelor(ette) party balance between flashy and trashy. For both locales, get the guys or girls together on a June weekend, when median hotel rates are lowest for summer ($208/night for Atlantic City, $234/night for Ocean City).
Daiquiris on the Beach
If sugary drinks and sandy beaches sound like the perfect weekend mix, a stay in Key West or Myrtle Beach should be on your must-hit list. Wait for the end of summer to get your bachelor(ette) beach party on: median hotel rates hit their lows in Key West at $274/night in August and $268/night in September. For an even more budget-friendly trip, median hotel rates in Myrtle Beach take a nose-dive in those same months, dropping to $176 in August and $125 in September.
Southern Charm
Take in that famous Southern hospitality. Find out why they call Nashville “Music City” by hitting up a real country club (just keep your soon-to-be-married bud off the mechanical bull). Visiting in August will find you the lowest median hotel rates ($241/night). If your friend is happier sipping bourbon in a quiet bar than hitting the disco, then head to Louisville. Bonus: post-Kentucky Derby, hotel rates start dropping during the summer. You best bets are August and September, which see median hotel rates at $188 and $162/night, respectively. Looking to jazz up the weekend? New Orleans has the spirit. As the summer temps rise, median hotel rates fall, making August the best month if you’re looking for a deal ($163/night).
Out West
If cities with a vibrant food scene sound perfect for your soon-to-be-wed friend (who sips cask ale and can properly pronounce “bruschetta”), then head West. San Francisco, for starters, has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the US. A stay during the months of June and July serves up a median hotel rate at $290/night. In Austin, you can get weird with anything from classic Texas barbecue to innovative charcoal-seared sushi. June and July also prove to be the best months to stay in the city, with median hotel rates at $207 and $205/night, respectively. And don’t think we’ve forgotten about the Mid-West. Set your sights on Duluth and its Brew Trail to quench your bachelor(ette)’s thirst. A July weekend getaway has median hotel rates for $202/night, but if you can wait until September, the median drops to $183/night.
Travel Tips for a Successful Bachelor(ette) Weekend
- Crowdsource the fun: Whether you’re stuck planning the party alone or taking suggestions from the group, you can keep everyone in the loop with KAYAK Trips. Share your itinerary to make sure everyone knows the game plan. Events booked on KAYAK will be automatically added, and you can forward confirmation emails for anything booked off-site to trips@kayak.com to have them added to your itinerary. Plus, set yourself up with reminders like “Break out the cupcakes at 6pm!” by manually entering events.
- Direct flights save on travel time for weekend jaunts: Use KAYAK’s Routes feature to see what cities have direct flights to your destinations.
- Taking Friday off? Flex your dates: If you can start your weekend a day early, use Flex Search to see if it’s better for your budget to leave on Thursday vs. Friday.
- Make it a road trip: Many of these Summer Friday destinations have the perfect ingredients for a road trip. If your 2-door is barely big enough for your own suitcase, rent a car with KAYAK and save up to 35%. Pro tip: book your car at least 2 weeks in advance to get the best rates.
Make it a weekend to remember. For more travel tips, trick and trends, check out the full Summer Travel Hacker Guide.
