Tag Archive for: Scottsdale Spas

Headed to Phoenix / Scottsdale for a “hen do” – aka bachelorette party – soon? In addition to dayclubs and nightclubs, you’ll need to plan other afternoon and early-evening group activities for the bachelorette and her group that are fun and memorable, while still giving you the most value for your money spent.

The fabulous weather – and in the few months when it’s not fabulous, they’ve got air-conditioners and heaters! – combined with the relatively low cost of living has drawn 7.3 million residents to Arizona, 4.8 million of which live in the metro area of Phoenix which is the state’s capitol and largest city. A modern and bustling mid-size American metropolis, Phoenix – along with Scottsdale, its ritzy neighborhood that rivals LA’s Beverly Hills and Miami’s Brickell – draws year-round tourist traffic due to its plethora of culinary delights and entertainment options of the indoor and outdoor variety. Along with drawing the snowbirds flying south for the winter, the warm weather long ago cemented Phoenix / Scottsdale as a perennial destination for college and university Spring Break trips; more recently it has evolved into a popular destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties, many of whom are returning to the desert after initially experiencing its charms and wild party scenes as college students.

Apart from any wild partying that you and the lasses plan to be doing out in this desert oasis, you’ll absolutely need to do some group activity planning to appease the ones who aren’t really into DJs and dance floors. Some of those options are cliche, but who cares: Scottsdale still a unique Bachelorette Party destination, and cliche bachelorette activities earned their rep for a legit reason, didn’t they???  Look, we know you’re here for a good time, not a long time… so you’ll need some expert guidance to help narrow down your choices to round out your ideal hen-do agenda.

Here, in order of our highly experienced customer service staff’s preferences, is our Discotech Top 10 list of best and most entertaining bachelorette party activities that your classy group of ladies would do well to line up during your wild weekend in Phoenix / Scottsdale:

1) Take Your Horse to the Old Town Road – Nightclubs

• Venue (Location): Varies by price and music type (click here for recommendations)
• Cost Per Person: Free (certain guest lists); $10-100 (discounted guest lists & presale tickets); $200 and up (VIP tables)
• Time Length of Activity: 4-5 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 9:30PM-11:00PM (avoid long lines and waits)

Seems predictable, but sorry not sorry ladies: the activity of nightclubbing HAS to be #1 and #1A on any Phoenix / Scottsdale bachelor party list. Why, you say? The Old Town entertainment district in Scottsdale is a legendary American party epicenter that epitomizes Wild West debauchery; with the exceptions of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Miami you just can’t really get such high-quality versions of this revelry anywhere else in America. And on top of that, Phoenix / Scottsdale nightlife has got three YUUUUGE advantages over those other cities:

1. Nearly all the best clubs in the Phoenix / Scottsdale are in walking distance from each other, so bar or club crawling – either planned or impromptu – is easy to pull off.
2. Clubbing here is 5x-10x cheaper due to no covers, lower drink prices, and VIP lower table prices.
3. Places open earlier – some open during the day and stay open until 2am – and get packed earlier, so your dollars and the bachelorette’s fun will both stretch longer into the night.

2) Relax, Don’t Do It – Day Spa / Massage / Salon

• Venue (Location): Varies by price and services offered
• Cost Per Person: $50 and up
• Time To Set Aside: 2-4 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 9:00AM-1:00PM (right when you wake up, to combat hangovers)

Every bachelorette party will need some downtime to rest and recover from the festivities of the night before… or the night to come. Spas, massages, and salons are the go-to group daytime activity if your the bachelorette is craving a relaxing atmosphere and a serene respite from all the chaos of the past months’ wedding planning. Most of the major resorts on the Strip offer luxurious spa packages for you and your ladies to wind down, so it’s merely a matter of finding the one that fits your style and price point. For example: The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa offers unique treatments influenced by ancient Chinese medicine; Jurlique Spa at the Kimpton FireSky Resort specializes in hypo-allergenic, pH balanced, and environmentally friendly desert-inspired treatments; Spa Avania at Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch is known for its “science of time” therapy offerings designed to sync with the body’s internal clock. So throw on your comfiest robe, grab a glass of champagne, clear your mind of clutter, assume your favorite position of relaxation, and let your chosen spa take care of the rest. The well-deserved pampering will leave your crew of betches fully refreshed and ready to tackle on another hot desert night in the Wild West.

3) Get Wet! – Pool Parties

• Venue (Location): Varies by price and music type (click here for recommendations)
• Cost Per Person: Free (certain guest lists); $5-100 (discounted guest lists & presale tickets); $200 and up (VIP loungers, daybeds, & cabanas)
• Time Length of Activity: 4-5 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 11:30AM-1:30PM (avoid long lines and waits)

Pool parties are a legendary daytime activity that epitomizes the sumptuously debaucherous desert oasis feel of Scottsdale, and the ones here are arguably second-best only to those of Las Vegas. At least one of these day parties on your hen do weekend agenda is a must; even for girls in the group who don’t like nightclubs, the eye candy, sunshine, cool plunges to beat the heat (and did we mention eye candy?) make it worth it. For any bachelorette party larger than four 4-5 ladies, it’s a no-brainer to book your own cabana or daybed with bottle service in order to maximize the fun; for a smaller stag-do or one that wants variety, we suggest purchasing presale tickets. Find one of the hottest events going on that weekend using our Discotech app, and go see one of your favorite DJs or performing artists. For a Saturday day party, Maya Dayclub and Wet Deck are the best party scenes especially if money ain’t a thang: between the killer music lineups, badass surroundings, and (did we mention) eye candy, these two venues are head-and-shoulders above the rest if your bride-to-be is into nothing but the best.

4) Vino Before Vows – Old Town Wine Tour

• Venue (Location): Arizona Food Tours (Old Town Scottsdale)
• Cost Per Person: $69
• Time To Set Aside: 2-3 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 12:00PM-4:00PM (avoid outdoor midday heat; food included)

Wine is a gift from the gods that will get the bride-to-be through many a rough patch of her upcoming mostly blissful marriage. To celebrate this magical gift, Arizona Food Tours (AFT) offers upscale wine tours on a private reservation basis. Arizona is home to over 100 wineries, and grapes are being grown in 9 of the 15 counties across the state; greater Phoenix is Arizona’s geographical and commercial center, so its best wines are showcased and readily available in its restaurants and via unique experiences like AFT. You’ll spend your afternoon visiting four of Arizona’s favorite wineries and tasting rooms, with wine and food samples and classy ambiances to be enjoyed at each stop. Custom wine tours are designed specifically for your party based on schedule availability and wine preferences (i.e. red or white, sweet or dry). You can expect to be served a variety of signature menu items unique to each winery destination, and they don’t skimp on the food portions so no need to fill up on eats beforehand. Browse, sip, and purchase a few bottles to take home on the plane – you can put them to good use at the wedding reception / afterparty.

5) Men at Work – Male Revue Show

• Venue (Location): Hunk-O-Mania @ Paris of Scottsdale (Old Town Scottsdale)
• Cost Per Person: $20 and up
• Time Length of Activity: 2-3 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 7:00PM-10:00PM (show start times for most revues are in evenings)

They call it The Wild West for a reason, so it’s no cause for shame at all if the bachelorette party wants to include a more magical ride on the naughty side. Male revue shows are the quintessential way to get the pulses racing, and Scottsdale is home to Hunk-O-Mania, one of the best male revue shows in the world. Yes you’ll get your fill of good-looking Adonises of all races with chiseled physiques and washboard abs, but along with that you’ll also get expertly choreographed high-energy dance routines that ooze charisma, athleticism, swagger, and sex appeal. For many of the shows, you’ll also be offered the opportunity to snap photos with the hunks of your choice as well as treat the bride-to-be to an up-close-and-personal lap dance. And along with such multi-sensory delights, a bit of light internet research beforehand – or planning advice from your friends here at Discotech – can yield plenty of “bang for your buck” in the form of discounts and bundling packages that include limo rides, fancy dinners, and cocktails as value-added side dishes to your lip-smacking main course.

6) Get Crafty – Adult Arts & Crafts

• Location: Pinsipiration Phoenix (Desert View / North Scottsdale)
• Cost Per Person: $30 and up
• Time To Set Aside: 2-3 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 1:30-5:30PM (good after-lunch activity to avoid the late afternoon desert heat)

For the true hands-on experience, round up the ladies, roll up the sleeve, and prepare to get down and dirty… in the most colorful way possible. At Pinspiration, you’ll engage in a variety of individual or team crafts, from painted wine glasses to string art. A full catalog of home decor ideas offers endless possibilities, and you can put a wedding theme spin on any of them to create talked-about reception centerpieces or wedding guest take-home gifts. If you’re looking to release more energy, you can book an appointment in the Splatter Room, where guests suit-up in full-body protective paint suits, goggles, and hair nets to brush, dab, and outright splatter colorful paint onto canvas to create modern art masterpieces. Whichever craft route you select, you’ll not only walk away with unforgettable memories but also personal mementos and keepsakes to commemorate the bachelorette party. Even better: Pinspiration carries a Drinks and Bites menu that offers a variety of alcoholic options to get you and your girls’ creative juices flowing. With both traditional wine and champagne options on the menu – as well as unique selections such as a Cupcake-Prosecco and a “Red Velvet” red wine – you can use this afternoon as a chance to let your minds… and mouths…. run free. It’s much cheaper than your group therapy sessions, and MUCH more fun and productive to boot.

7) Grab Life By the Pole – Pole Dancing Classes

• Venue (Location): Prowess Pole Fitness (Phoenix)
• Cost Per Person: $20 and up
• Time To Set Aside: 2 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 4:30PM (required start time for class)

Perhaps the last thing you want to do is go to school while on your bachelorette getaway… unless it’s a fun group class that doubles as an ideal female bonding activity. With classes taught by international championship pole dancer Lindsay Green and her professional dancer and gymnast friends, Prowess Pole Fitness is conveniently located in the center of metro Phoenix and covers all the basic aspects, movements, and techniques for executing lap dances and stripper pole sequences. If you’re feeling more daring, several advanced classes combine the art of pole fitness with Cirque du Soleil-style aerial workouts using suspended hoops. The 60-minute and 90-minute classes are chock-full of expert tips on how to soar, tease, and titillate like Scottsdale’s most seasoned ladies of the night, and the unforgettable experience culminates with a high-energy choreographed routine for the bride-to-be to show off to her fiancee… and for you to show off to friends and strangers at future house parties.

8) This is How We Roll – Party Bus

• Venue (Location): Valley Hop Bus Co. (Phoenix / Scottsdale)
• Cost Per Person: $40 and up
• Time To Set Aside: 3 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 6:00PM-11:00PM (prime pregame time before hitting the clubs)

Sticking with school theme from the previous list item, you and the bride tribe should consider how you want to get from class to class and then to your after-school extracurricular activities. If you have a packed bachelorette party agenda and a fairly large group, you should forgo the hassle of calling separate ride shares and – more importantly – arrive places and step out in style as the center of attention, via a tricked-out party bus provided by Valley Hop Bus Co. Their refurbished retro school buses are decked out with LED lights, a dance pole, party props, bluetooth sound system, and a cooler for your snacks and hard seltzers. If you’re not quite sure where to go, the Valley Hop driver can offer advice to help customize your tour to ensure you hit all the hot spots in Phoenix and Scottsdale. And of course, the Discotech help line are party experts who can do the same (we recommend starting on Mill Avenue in Tempe for dinner and a few outdoor bars, then rolling over to Old Town Scottsdale to wrap up the night). So buckle up and hold on ladies: the next stop is Party Town and your inhibitions are in the rear view mirror.

9) Ride ‘Em Cowgirl – Horseback Riding

• Venue (Location): Arizona Horses @ Ponderosa Stables (South Phoenix)
• Cost Per Person: $40 and up
• Time To Set Aside: 1-3 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 3:00PM-7:00PM (cooler temperatures, plus desert dusk skies are more colorful)

Is your bachelorette a farmer’s daughter or a good ol’ country girl? Deep in the heart of Tex… – ahem, Arizona – is the perfect activity for the country-loving bachelorette parties. Nestled in the foothills of South Mountain Park, the largest city park in the world, Ponderosa Livery Stable offers over 50 miles of trails criss-crossing through 18,000 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert. Head over from downtown Phoenix, saddle up, squeeze into those stirrups, pull on the rope, and lean back for the most breathtaking horseback riding experience of your life. The desert sky is brilliant blue as your guide trots you through the arroyos and washes toward the summit of South Mountain, ascending in elevation while surrounded by beautiful desert flowers and towering Saguaro cactus. You’ll see plenty of desert rabbits and quail darting along the trails and over the intricate rock formations, and you’ll breathe wonderfully fresh air as you take in the spectacular scenery of the Sonoran Desert. Best of all, you’ll have a wonderful horseback tale to tell those barrel-chested plaid-shirted cowboys looking to line dance at Whiskey Row later that night… especially if you’ve already had a few whiskey shots to work up that liquid cowgirl courage.

10) Get Lost, Take A Hike – Outdoor Hiking

• Venue (Location): Camelback Mountain (Phoenix)
• Cost Per Person: Free to enter (free / paid parking near trail entrances)
• Time To Set Aside: 4 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 4:00PM-8:00PM (avoid brutal midday heat, plus sunset skies are more colorful)

Got some gym rats and health nuts in the hen do demanding to break a healthy sweat at some point in the weekend? Located just twenty minutes from Downtown Phoenix, Camelback Mountain – yes, it is indeed shaped like two humps or two lovely lady lumps, whichever you prefer – is worth the short commute and offers a variety of challenging hiking trails, and world-class climbing. We know you’re all about the picturesque views though, and Camelback is the perfect half-day trip for nature/photography lovers and Instagram influencers alike. If you’re lucky, you might even see some wild rabbits and other critters while you’re out on those trails getting your exercise on and sweating out the night before… or preemptively burning calories for the night to come. Oh, you meant a different kind of beautiful views? Camelback has those too: it’s a not-so-secret outdoor workout hotspot for the many professional athletes who train in the Phoenix area, as well as those fit minor-league baseball players and ASU and U of Arizona guys who tend bars, serve cocktails, or otherwise drive the local nightlife economy on the basis of their boyish good looks.

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In conclusion: Despite being more cost effective for a bachelorette party than Las Vegas or Miami, Phoenix / Scottsdale is nevertheless a place where things can escalate quickly in terms of bachelorette party expenses.  That being said, it’s still a magical city where tons of fun can be had at great value for your bride tribe’s budget big or small… if you know the lay of the land. Your friends and nightlife guides here at Discotech are an essential part of that equation – we help you browse and book free guest lists and cheap presale tickets or VIP bottle service for the hottest nightclubs and pool parties in Phoenix / Scottsdale. What are you waiting for? Download our app now – featured on BBC Travel and highly reviewed on Yelp! – in the App Store or Google Play.