Tag Archive for: LA

Headed to Los Angeles for a hen (bachelorette) party soon? In addition to dinners and nightlife, you’ll need to plan other daytime 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 L.A that out-of-town visitors – 48 million a year! – want to see is most likely the “Hollywood / Venice Beach” one: steamy summer temps, laid-back chill vibes, sheer opulence, fast money, fashionably glamorous excess, and glitzy sensory overload.  Of course, the locals and insiders are happy to deliver upon those stereotypes, because that’s the version that tourists pay handsomely to witness and be a part of. And Angelenos surely play that fiddle in harmonious tune, because more tourists visiting SoCal will mean more revenues generated and jobs created for the state’s sun-kissed residents!

Why is planning a bachelorette party so hard?

Your bachelorette has just chosen the City of Angels as the destination city and assembled her final list; now, you as the Maid of Honor are on the hook to make magic happen. So you let out a big sigh, open up your laptop and hop on the internets, and get to work on mapping out this epic weekend in Los Angeles. As you start your search on activities, you know you’re not totally a lost kitten – you’ve partied in L.A. a few times in the past with and without the bride-to-be, and you’ve got numerous friends in high and low places who are willing to offer sound and not-so-sound recommendations – but of course you wouldn’t mind having a professional to guide you.   You know, someone totally plugged who can take all those half-formed suggestions floating around and give you accurate, actionable answers?

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 few days in the City of Angels:

 

1) Dance Your Face (and Heels) Off – Nightclubs

https://youtu.be/ptK2ZRB6A-0

• Venue (Location): Varies by price and music type (click here for the hottest nightclubs in Los Angeles or click here for clubs in Ktown)
• Cost Per Person: Free (certain LA 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: 10:00PM-11:30PM (avoid long lines and waits)

Seems predictable, but sorry not sorry ladies: you know you LOVE to dance, so this activity must make the Top 10 of any bachelorette party list in any city. Whether your Saturday or Sunday mornings/afternoons figure to be calm ones or crazy ones, it MUST necessarily be followed by (or preceded by) an epic high-energy night filled with music and mirth. Greater Los Angeles – and Hollywood in particular – is a legendary party epicenter that epitomizes international debauchery; with the lone exception of Las Vegas and maybe NYC, you just can’t really get such high-quality versions of this revelry anywhere else in America. There are hundreds of clubbing options in the city to match your budget, vibe, and music type whether you’re into electronic, hip-hop, Top 40, or Latin / international beats. Also, no matter which club you end up at, you should always keep your eyes open – this is the playground of Hollywood’s entertainment stars, so you never know when a celebrity or two might pop up at the table next to you. One thing to note is that places get packed earlier in the night – 10:30-11:30pm are when most spots start to fill up – and close down at 2:00am. To party like a local, we recommend you schedule your dinner in the 7-9pm range and then head to the club straight afterward without having to stop at your hotel to change – your night will feel smoother and less rushed, and your clubbing time and budget as well as the bachelorette’s buzz will stretch out further.

 

2) Life’s a Beach – L.A. Beaches

• Venue (Location): Varies by location / atmosphere
• Cost Per Person: Free (parking fees for pay lots)
• Time To Set Aside: 3-4 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 9:00AM-12:00AM or 3:00PM-6:00PM (avoid the sun’s strongest midday rays so you don’t turn into a lobster)

Let’s face it: the bachelorette chose L.A. because she wanted the beaches with her betches. The best thing about the beaches in Southern California is that 99% of them are open to the public and they’re free to access. Whether your hen party is searching for an isolated destination or wants to spend a day at a busy “see and be seen” strip of sand and surf, L.A. caters to all tastes and offers a variety of beaches to choose from. Some beaches in L.A are dotted with palm trees to provide a shady respite from the heat, while others are perfect for quickly getting that pre-wedding golden suntan that will make those wedding pics pop off. Some have serene and glassy waters that call for a good book; others boast rolling, crashing waves that scream out for watersports and hair-toss action photos. The one thing that all L.A. beaches have in common is their stunning and well-groomed natural beauty, and many area beaches likewise offer plenty of water activities and proximity to restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues to appease visiting tourists. Here our our Top beaches around Los Angeles:

1. Santa Monica Beach – Trendy, close to restaurants & nightlife, older / international tourist crowds
2. Venice Beach – Boardwalk with attractions, close to restaurants & bars, younger local / “party” tourist crowds
3. Malibu Beach – Surfing (intermediate), birdwatching, upscale restaurants
4. Manhattan Beach – Beach volleyball, kid-friendly, local families beach
5. Zuma Beach – Surfing (beginner), kid-friendly, dolphin & sea lion watching
6. Redondo Beach – Surfing (advanced), kayaking / paddleboarding, bike-riding
7. El Matador Beach – Scenery (featured in many movies), sea caves, whale watching
8. El Pescador Beach – Tide pools, fishing, quiet atmosphere
9. Will Rogers State Beach – Kitesurfing, diving, sunbathing
10. Leo Carrillo State Beach – Swimming, windsurfing, bicycling, scenery (featured in many movies)

 

3) 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. Los Angeles is big on beauty, health, and wellness; in addition to numerous boutique businesses, most of four-star and five-star hotel properties throughout the city have swanky wellness spaces, high-end hair and nail salons, and/or buzzy detox treatments. The same goes for spas; they’re sprinkled throughout every corner of the city and offer luxurious relaxation / rejuvenation packages for you and the ladies to wind down, so it’s merely a matter of finding the one that fits your style and price point.

For example: Larchmont Sanctuary Spa offers unique treatments influenced by ancient Eastern philosophies; Amy Rae Aesthetics specializes in natural / organic holistic treatments; Glen Ivy Spa is known for its hydrothermal therapy offerings. 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 wild ones fully refreshed and ready to tackle on another exciting night in Los Angeles.

 

4) Put It in the Bag – Shopping

• Venue (Location): Rodeo Drive (Beverly Hills)
• Cost Per Person: Free to stroll (Shopping… that’s another story)
• Time To Set Aside: 2-3 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 2:00PM-6:00PM (good post-lunch or pre-dinner activity, plus downtime to recover for late-night entertainment plans)

Los Angeles has plenty of activities for you to do “’til you drop” and of course shopping is one of them. The City of Angels has long been a fashion mecca due to the trendsetting entertainment industries that call it home, and thus a destination for fashion seekers. Superior fashion retail zones and establishments are located all over the city, from Santee Alley Fashion District in Downtown L.A. to Third Street Promenade just blocks from the Pacific Ocean. The unquestionable crown jewel of shopping in L.A. though is Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, one of the world’s most famous and most exclusive luxury destinations and an unparalleled hub at the intersection of luxury, fashion, entertainment, and pop culture.

With more than 100 world-renowned stores and hotels comprising the three magnificent blocks within Rodeo Drive’s Golden Triangle, it’s easy to lose yourself in the street’s splendor and charm, and even easier to see why it’s one of the tastemaking fashion hubs in all of America. Here, shoppers can expect to find big-brand fashion retail giants – Versace, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin and Tiffany & Co.  – alongside ultra-chic local boutiques, each carrying their latest warm-weather fashions to appeal to the eyes and wallets of wealthy Angelenos and well-heeled tourists. Pro tip: after re-enacting the Julia Roberts scene from Pretty Woman and maxing out your (or the groom’s) credit card on Rodeo, hop in an Uber and skip on over to the stretch of quirkier independent niche fashion houses on Melrose Drive, where you might just find that perfect piece of jewelry or accessory to complement your matching bridesmaids dresses.

 

5) Grab Life By the Pole – Pole Dancing Classes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MPJAM77bRM&feature=youtu.be

• Venue (Location): Evolve Pole Fitness (Mid-City)
• 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. Taught by professional dancers and gymnasts – and a few moonlighting exotic dancers – and featured on US Weekly and in several reality TV shows including Love & Hip Hop. Evolve is conveniently located in the middle of metro L.A. 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 Hollywood’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.

 

6) Where the Wild Things Are – Wine Safari

• Venue: Malibu Wine Safaris (Malibu)
• Cost Per Person: $65 and up
• Time To Set Aside: 4 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 10:30AM (start time for early tour; avoid the hotter afternoon temperatures)

What could possibly be more fun than the Catalina Wine Mixer, you ask? Umm, how about a Malibu Wine Safari? If the bride tribe has a few adventurous animal lovers, Malibu Wine Safaris combines the kiddie experience of a zoo with the adult experience of wine-tasting within a rollicking, unforgettable nature tour. In a custom-built open-air safari vehicle, you’ll make a fun jaunt through the lush 1,000-acre Saddlerock Ranch and vineyard in Malibu, just 30 minutes from Hollywood / Downtown LA.

You’ll make planned stops along the way to take in the scenery, sample vino varietals, and get up-close-and-personal with new friends: zebras, water buffalo, alpacas, bison, and the the star of the show, Stanley the Giraffe (win their affection – and the perfect photo – by feeding them carrots, pellets, and bananas). The wines – Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and seasonal blends – are sourced from local vineyards in the Santa Monica Mountains; they’re passable, and what they lack for in high quality relative to other California wines they make up for in abundance. And after the magical tour, you can stop by the on-site tasting room and picnic area for a late-afternoon nosh or even a spirit much stiffer than wine from the fully stocked bar should you feel the calling to unleash the wild party animal within.

 

7) Be a Reality TV Star – Upscale Brunches

• Venue (Location): Varies by price, location, and cuisine
• Cost Per Person: $20 and up
• Time Length of Activity: 3-4 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 11:30AM-2:30PM (you know…. the brunching hour)

If you and your gals bond weekly over good ‘ol trashy reality TV, then you know that many of the most emotionally charged scenes seem to happen when your favorite characters are dressed to the nines while quaffing champagne and cocktails over brunch in one of the city’s hottest restaurants. If you are looking for the perfect spot to brunch in L.A., we recommend you head on over to West Hollywood. West Hollywood is the reality TV epicenter of the world – scenes from many shows are filmed around here – and has the best high-end brunch culture, from the trendy restaurants to the exotic booze blends to the trendy wall art and movie-set ambiances.

You’ve got plenty of great fabulous brunch choices in WeHo, but if you call yourself a true reality TV die-hard then you’ll need to lock down a coveted reservation at either Pump or SUR, the brainchildren of British TV personality Lisa Vanderpump (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”), one of reality TV’s biggest superstars. Pump and Sur are two spots that boast sprawling indoor / outdoor patio layouts, with stylish booths and full bars adorned with garden decor, lantern-adorned trellises, romantic lighting, and walls and furniture showcasing Vanderpump family pictures. They are classy yet inviting Hollywood “it” spots that turn into booze-soaked ultra lounges and “see and be seen” scenes as afternoon turns into evening – drinking / dining / mingling destinations whether you’re fans of the Real Housewives franchise or not, and the perfect spot for the bachelorette brigade to reenact your favorite dramatic scenes, real or staged, from your favorite reality TV characters.

 

8) Float & Flex – Yoga + Paddleboard Class

• Venue (Location): YOGAqua (Marina Del Rey)
• Cost Per Person: $44
• Time Length of Activity: 2 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 9:00AM-11:30AM (burn some calories before a hearty brunch)

Perhaps the only thing more “L.A.” than stand-up paddleboarding… is yoga. For the bride-to-be that aims to do it all, a group date in Marina Del Rey can kill two glorious birds with one stone. Sarah Tiefenthaler’s YOGAqua, operating since 2011, offers combo paddleboarding / yoga classes for rowing yogis of all levels. Students are taken through a Vinyasa Yoga flow with instructions customized and detailed for the paddleboard, so even if they have not been practicing yoga for years – or if they have never been on a paddleboard – they will be able to balance and follow along with no problem.

A YOGAqua class is 90 minutes long; the first 30 minutes dedicated to learning how to properly use the board and peacefully paddle around the harbor, and the remaining hour is dedicated to mind-calming yoga movements while atop the paddleboard. Each board has an individual anchor that is dropped down before the Yoga portion of class begins, so that students don’t drift away of fall off while focusing on their form. Serenity and balance atop the calm deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean? Yes, please.

 

9) Make a Splash – Dayclubs / Pool Parties

• Venue (Location): Varies by price and music type (click here for rooftop pool party 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: 2:30PM-3:30PM (avoid long lines and waits)

With the weather in L.A. so pristine for the better part of ten months out of the year, day drinking is a must for any bachelor party agenda…. and there are plenty daytime parties around the city that epitomize the sumptuous hedonism of the Hollywood lifestyle. At least one of these day parties on your bachelorette weekend agenda is a must; even for ladies who don’t like nightclubs, the eye candy, sunshine, cool plunges to beat the heat make it worth it. 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 pool party, Wet at W Hollywood and Skybar are the best party scenes especially if money ain’t a thang; if you’re not in the mood for getting wet, wait for Sunday and hit up Penthouse or Liaison, two of the best late-afternoon boozy brunch parties on the planet. Between the killer music lineups, badass surroundings, and (did we mention) eye candy, these four day party venues are head-and-shoulders above the rest if your bachelorette is into nothing but the best.

 

10) Heavenly Angels – Hollywood Hills Hike

• Venue (Location): Runyon Canyon (Hollywood Hills)
• Cost Per Person: Free
• Time To Set Aside: 3-4 hours
• Best Time of Day to Go: 10:00AM-1:00PM (more crowded / active scene, plus avoid the brutal afternoon heat)

Located just 20 minutes from most L.A. neighborhoods, Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills is worth the short commute and offers a variety of challenging hiking trails. We know you’re all about the beautiful views though, and with its heavenly perch high above the City of Angels, Runyon Canyon is the perfect 3-4 hour jaunt for spectacular skyline lovers (you can see all the way to Downtown LA) and Instagram influencers alike. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch some wild rabbits and other critters while you’re out on those trails getting your exercise on and sweating out the alcohol from the night before… or preemptively burning calories for the night to come. Oh, did you mean a different kind of beautiful views? Runyon Canyon has those too: it’s a not-so-secret outdoor workout hotspot for those hunky, impossibly chiseled aspiring actors and models who while waiting for callbacks tend bars, wait tables, pour lattes, valet cars, or otherwise drive the L.A. nightlife and entertainment economy forward on the basis of their boyish good looks.

 

Bonus Activity: Men at Work – Male Revue Show

• Venue (Location): Hollywood Men (Hollywood)
• 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)

In the town where one’s wildest dreams can come true overnight, it’s no cause for shame at all if the bachelorette party wants to include a more magical fantasy ride on the naughty side. Male revue shows are the quintessential way to get the pulses racing, and Walk of Fame is home to Hollywood Men, 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 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.

 

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In conclusion: Los Angeles is definitely a bachelorette party destination where a lot of good times can be had by a group of ladies along all points of the budget spectrum. It is a magical beachfront oasis where both indoor and outdoor activities can spice up any hen party agenda… 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 L.A. 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.