10 tips for planning your dream UK hen, stag do or holiday Ever felt the pressure of planning or going on a hen or stag, or even a big group holiday? With more and more of us flying abroad for these trips we asked people what they really thought. 3 in 5 people we surveyed think hen and stag dos are too expensive and involve too much travel. When asked what they wanted from their dream trip and the answer was clear – having your closest mates with you, getting a good deal, great bars, nightlife and even trying something totally new. Looking for a great trip with a bit less hassle? We’ve got you covered with 10 tips to take the hassle out of planning and help you land your dream trip without needing to fly. Sign up to our newsletter to get more tips and inspiration straight to your inbox sign up to Hubbub's newsletter 1) Unveil the UK’s hidden gems 73% of people we asked agreed there are great choices in the UK for hen and stag dos. There are loads of hidden gems to be unveiled in the UK. Find your perfect activity from cocktail-making, to kayaking, life drawing, a spa weekend or a UK festival. Take our quiz to help find your personalised UK hen or stag destination and activities. Some found hen/ stag dos too samey with too much focus on drinking, so why not try something new? Take the #WhyWingIt quiz (9 questions, 2 minutes)'The Escapists'Relax and indulge, a total escape? With busy lives, you want your trip to be a total get away from the bustle of daily life, with minimal hassle, undisturbed and plenty of quality time with your nearest and dearest. Where: A spa weekend or secluded location with dream accommodation. What: To relax, chat and party undisturbed on your own agenda and with minimal structure. Why?: Enjoy quality time with family and friends, closer to home giving more flexibility and less hassle. Suggestions: Find your dream accommodation such as these 9 best Airbnb’s to host a hen party or these cottages that accept hen and stag parties. Sleeps 12 or Big Domain that list houses specifically for larger group. If it's a hotel you’re after, check out these amazing UK retreats. A spa weekend, try this listing of 13 luxurious spa getaways. These self-catered options for stags have houses complete with features such as games and cinema rooms and hot tubs, so you can relax on your own terms. 'The Explorers'You’ve a thirst for new things and are always the first one to tell friends about a new place or discovery. Bond with your gang over a fun new experience with a themed weekend and discover some hidden UK gems. Where: Off the beaten track or a city you’ve yet to explore. What: Learning a new skill– a foodie weekend, cocktail making, life drawing, beer brewing or discovering a new, insta-worthy part of the Great British countryside. Why?: Discover hidden gems closer to home, new skills, and make miles of memories whilst doing something different. Suggestions: Soul Circus yoga and wellness festival (21-23 August 2020) with aerial yoga, spa, crafts and tai chi or The Good Life Experience (10-13 Sept 2020) festival for curious types with workshops, outdoor activities, ideas and music. Margate, known as ‘Shoreditch-on-sea’, for seaside kitsch just 1.5 hours from London. Visit Dreamland (a retro amusement park), award winning art at the Turner Centre, sandy beaches and a quirky shell grotto. Airbnb has several properties that sleep 10 or more people in and around Margate. Have a foodie weekend doing masterclasses, foraging at Abergavenny Food Festival (19-20 Sept 2020) or try Glasgow’s best whisky, gin and beer crafting experiences.Try an Airbnb experience such as crafting your own silver ring – see these 7 best experiences or alternatively discover some of the 31 best things to do in the UK. 'The Adrenaline Seekers'You LOVE a challenge! Your group is up for a bit of (friendly…) competition to test your skills, whether physical or mental. Your dream trip is a bit of team bonding over your favourite adventure activity or mastering something totally new. Where: The coast or countryside. What: Adventure activities from paddle-boarding, yoga, coasteering, climbing, zorbing or even an escape room or two. Why? There’s so many challenges to be had in the UK. You can bond closer to home without having to spend a fortune or waste two days travelling. Suggestions: Red Bull compiles the list of the best UK adventure weekends from mountain climbing at night to dog sledding, hover crafting and land yachting. Surfing in the south west – see these most beautiful hidden spots Atlantis, Monmouthshire, for a 700m long zip wire and Total Wipeout-style water obstacle courses. Camp Wildfire (4-7 Sept 2020) for adventure including zorbing, archery, water slides and paddle boarding by day and party by night. 'The Go-Getters'You’re the life and soul of the party and want a trip to remember! You’d like to soak up a bit of culture but really want a lot of laughs with your gang and to be checking out the local nightlife scene. Where: A city or festival. What: Plenty of bars, nightlife, culture to see and good food options but with minimal planning so you can go with the flow. Why? A staycation means more of your group might be able to come - it’s super flexible, cheaper and less hassle. No hungover slog at the airport on the way home is an added bonus… Suggestions: Manchester’s Northern Quarter for a concentration of great bars and nightlife like Soup Kitchen. Edinburgh Fringe (7-31 August 2020) for endless laughs, culture and great nightlife. Book early to secure accommodation. Try a UK festival! From Lost Village and Latitude, to Boomtown in Brighton or TRNSMT in Glasgow – see the UKs 20 best festivals in 2020. What's the bride or grooms personality type?At the weekend, the bride/ groom can most likely be found...?What one thing do you most want from a dream hen/ stag do?What’s your worst fear for a hen/ stag?Other people might describe your group as..?Which of these destinations might be your usual go to (for a hen/ stag)?How planned do you want a hen/ stag to be?73% of 20-45 year olds think a UK hen/stag is appealing. Agree?Which best describes you at the airport.. 2) Swap these common hen/stag do destinations Fed up of paying a fortune to travel to another hen or stag abroad? We found almost a third of people have actually turned-down an invite because of the cost involved or time away. Below are some common hen, stag and group destinations reached by plane. If you’re feeling that pressurised air, why not try one of these better ways to get there or easy to reach UK destinations, rather than following the crowds? Barcelona -> Brighton or Margate for upcoming seaside kitsch, art, beaches and nightlife Benidorm -> Manchester for characterful streets, indie shops, restaurants and bars and amazing music Ibiza -> A UK festival or spa weekend for total indulgence, escapism and relaxation Dublin -> Edinburgh for a concentration of bars and nightlife, charming cobbled streets and even plenty of laughs at the Edinburgh Fringe Berlin - > Glasgow or London, both brimming with culture, retail therapy options and a vibrant underground nightlife scene Amsterdam -> Take the train! From £35 one way and you’ll arrive in the centre of Amsterdam under 4 hours 3) Get on board with a good deal Keen to get a good deal? Budget is important, with a third of people feeling resentful towards the bride or groom for the cost of a hen or stag. Secure a good deal and get a whopping third off train travel when 3-9 people travel together, usually off-peak. Alternatively, check out the many railcards on offer which can pay back in one trip. 4) Stay somewhere extraordinary Stay somewhere extraordinary and make great memories without travelling far. Host Unusual has over 100 properties for groups in England from lighthouses to treehouses and old castles. Sleeps 12 or Big Domain are specifically designed to accept larger or single-sex groups. 5) Make travel the trip How about making travel the focus of the trip? From hiring a narrowboat, paddle boarding or canoeing down some of the UK’s gorgeous waterways, there’s loads to explore. Alternatively, if you’re wheelie-up for it, try a cycle ride, such as the stunning coast to coast cycle route in Devon, which is perfect for a long weekend. Check out the UK’s 7 most scenic train rides to build into your trip. 6) Make miles of memories closer to home Want to make it special but spend less? Why not try something personalised, like creating a theme around the bride or groom’s favourite thing or organising a scavenger hunt of clues relating to their life. There are apps to help! Photobooks, homemade videos or surprise parties are great ways to go the extra mile without needing to travel far and often they’re cheaper too. If you’re still going abroad... 7) Get extra leave if you travel on ground Climate Perks is a great concept where employers offer paid ‘journey days’ to staff who travel on holiday by train, coach or boat instead of flying. Sometimes travelling by land takes longer and so Climate Perks makes it feasible, plus you get the benefit of less hassle, more quality time and incredible views. What’s not to like? Hubbub is a Climate Perks employer, and you can get your employer on board too! 8) Stay on track If you love your liquids and hate the hassle of airports, then swap queues for views and start your celebrations on your own schedule on the train. Seat 61 is the ultimate train traveller's guide, full of tips comparing the cost, time and ease of different trips across the UK and Europe. Eurostar do returns from London to Paris, Brussels or Lille from £58, plus other destinations like Amsterdam and Lyon. Book ahead and off-peak for the cheapest tickets. For European bookings, try Trainline and Rail Europe. Remember to compare the hidden costs of flying, like airport transfers. 9) If you do need to fly... Travelling over-ground is a great, easy way to reduce your climate impact. Choosing Brighton over Barcelona for your hen or stag is the same as one person in the group going vegan for over 2 years or stopping driving a car for almost a year and a half. Holidays are a hard-earned treat for many, and we understand sometimes it’s necessary to fly. You can reduce your impact with a few simple steps. Taking direct flights, staying for longer, packing light and sitting in economy all help use less fuel. You could also consider offsetting the emissions from your flight by investing in reputable projects like tree planting. Find out how one journalist got on offsetting their flights. Want to learn more about the impact of flying and its history and future? Listen to our podcast, What On Earth. find out more about 'why wing it' 10) Sign up for more inspiration and to win Sign up to our newsletter here for more tips and inspiration for stag-ing an amazing UK hen or stag. Be in to win! Keep your eyes peeled as we reveal more prizes. If your hen or stag do plans are up in the air, stay tuned as we unveil more staycation stories.