Vegas: The ultimate bachelor/bachelorette party guide

By E.C. Gladstone

There are many reasons Las Vegas hotels are among the world’s best vacation destinations. But for pre-wedding bachelor party and bachelorette party weekends, Vegas is virtually unparalleled. Still, like anything else, there are good choices and bad choices which can make all the difference in whether your celebration turns out memorable or mangled. Here’s my two cents:

Suites

Yes, every casino has one and two-bedroom suites — often the best option for a sleeping/party space — but  some resorts overtly discourage room parties, while others turn a blind eye and even promote them!

For bachelors, your best choices start with Hard Rock Hotel, Palms Casino Resort, and Planet Hollywood. At HRH, beyond the original Penthouse suite (with pool table, wet bar, bowling alley and pool table), there are killer suite options in both the new Paradise and HRH towers. Palms has its legendary Fantasy Suites (Half Court, Kingpin, G Suite, etc) and Sky Villas, which include VIP status all over the property; the best choice might be their Pool Bungalows — three two-floor suites with private jacuzzis, fireplaces, bars, and direct access/view of the pool deck. At Planet Hollywood, the Panorama, Mega and Apex suites are all underrated, swinging party pads with amazing views, cool décor and lots of TVs.

Bachelorettes would also enjoy many of the same — particularly the poolside suites in HRH’s Paradise tower, the Barbie Suite and Cabanas at Palms, and suites in the sleek modern Palms Place tower. Flamingo’s cute GO/Metro suites would be another fun choice.

Still, the ultimate at a something-for-everyone resort may be Caesars’ Forum Tower Emperor and Absolut Suites: The first is a semi-circular two-bedroom pad all focused on huge picture window, big flatscreen TV, surrounding couches, private dining alcove, pantry, with two big Jacuzzi tub bathrooms, all connected with Crestron touchscreen systems which integrate TV, DVD, CD stereo, ipod docks and lighting mode options. The latter, even more spacious, is a four-bedroom two-floor playground co-designed by the Absolut vodka company, with a dance floor living room and different “flavors” in every room, spa tubs and steam showers everywhere.

Partypools

 

 

No proper Vegas weekend would be complete without hitting one of the resorts’ adults-only hottie habitats, some of which allow “European” topless bathing. New this year are the Fortuna pool at Caesars, Liquid at Aria, expanded Sky Bar area at Hard Rock Hotel and new pool club at Encore. But for in-your-face fun, Bare (Mirage), Wet Republic (MGM Grand) and TAO Beach (Venetian) are still hot too. For something more civilized, try Palazzo’s Azure.

 

Restaurants

Certainly most restaurants in town have ample space for big parties, but some are more party-perfect than others.

Men are likely to enjoy the sexy servers at Cathouse (and the adjoining club lounge), Stack (Mirage), Union (Aria), steakouses like Strip House (Planet Hollywood) and N9ne (Palms). On a more casual but totally satisfying tip, I’d also recommend Hussong’s Cantina (Mandalay Place) or First Food (Palazzo). Or, if you want to do the best of the best, plan a special menu in Guy Savoy’s exclusive Krug champagne room.  Also see my Top 10 Las Vegas steakhouses.

Ladies, consider Koi sushi (Planet Hollywood), which has a great private room overlooking the Strip; Sushi Roku (Forum Shops at Caesars) with another nice view; Fleur De Lys (Mandalay Bay); or maybe the Afternoon Tea at Mandarin Oriental. Nove Italiano, TAO and Lavo at Venetian/Palazzo are also great choices — bachelorettes, you’ll have no problem getting escorted straight up to the connected club after your meal (Light Group’s Union, Stack, Fix and Yellowtail all have brother/sister clubs as well). Or if you want to make another kind of impression, consider the 15-inch “Bachelorette special” hot dog at Seredipity 3, washed down with a spiked milkshake!

You might also want to consider a private sushi-making and sake-tasting class at Palazzo’s sushiSamba ($85 per person/10 minimum), or MGM Grand‘s special Ladies Night Shibuya dinner and club deal. And everyone should find their favorite hangover cures at Simon’s Brunch (Palms Place) on Sunday mornings.

Spas & salons

 

 

One of the most uniquely fun events for a bachelorette party in our spa-and-celebrity-salon-filled city would be a group massage or salon treatment. Probably the strongest choices for this would be Hard Rock Hotel’s Reliquary Spa and Brannon Salon, with its big co-ed Roman Bath, group massage room, state-of-the-art pedi thrones, and even pole-dancing classes by appointment. The Encore at Wynn Spa & Salon also offers elegant wet areas and group massage options (try the Couples ritual with Swedish massage, hot stones and aromatherapy).

Male or female groups looking for a good place to take a sauna, steam and jacuzzi together will especially like Qua at Caesars, Mandarin Oriental, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Aria, and Drift at Palms Place (great Hammam).

 

Golf

Vegas is one of the golf capitals of the world, but which course to play? MGM’s Shadow Creek would be the most obvious choice, along with the Wynn golf course (the only one on the Strip). But if neither of these fits the bill, some of the other well-regarded links include TPC, Badlands, Angel Park, Rio Secco, Siena, Tuscany, and South Shore at Lake Las Vegas.

Nightclubs

 

 

The hottest nightclubs in Vegas right now include the new Vanity (Hard Rock) and Haze (Aria), The Bank (Bellagio), TAO (Venetian), XS (Encore) Lavo (Palazzo), Tryst (Wynn), Rain and Moon (both Palms). Bachelorette parties should have no trouble getting in anywhere; most of these clubs even have special coordinators that you can contact in advance (and ask for the moon — what have you got to lose?). Bachelors might have a harder time (no clubs really need to cater to groups of guys) but focusing on the *slightly* less hot places —Jet, LAX, Prive, Studio 54, Tabu — may get you better treatment. Or dining at the club-connected restaurants mentioned above.

Gambling

 

 

Oh, yeah, we still do that here, too. Any of my top Las Vegas sportsbooks would be great places to watch and bet on a good game or match, though I should spotlight the rentable skyboxes at the MGM Sportsbook and at Lagasse Stadium (Palazzo) as particularly cool semi-private spaces. As for table games, guys may enjoy hitting and holding at Playboy Club, “Pleasure Pits” (with sexy dealers) at Planet Hollywood, Luxor, Caesars Palace (Pussycat Dolls) and downtown’s Golden Gate. Come to think of it, Ladies may want to play these tables too — more fun, less pressure, and a great way to meet guys. (See my Top 10 poker rooms below).

Strip clubs & exotic revues

Who’s kidding who — this is practically a requirement of a bachelor and bachelorette parties. Guys, if none of my Top Las Vegas showgirl revues fit the bill, go off-Strip to popular gentlemen’s clubs like Spearmint Rhino, Seamless, Crazy Horse III, Club Paradise and Palomino (call and they will typically send a limo to take you there and back). Gals,you can see hot men at several shows on the Strip including Thunder from Down Under, Chippendales, American Storm and Men of X, or take a walk on the wilder side at the male revues of Sapphire or Olympic Gardens.

Insider Tip: Booking a block of rooms? Dining and gambling in the same property at which you’re staying? Feel free to ask the concierge for a little special treatment — limo transport to/from the airport or show ticket discount — as they are often happy to reward loyalty.

Other Las Vegas posts by E.C. Gladstone

• Las Vegas hotels
• Vegas secret stays: Upgrading to all-star status
• Top 10 Las Vegas buffets
• Top 10 Las Vegas burgers
• Cheap eats on the Las Vegas Strip
• Las Vegas hotels, restaurants, starred in Top Chef
• Top Las Vegas restaurants at City Center
• Top 10 Las Vegas poker rooms

Veteran entertainment and travel writer E. C. Gladstone writes regularly on top Strip entertainers, restauranteurs, moguls and behind-the-scenes players for many local and national publications and Web sites. Like many Las Vegans, he sleeps only when absolutely necessary.

Tagged: Las Vegas