Posted on 10th December 2019
If you’ve been given the task of planning a hen do/stag do, it’s never too early to start - in fact the earlier the better.
It’s the ultimate last night of freedom - organisation and booking with the right company is key to ensuring it’s an unforgettable weekend.
Here’s a few pointers on how to organise a stress free weekend and what to look out for when booking.
Plan in advance:
Dates
It’s a hard one, everyone needs to agree on a date. The more notice given the better the turn out.
Traditionally a hen party/stag do is the weekend before the wedding but this is 2019 and times have changed.
Even if you’re looking a year in advance the sooner you book, the better.
Budget
Pretty much the root of all evil and stress - money.
Discuss the budget early on and stick to it!
Its needs to be affordable for everyone, take into account individuals circumstances.
Don’t get carried away, we’ll ensure you get the most for your money - remember all packages are tailor made to suit your groups needs.
What does the Stag/Hen want?
It’s important to remember this is not your night, don't choose things just because you like or want do them. The stag/hen should be at the forefront of all planning.
To get started check out our vast range of destinations and activities;
Stags - https://www.hangoverweekends.co.uk/stag-weekends/
Hens - https://www.hangoverweekends.co.uk/hen-weekends/
Availability
Many cities host major events from concerts, football matches, rugby, race days etc. This reduces availability.
The sooner you book the more likely you are to secure your preferred weekend.
Cheaper + Spread the cost
The further in advance you book often the cheaper your accommodation will be, plus it’s always better booking flights and train travel in advance to nab yourself a bargain.
The sooner you book the longer you have to spread the cost of your weekend. We offer a FREE online payment system where everyone can log on and pay amounts off under their name whenever they like. Simple.
What to look out for:
Hen and Stag agents like ourselves are here to take a load off - to plan, arrange and ensure everything runs smoothly for you... here's a few things to be wary of.
Hidden costs
So you think your getting a bargain package with a free place and fancy online payment system.
Everything isn't as it seems.
The "free" place is simply split amongst the other attendees and the majority of companies actually charge you for every transaction you make, around £1.50 every time (web and phone).
Some even charge you for changing your package or city - don't worry we don't, we know things change.
We have no hidden costs we're 100% honest with our customers and no matter which way you choose to pay we DO NOT charge a processing fee.
Know where you’re staying
Some companies will often deceive you just to get a booking.
You will be offered a 2*, 3*, 4* accommodation or often bronze gold and silver - yet you won’t actually be told where you’re staying until you book.
It might appear too good to be true and it probably is.
Some Stag and Hen suppliers’ version of “city centre” is actually around 2 miles away.
We’re always transparent, our accommodation is listed with the hotel/house/apartment name.
You don’t want to book a 2* city centre hotel to actually be sent to a hostel.
Location of events
Know where you’re going beforehand.
Once you book many companies do little else with regards to contacting you about your impending weekend.
Some even leave you to check your own weekend is booked in.
We like to ensure everything is planned to perfection, we double and triple check everything will run smoothly to ensure it’s a unforgettable weekend. If any issues do arise we offer 24/7 assistance.
Our Hangover Weekends app was built to fine tune every last detail of your weekend.
Includes;
- Party Countdown
- Online Rooming Lists
- Online Payments
- Online Itinerary
- Manage Choices
- Online Chat
- Interactive Map
- Event Notifications
So you’ll know exactly where you need to be, the time it will take to get there and when you need to be there.
Financial protection
A major one.
A stag/hen weekend is a pretty hefty financial investment, last year a handful of Stag and Hen companies whom did not have insurance dissolved last year, leaving many groups £1,000's out of pocket.
It’s important to understand the requirement of financial protection, what it covers and to avoid those without it.
In accordance with the 1992 package travel regulations ALL tour operators must be financially protected for the UK and abroad.
Those who state "you just have to take out your own travel insurance", "only those who do abroad need protection" or "we've never had any issues with peoples money" are acting illegally, all tour operators MUST be protected.
Many providers are not protected so it’s important to bare this in mind when receiving a cheaper quote. It's not worth the risk.
It's important you always ask the question before booking.