Chicago Resources

The Chicago City Search team researched the subject of bachelorette parties thoroughly, and you can take advantage of their research. Go to the City Search page and type in 'bachelorette' to look at pages and pages of reviews, news and ideas.

Hop along to the Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club for a night of Boys Town entertainment and truly fabulous female impersonators, turn your Chicago bachelorette party into a night of luxury by hiring a mobile spa, hold a private lingerie party at Wildflowers lingerie boutique, or go absolutely crazy at Ethel's Chocolates with a chocolate feast.

Even if you're not planning a Chicago bachelorette party, this site has a great range of ideas to inspire your planning in your hometown.

Wild and Free – And Gone

No holds are barred when it comes to a bachelorette party, apart from any considerations on cost. Many European bachelorette parties travel across countries to celebrate the bride's last night out, and brides themselves relish what may be their last chance to travel unshackled. If you are considering going away for your party, inform your guests very early (at least two months beforehand) and keep your eye on airline websites for any specials.

Pub Crawl Parties...and Prowlers

If you are traveling to another city for your bachelorette party, make the most of it by joining in a pub crawl.

Pub crawls are designed for the tourism industry, and generally give a good overview of the nightlife of a city while getting guests great drink deals and a lot of fun.

Joining a pub crawl can make for a wild bachelorette party, as everyone on the tour will join in your fun. Check out the tourist information when you are researching your trip, and see what local companies offer. Boston , for instance, offers a bus pub crawl, which involves the use of a 32-seat school bus along a planned route for a price per person.

The major advantage of pub crawls, apart from the obvious introduction to the nightlife of an unfamiliar city, is that you don't have to worry about drink driving as transport is usually either by foot or provided.

Las vegas Party Wild West Style

Believe it or not, Vegas isn't all flashing lights, casinos, and strip clubs (and Las Vegas bachelorette parties doesn't have to be either). Has your bride-to-be pal always had a hankering to cowboy up and ride into the sunset, cook over a fire, and fall asleep under the stars? Well, Vegas is the place to do it. Get out your boots and spurs and prepare for a Butch & Sundance Overnight Adventure.

Butch & Sundance will pick your group up from your Vegas hotel and drive you to their cozy camp where you'll think that you and your gal pals have stepped into the wild, wild, west of yesteryear. You will ride into a spectacular sunset on horseback and then setle at a campsite where your own cowboy or wrangler will set up camp and prepare a delicious meal for your posse. As you relax for the night you will glance up into an open sky full of stars and magic! The following morning, you will rise to the scent of breakfast in a skillet and then you'll hit the trails again and ride back into the ranch headquarters.

Sound like a wild time? For more information, call: 1-800-719-6423.

Gamble In Style

Who says Las Vegas has to be all glitz and no glamour? Las Vegas bachelorette parties don't have to be spent at the slots or wandering packed, light-flashing streets.

When planning a Las Vegas bachelorette party, go with style all the way and instruct your guests to bring their best evening dresses for the night out. Gather guests in a central hotel room for a truly girly dressing session before heading out to the baccarat and roulette tables to place a few small bets. Don't feel you have to gamble constantly - let other players be your entertainment and join in their thrill when the stakes get high.

To cut costs, have everyone share a room at a quality hotel and have your own luxury sleepover. Get the girls to bring their most luxurious sleepwear and give each other top-shelf makeovers to finish of your evening of luxury.

Boston Rocks On

Boston may not be renowned for its wild parties, but a Boston girls night out can provide a truly quality night of fun. Boston bachelorette party companies offer bus party packages that involve the hire of your own school bus, seating up to 32 people, to travel from bar to bar or just cruise around town.

River cruise companies offer packages for bachelorettes to party in style as they sail. Check out the packages on offer and see if you can get a deal with a cruise and nightclub combination to ensure an entire night of fun.

Boston Bachelorette Bashes

Boston tourism companies have really embraced the concept of a Boston girls night out, creating bachelorette packages that feature things such as sex toy parties and wild nightclub tours.

One of the most interesting things on offer is a planned bachelorette scavenger hunt which provides guests with a map, a list, limousine rides, use of Polaroid cameras (to capture some of the scavenger hunt items), photography, trophies for the winners and prizes during the night.

Another interesting event is Jake Ivory's piano show, which recently added a bachelorette party package to its list of offers. The show is a dinner show, featuring some hot dueling pianos and some special attention for the bride.

Vegas, Baby!

Las Vegas bachelorette parties don't have to be all about the gambling. Okay…maybe a little casino action but c'mon girls, explore the city! When you check into your hotel, be sure to tell the person at the desk that you girlfriend is about to tie the know. A lot of times, if they're not full, hotels will offer you a free upgrade and maybe even some goodies.

After a night of booze, gambling, and dancing, be sure to bring the bride-to-be past some of those all night wedding chapels so she can see what she's getting herself into!

Hey, Taxi!

When the drinking games at home get old, take your New York bachelorette parties to the town. Every smart girl knows, however, that it's never a good idea to drink and drive…especially if you want your friend to live to see her wedding day. If you haven't rented a limo or a party bus, hale a cab. If you haven't had a lesson in cabs, it's time you got one.

Know where you want to go ahead of time and know the exact address as drivers often don't know where even the most popular bars are (or at least pretend not to). Also keep in mind that cabs can only accomodate four people (five if the cab driver allows a passenger to sit shotgun). If you split up make sure everyone knows the destination. On a final note, you can tell if the cab is available by checking to see if the if the middle light on the roof is illuminated. When a cab is occupied, only the side sections of the light will will be lit. It's incredible how many people still don't know how to catch a cab!

All That Jazz

So, you here that a bachelorette party Chicago style is the way to go and you're planning a trip from your lazy little southern town, all the way to Illinois with the bride-to-be and her closest pals in tote. You're wondering now, however, who will pay the price.

Take it from a guide to city bachelorette parties, a rule of thumb is that the bride should not have to pay for a single thing during the course of the party. If you dine at a restaurant or drink at a bar, the attendants should foot the bill. If it involves going away, however, it's a little different. You should always pay for all activities and accommodations. If you're hopping on a plane, however, the bride-to-be should be expected to pay for her own transportation to the party. That being said, run the idea past her first and be darn sure that she wants to dish out to incur the cost of a plane ticket before deciding to have an out-of-town party.

Pot Party!

Bachelorette party Chicago style! The biggest rage in Chicago bachelorette parties seem to be create-your-own pottery parties. If you decide to make pottery, it's a great idea to have every attendee of the party make a gift for the bride-to-be. You can plan these event at places like Glazed Expressions or PotHead). These places offer a large variety of items (dishes, bowls, vases, piggy banks, picture frames, etc.). Once you've selected an item, you can paint it with a colored glaze of your choosing.

During the glazing, it's a good idea to sip wine (pack your own). It's also great to ask that some members of the party bring appetizers. Once your pots are finished, the staff will then put them in the queue to be cooked in the oven and will give you a date on which they will be ready for pick up (on a different day). Keep in mind that the pottery will be less than impressive when you it initially, the baking will bring the colors to life.

Pricing of the unpainted pottery varies depending on which item you select (anywhere from $4 to $40). Depending on where you go, there may be an additional charge for glazing and firing or even a per hour charge. If you call ahead of time and let them know you're planning a bachelorette party, you might be able to talk your way into a discount.

Look Your Best

Ladies throwing New York bachelorette parties have no reason not to look their best when heading out on the town. "Cheek to Chic" (cheektochic.com), run by make-up artist and personal make-up shopper, Rachel Wade, will give personal makeover sessions in your home.

Rachel Wade parties will cost you $650 for 6 women and $100 per extra woman after that. The process is genius: Each woman brings her personal make-up supply to the party and Wade will walk each person through what works and what doesn't. She'll tell you what not to do, what to do, and what works best for you. And, after each woman has received her mini makeover, they will look like supermodels when they head out for the evening. Imagine how amazing it would be to be the most gorgeous group of girls out on the town!

Party with the Best of 'Em

It's Carnival time! If you want your bachelorette party to take place amidst one of the biggest parties in the world, plan a New Orleans bachelorette party during Mardi Gras. Yes, Mardi Gras is just as wild as everyone says and just as crowded too. If you want to plan this event, you have to do it FAR in advance (some people make hotel reservations up to a year in advance).

If you're planning a Mardi Gras bachelorett party in The Big Easy, book a hotel that is close to the action (in the French Quarter or on St. Charles) so that you will be able to walk to your destinations. During Mardi Gras you are likely to be drinking all day so be sure to eat meals and drink plenty of water (maybe slip some snacks as bottled waters in a back pack). Drinking only liquor for an extended period of time in not healthy and could end in disaster.

Take Your Party on the Road

A popular idea, if you can pull it off, is to plan an out-of-town an bachelorette weekend. You can head to a place that is special to the bride, such as a place she visited as a child, her old college town, or a city where a good friend of hers resides.

You might go camping, hiking, climbing, rafting, a casino, a spa or resort, or to a city that she's always wanted visit but has never had the chance to (think about a NYC or New Orleans bachelorette party). Once you're there, you can do any or none of the suggested activities. Be sure, however, that the future bride has a blast and be sure that it's her weekend!

* If you're having trouble deciding on a location, try picking up a sort-of guide to city bachelorette parties, or researching options online.

Take it to NYC

The lights are bright on Broadway, girls, and the entertainment is everywhere. New York bachelorette parties have endless possibilities if you plan them out correctly. Start the evening out at one of NYC's countless fine restaurants. Enjoy some delicious food and sip cocktails. When your bellies are full, head to the theatre. At any given time there are numerous plays being performed around the city.

Don't just pick a play on a whim, however, read reviews and pick a show that's doing well. Then, order the tickets ahead of time and be sure to inquire about group rates (you might get a deal). Post theatre take your party out on the town, the city never sleeps afterall! This event might sound epic but keep in mind that this is your dear friend's last night of singlehood so dragging it out is more than acceptable.

Poetry to Music

New York is a crazy city and New York bachelorette parties should be just as crazy! Need a good idea? Try something a little different and take your party to The Donkey Show. Okay, okay, it's not what you're thinking! The Donkey Show is a creative theatrical masterpiece that is sure to be enjoyed by all of the gals. It's part theatre and part night life shenanigans that sets Shakespearean poetry to 70s music.

You can shake it to the music til your heart's content! They even offer special packages for bachelorette parties of 10 or more. Packages include: free admission for the bride, a bottle of champagne, and a special Bachelorette-A-Kit. Tickets are between $35 to $45 each and can be purchase through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

Goin' to the Chapel

Make a tour of the famous Las Vegas wedding chapels a part of the bachelorette's big night out. Las Vegas bachelorette parties have the advantage of having plenty of free entertainment in America's glitziest city.

Bachelorette parties can hire a limousine for the evening and bar hop, visiting interesting sights along the way. Do a bit of research into the wedding chapels that will be most interesting to your bachelorette – whether they be the most outrageous chapels, or a tour of the Elvis impersonator chapels!

Plan your route carefully to mix a visit to a chapel with a visit to a nearby bar or restaurant. The chapels can be your free entertainment as you hop from bar to bar, and you never know… one of the guests might beat the bride to the altar!