Arranging a stag do stands alongside writing a wedding speech as the most important duties that a best man is responsible for. Giving your groom-to-be a fitting send-off would be simple enough if an unlimited budget was afforded to you, but with belts being tightened the world over it’s important to remember that the whole point in a stag do is that no man gets left behind.
Fortunately when trying to put together a cost-effective weekend, help is at hand – a little bit of planning goes a long way, whether it’s a Marbella stag do or a stag weekend in Bognor Regis.
Your first consideration will doubtless be the destination and it might surprise you to discover that a trip abroad can often be just as cost-effective as staying on UK shores, thanks to budget airlines and handy flight checkers that can be found online. These flight checkers allow you to scan across a whole month to find the very cheapest fares for your trip – though keep an eye on any additions for luggage or airport taxes.
The extension of the EU has rendered inter-continental travel extremely easy for travellers looking to cross European borders, therefore some destinations that were previously tricky to negotiate are now gaining notoriety for being hotbeds of pre-wedding parties.
The next consideration for your stag party will be what you want to do when you actually get there and the good news is that there are almost limitless possibilities.
Adrenalin junkies might want to do something once in a lifetime that will define the trip, such as bungie jumping, sky diving or bobsledding whereas those looking for something competitive might try the traditional stag do pursuits of go-karting, quad-biking or paintballing – whatever you decide to do, the best thing to do is to shop around for prices and remember that there is always room for negotiation with activity providers, especially if there are a number of you travelling.
The final consideration for your trip will be your food and drink when you actually arrive and this where planning ahead really pays off. Putting in the research before you travel is invaluable if you don’t want to be paying an arm and a leg for every meal or drink in your time at your chosen city.
A Google search should equip you with the necessary information to make informed choices over where you will eat and drink – failing that, asking a local where they go out would also save you a few vital pennies on your stag weekend.
So there you have it, an introduction to the art of arranging a cheap stag weekend with absolutely no compromise on quality and without leaving a man behind. Who says you can’t have everything?
Mark Booth the author of the “Guide to cost-effective European stag weekends” is web content editor at The Stag Company, the UK’s leading provider of stag weekends and stag nights in the UK and abroad.