Planning a stag or hen do? Adam Shaw rounds up the best villas across the UK and Europe for these groups
Click here to download and save as a PDF
For stag and hen getaways, nothing beats a villa, as it gives clients a base with plenty of room to get together in their own space. And in key destinations such as the Balearics and the Algarve, hen and stag groups are choosing villa stays when they might previously have opted for alternatives, according to Jet2holidays.
Since travel fully returned to normal, specialist villa operator Oliver’s Travels has seen “consistent” numbers from grooms and brides-to-be looking to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. Whether clients want a fully appointed villa with a pool, loungers, barbecue area and games – even a faux beach with simulated sunshine – or whether they simply want a place to crash in after nights on the town, there’s a villa out there for every group.
Island vibes
Hvar, Croatia
Upmarket party island Hvar has a strong choice of beach clubs, including Hula Hula and Carpe Diem, offering the chance to dance day and night.
Many bars in Hvar Town overlook the harbour – including Nautica, which offers craft cocktails such as coconut mojito – while groups can fuel up on steaks, fish dishes and gnocchi at Dalmatino. When they’re partied out, Villa Beach Hvar, about 25 minutes’ walk from Hvar Town, offers plenty of places for downtime, including a spacious open-plan living and dining area, and a private pool and garden.
Sleeps: Eight
Book it: A seven-night stay at Villa Beach Hvar with Croatian Villas can be booked from £5,180 between June 24 and September 2 (quote code HV003). Flights not included.
croatianvillas.com
Dance all night
Corfu, Greece
Corfu City also offers great nightlife options, with everything from tango sessions at Epic to evenings soundtracked by rock classics at Save Rock Bar. After a night of partying, clients will be able to relax on the soft sands of Glyfada Beach, or have a go at watersports including jetskiing, stand-up paddleboarding and waterskiing.
Suggest Duchess Alexandra Villa as a base for stag and hen groups. Built in the style of an English mansion, the three-storey property has a large living room complete with antique furniture, and a barbecue area on the terrace.
Sleeps: 16
Book it: A seven-night stay at Duchess Alexandra Villa with Oliver’s Travels leads in at £6,929, between October 1 and November 1. Flights not included.
oliverstravels.com
Club classic
Ayia Napa, Cyprus
Hen and stag groups will be well catered for in the Cypriot resort town that’s synonymous with hedonism. Nightclubs of note include The Castle Club and Pirates Dance Bar, but it’s not all about the partying: the nearby WaterWorld water park (entry €39) will give visitors the chance to try slides such as Apollo’s Plunge, a raft ride featuring multiple twists, turns and drops, during the day.
Newly built Kube Villa, which has a foosball table, private pool and a dedicated barbecue area, makes a good base, being just a few minutes’ walk from the shops and bars of Napa’s Nissi Avenue.
Sleeps: 12
Book it: Prices for a five-night stay at Kube Villa with Imagine Villa Rentals start at €2,025 for arrival on May 5, 2024. Flights not included.
imaginevillarentals.com
Easy access
Majorca, Spain
Majorca remains a top-selling destination for stag and hen dos – according to Jet2holidays travel agent relationships director Alan Cross – with its stretches of white sand appealing to those seeking some pre-wedding fun in the sun.
Villa Vica, with its Ibiza-style architecture, has light, airy rooms, a private pool, a table-tennis table and barbecue area. It also boasts great access to the beach – just one street from the waterfront and 350m from the sands of Cala Esmeralda.
Sleeps: 10
Book it: A seven-night self-catering stay at Villa Vica with Jet2Villas starts at £6,490, including flights, 22kg baggage allowance and car hire, departing from Birmingham on September 30.
trade.jet2holidays.com
Indoor sun
Kent, UK
The Beach Retreat villa in Dymchurch benefits from a large garden and direct access to a three-mile-long beach. When the weather is less appealing, guests can bring the beach party inside – part of the property’s living area has been transformed into a scene straight out of St Tropez, with a bar, DJ booth, deck chairs and sun simulators giving off UV-free light and heat.
Alternatively, clients can enjoy a film night in the villa’s dedicated cinema room, complete with velvet seats and a popcorn machine.
Sleeps: 15
Book it: A seven-night stay at Beach Retreat can be booked from £5,602 with Oliver’s Travels, between July 14 and September 1. Travel costs not included.
oliverstravels.com
Atlantic cliffs
Albufeira, Portugal
The fishing town of Albufeira and its Algarvian surrounds provide visitors with access to no fewer than 25 stunning beaches, many of them Blue Flag recipients. Guests staying at Villa Aventura will be less than a one-mile walk from Praia da Ponta Pequena, Praia da Vigia and Praia dos Arrifes – pretty beaches all tucked away beneath the cliffs. Back at the villa, guests can relax on sun loungers or go for a dip in the private pool, take on each other at table tennis, pool or table football, or head out onto the alfresco dining area for a barbecue.
Sleeps: 10
Book it: A seven-night self-catering stay at Villa Aventura with Jet2Villas starts at £5,790, including flights, 22kg baggage allowance and car hire, departing from Manchester on June 17.
trade.jet2holidays.com
Garden games
North Berwick, UK
North Berwick House sits on a 60-acre private estate, where guests can play golf, tennis and croquet, or consider a scavenger hunt in the property’s vast grounds. There’s a terrace to chill on afterwards, or guests can settle in for a night of drinking games. Designed by architect Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith in the 1960s, the property was recently renovated but has maintained its original characteristics, including large windows and wood-panelled ceilings. There’s a baby grand piano, pool table, table tennis table and dartboard, plus an open-plan kitchen and breakfast room.
Sleeps: 12
Book it: A seven-night stay at North Berwick House with Oliver’s Travels starts at £7,140, between September 29 and December 18. Travel costs not included.
oliverstravels.com
Mountains & waterfalls
Calpe, Spain
Stag and hen do groups staying at Villa Limones, a few miles inland on the Costa Blanca, can enjoy a poolside bar for homemade cocktails, an outdoor dining area for barbecues and secluded tropical garden spots for peace and quiet.
And, if they’re feeling energetic, they can head to nearby Parque Natural de Penyal D’Ifach and take on the challenge of climbing the 332m-high rock there or take a dip in the Algar Waterfalls (€5 entry), before settling down for a few drinks at Les Fonts restaurant, which overlooks the falls.
Sleeps: 10
Book it: A seven-night self-catering stay at Villa Limones with Jet2Villas starts at £6,990, including flights, 22kg baggage allowance and car hire, departing from Stansted on September 2.
trade.jet2holidays.com
Woodland wanderings
Charente, France
Hen and stag parties can experience the peace of rural western France by booking into Prieure St Therese, a 14th-century priory with an adjacent tower. Situated in the Charente department, France’s second-sunniest, there are outdoor tables for alfresco meals and drinks, and plenty of walking and cycling trails (bikes provided) in the surrounding woodland. There’s also a heated pool (heating must be booked in advance, £150 weekly charge) and a games room complete with board games.
Sleeps: 15, or 21 if booking the tower
Book it: Oliver’s Travels offers a seven-night stay at Prieure St Therese from £2,811, based on 15 people sharing, or £3,732 for 21, for travel between May 27 and June 17. Flights not included.
oliverstravels.com
Tips for selling stag & hen villas
Tips by: Tara Hawkins, founder, Croatian Villas
Highlight the value: Stag and hen do groups can get a luxury property for a good price if they’re all chipping in, and they can also save on costs by bringing their own food and drink.
Promote add-ons: Suggest clients arrange various extras when booking – you can request a private chef, for example, or look at day trips on a boat.
Book well in advance: It might sound obvious, but key advice is to book early – our most popular places sell out quickly each year, and you’ll have more choice in spring and autumn months.
Be aware of minimum stays: Lots of owners will insist on a minimum stay of a week, particularly in the summer. If a group just wants a long weekend, they might end up paying more.
Every property is different: Be clear with the villa owner or its management company and the guest about what to expect. Some properties require consent for stag and hen party bookings – another good reason to book with a reputable specialist.
Ask the expert
Oliver Bell, co-founder, Oliver’s Travels
“There’s a huge list of big houses out there, so make a shortlist of places you think your clients will love and then tailor this to make their perfect stag or hen do. Whether they want to add on watersport activities or trips to nearby towns, hire a car to explore the local area at leisure, charter a yacht, order a special welcome food and drink hamper, or enjoy a private wine-tasting experience, this is all possible.
Speak with experts who have spent time living in the areas where the properties are located, as they will be full of insider knowledge for how best to tailor such a special occasion.”
Insider insight
Alan Cross, travel agent relationships director, Jet2holidays
“Traditional stag and hen do destinations such as Ibiza, Majorca and the Algarve continue to enjoy enormous popularity, and the Canary Islands and Turkey are increasingly popular. A villa is a fantastic option for groups who want to get together under one roof, have communal space all to themselves and a place to call their own.
Most come with their own pool or terrace as well, so the whole group can unwind and soak up the sun or enjoy a refreshing dip. Agents looking to sell villa holidays to large groups should make customers aware of the benefits of a package holiday. Including car hire means they can explore farther afield with ease.”
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Roman Samborskyi, tomas del amao; Dalvik Photography; Stella Pictures
Read more
The best short break deals for summer
48 hours in Valencia, Spain
Malta holidays: 5 ways to explore the island’s rich history
