How To Plan a Hen Do Abroad

Any hen party needs plenty of planning, but a hen do abroad will need extra attention and organisation. Here are our top tips to help you plan the best overseas hen do a bride could ask for...

Check it's what the bride wants

Before planning a hen do abroad, one of the most important things you'll need to do is check that it's actually what the bride wants. We know that half the excitement of planning the hen do is surprising the bride. But, you should definitely check that the bride would be happy to go abroad for her hen do in advance. For some brides, the idea of travelling abroad for a hen party fills them with fear, while other brides may have specific locations where they'd prefer the hen to be held. You don't have to be specific, but you should definitely float the idea beforehand. 

Make sure everyone can travel 

Another important thing to take into account is the guest list. Once the bride has given you her preferred list of guests, you'll need to be sure that all the invitees are happy to travel abroad. Take into account any pregnancies, as expectant mothers won't be able to fly in their third trimester, and check that there are no flying phobias in the group. 

Choose your destination

Once a destination hen do has been given a thumbs up, then you have the exciting task of choosing your hen party destination! Think about whether your bride wants a relaxing beach break, a city trip with plenty of food and culture, or a party island with plenty of nightlife. If you have a small group and a large budget, then you could even think about going for an amazing long-haul trip, such as New York, Las Vegas or Thailand! However, we would recommend short haul for most abroad hen do. Here are some of our top picks for destinations...

• Paris
• Amsterdam
• Dublin
• Prague
• Ibiza
• Lisbon
• Barcelona
• Magaluf
• Madrid
• Marbella
• Berlin
• Budapest
• Tenerife

Start early

While you might be able to book holidays last minute, we don't recommend putting off your travel booking when it comes to organising a group hen do! You're likely to get better rates on hotels and airfare if you book early. Also, if you're in a large group, then leaving it until later means that you may struggle to accommodate your numbers. Not only will organising in advance save you money and headaches later down the line, but it'll also give your hens time to save.  

Package vs DIY

Whether you choose to go through a hen party planning company or plan the parts of your hen party separately is entirely up to you, but you should take into account the amount of free time you have to plan, and how well you know the location. Going for a package with a dedicated supplier can take a lot of stress out of planning, and ensures that lots of the travel and transfers are taken care of, but if you're looking for very specific requirements then you may be better off planning the entire thing yourself. 

Create an itinerary 

When deciding on your activities, be careful not to over-plan the weekend - you want to leave time to enjoy your destination without strict time limits! However, we also recommend that you familiarise yourself with your destination well in advance, and be sure that you know exactly where the local supermarkets, bars and restaurants are, as well as how the local public transport works. Depending on the size of your group, you may want to book your meals or tables at bars in advance too. 

Once the activities and meals have been decided, let people know the itinerary so that they can pack accordingly. Let your hens know if they'll need swimwear, appropriate footwear etc.

Add the finishing touch

If you're giving out hen goodie bags, then make the most of it with fun treats inspired by your destination! Personalised sunglasses, Bride Tribe swimwear or flipflops, tote bags (good for souvenir shopping!), passport covers, travel toiletries and mini bottles of sun cream are all cute yet practical gifts to give the hens. 

Looking for more hen party planning tips? Check out our Wedding Party Advice section.