getanightlife feature :: Stag and Hen Parties

One of the greatest changes to British society in the twenty first century has been brought about by the introduction of bargain flights to dozens of destinations around the world by no-frills operators such as Ryanair, EasyJet and Go. Flights to European destinations used to cost the best part of 200, even if the flight was little more than an hour-long hop over the Channel. Now, flights to far flung and diverse destinations like Morocco, Andalucia and Reykjavik can be found for under 50, if you are willing to be flexible with your travel plans and sparing with your luggage. The result is that Britons are taking more holidays than ever before.

One industry that has been completely revolutionised by the mass of cheap flights to hit the market is that of stag and hen nights. Where a traditional party used to involve taking a gang of mates to Brighton or Blackpool for a weekend of lager/white wine (delete as applicable), a modern one may well involve international travel. The most obvious example is the Prague stag weekend / Prague hen weekend. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the capital of the Czech Republic has acquired a fantastic reputation as a party destination. Helped by fantastic nightclubs, inexpensive alcohol and an obvious desire to make up for lost time, Prague is now a great place to have that last night out before the big day. Thousands of British stag and hen parties head to Prague year-round to enjoy the city.

Prague is not the only popular destination for stag and hen weekends. Other great cities include:

Barcelona

While hen weekends in Barcelona may well take in some of the city's stunning architecture and unique galleries, a Barcelona stag weekend is more likely to take its culture onboard at the Nou Camp stadium, home of Barcelona football club. This is a shame as some of Dali, Picasso and, in particular, Gaudi's great works can be found in the Catalan capital. Barcelona is great to visit all year round, although, as with many Spanish cities, August sees many locals leave town while the heat is oppressive. Not that this will stop devoted hedonists - Barcelona's nightclubs are some of the best in the world.

Amsterdam

A word of advice for the Amsterdam stag weekend which plans to start off in the coffee shops: go easy! Amsterdam's world famous coffee shops have always attracted stoners from around the world in search of top quality, legal cannabis. The problem with this is that it can be hard to find motivation to keep on partying after a toke on Amsterdam's finest. The same advice applies to anyone heading out for an Amsterdam hen weekend... smoke too much and you will almost certainly miss out on the many great experiences Amsterdam has to offer.

Tallinn

A few years ago, if you said you were planning a Tallinn stag weekend or Tallinn hen weekend most people would look at you as if you had gone mad. While some may still find it a struggle to point to the capital of Estonia on a map, the beautiful medieval city is fast gaining a reputation as one of the great weekend break destinations. As with many of Estonia's Eastern European neighbours, the country is finding not just its feet, but its party shoes too after the end of rule from Moscow.

Madrid

Spain's capital city can get extremely hot during the summer months. Madrid's bars, clubs and restaurants, however, are pretty damn hot all year round, making a Madrid hen weekend / Madrid stag weekend a great choice for the dedicated party animal. Madrid is not the cheapest city to visit, but the cultural life there more than justifies the extra expense; many of Spain's best restaurants can be found in the city, along with some excellent nightclubs and the Royal Palace, if you are in to that kind of thing.

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