In our previous bachelor/bachelorette party blogs, we’ve talked about the joys, and the stressors, of planning a prenuptial celebration for someone you care deeply about. With destination getaways on the rise for such occasions, finding the perfect location can make or break your festivities. With a bachelorette party in Scottsdale, Arizona, you’re sure to have an amazing time celebrating with those you love prior to the big day.
Great food, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant nightlife, how you should enjoy your time in Scottsdale practically plans itself. Luckily, if you do find yourself a little stuck, I was the guest to my sister Jenna’s “final fiesta” this spring, which my other sister, Taylor, perfectly organized. I took all the notes I could to help make your planning a breeze.
The Bach App
Prior to our trip to “The West’s Most Western Town,” the whole party created accounts on The Bach App. The Bach App is a bachelorette party planning and booking app that connects you to small businesses that can enhance your celebration in major bachelorette party destinations across the U.S. Through the app, we were able to RSVP, have a group chat to keep everyone updated, suggest and book different experiences, and get excited with a countdown to our trip. Our only two drawbacks were that there was no easy way to Venmo or CashApp request each member (consider using the Splitwise app for this) and as not everyone had the notifications on, texts in an IMessage group chat were still necessary. The Bach App was great for letting us know activities in Scottsdale that we weren’t seeing on other platforms, but you can cross reference (or if you are going to a location not on their app) with GetYourGuide or Viator. Our group booked a party barge experience (more on that to come) as well as a charcuterie board service that arrived at our Airbnb upon our arrival to help us get settled in as flights and people slowly arrived.
The Airbnb
Everyone flew into Phoenix and our Airbnb was perfectly located in downtown Scottsdale. While there are plenty of large group accommodation options on Airbnb and VRBO, we could not find a flaw with The Belleview House, hosted by Heidi. There are four bedrooms, sleeping fourteen people, and two bathrooms. At your disposal, The Belleview House has an open concept kitchen, living room, large outdoor patio and pool with plenty of inflatables, a firepit with lounge seating, murals for photo opts, cornhole, a backyard putting green, and board games. With these luxurious amenities, it made our time in between activities and – er – recovering after a night out an enjoyable and entertaining experience. It was also just a short, cheap Uber ride away from Scottsdale’s many attractions.
First Night Tips And Fate Brewing Company
Let’s be honest, getting a large group of people ready to make a reservation is never easy to begin with, so create a schedule with time in between activities and allow flexibility where you can – you know that one person is always going to call out they still need to go to the bathroom right when you’re walking out the door. The first night of any bachelorette party, it’s especially smart not to be too ambitious with your schedule. People are arriving on different flights and are tired from traveling. You still want to start the trip with a fun time and give people the opportunity to meet or catch up. Consider a sit down dinner at a brewery or winery. Our first night in Scottsdale, we walked from our Airbnb to Fate Brewing Company. With the outdoor and indoor seating packed, we were happy we made a reservation and suggest that you do the same. There was something for every pallet and everyone enjoyed affordable, delicious beer flights.
Party Barge On Lake Pleasant And Party Bus Add-On
While you want a simple first night to ease you into the trip, day two is when the real partying can start. To save time, the maid-of-honor, Taylor, picked up a to-go box from Einstein Bros. Bagels and a beverage order from Dutch Bros. Coffee to allow everyone to fuel up as they prepared for the day. With the bride’s number one request being a water oriented activity, Taylor found the Pink Party Barge Double Decker Boat on Lake Pleasant with Waterslide and Roundtrip Lake Shuttle Add-on via The Bach App. Our party opted for the party bus add-on, so promptly at 10:45 am, we were collected from our Airbnb and whisked away to Lake Pleasant. While the experience was already on the pricey end, this boat ride was the highlight of the weekend and the pick-up/drop-off was well worth the additional expense. A stripper pole, music, and the ability to drink as we cruised through the beautiful desert littered with saguaro cacti, no one had to miss out on the fun to be the designated driver. And as the ride was about an hour each way, it was still cheaper than everyone piling into Ubers.
At the lake, we were greeted by our friendly boat captain, Spencer. The pink party barge stands out from the local motor boats that share the lake in the best way possible. With two levels of space to turn into a dance floor, a slide into the water off the second deck, and yet another stripper pole, you’re sure to have some fun with your friends. The boat is BYO, and you’ll want to bring enough booze, snacks, and sunscreen for the four hours on the lake. The scenery is truly breathtaking. Our group had so much fun, with the only downside being that the only bathrooms are at the docks, meaning your group has to make it an hour along the party bus both ways. Once aboard the boat, the lake is your toilet, and you’ll have to jump in water to relieve yourself of any booze.
A Night Out On The Town
After such a fun-filled start to your day, you’ll want to get some food delivered to the Airbnb so your crew can eat at their leisure between showers and some much needed naps. Now it’s time to ditch the bathing suits for something a little more glamorous. The nightclub scene of downtown Scottsdale provides you with all of the pounding music, confetti cannons, and dancing you desire without the exclusivity and haughtiness of major cities. Our group hopped between El Hefe and Riot House, securing a free table and booze at both via club promoters. Yes, you heard that right. As a well-dressed bachelorette party, club promoters get paid to get you through the door as it makes the venue look even more fun and intriguing. While you might be able to have a club promoter reach out to you as your group walks down the street, if you want a sure thing, reach out to one in advance. You can find them on either TikTok or Instagram. We had a great boozy night and loved the ambience of both locations. We appreciated the wide open windows that allowed airflow and the neon sign photo opts (though our photos (and memories) were a bit blurry from all the fun we were having).
Brunch At Hash Kitchen
If your bachelorette party group needs a good recovery meal after your escapades the day prior, you can’t beat brunch at Hash Kitchen. You may want a bit later of a reservation, as the blaring dj music can be a bit much on freshly hungover heads. However, I do encourage you to hair-of-the-dog it. Hash Kitchen keeps the party atmosphere going and is well known for their extensive build-your-own bloody mary bar. They also have a flavorful mimosa flight and delicious breakfast options. Those of us who could eat thoroughly enjoyed our meals.
Hole In The Rock
With everyone a little better fueled, it’s time for you to see a bit more of what Scottsdale has to offer. Located in the Sonoran Desert, which stretches through parts of Arizona, California, and Mexico, Scottsdale is covered in stunning orange rock formations. While our bachelorette was originally hoping for a rigorous trek up Camelback Mountain, it became apparent our party was in no condition for such a strenuous – and potentially dangerous – feat. Luckily, there was a much more chill way to still enjoy a unique feature of the desert terrain. Hole In The Rock is a natural geological formation formed by sandstone erosion. Quite literally a hole in a rock, this gem acts as a window between nature and city, past and present. What was once used as a calendar by the HoHokam (prehistoric people to the region) now offers beautiful views of the city of Scottsdale. At less than half a mile, this was much more the speed of our hungover crew.
Old Town Scottsdale
For a perfect, leisurely activity, head to Old Town Scottsdale to stroll the streets and peruse the shops. In Old Town Scottsdale, the old western feel isn’t just a facade, but a rich history with historic sites dating back to the 1880s. There are plenty of souvenir and clothing boutiques where you can buy matching mementos to memorialize your time together. If you don’t have room in your suitcases, the local galleries are still a great place to window shop. Those visiting on Thursdays can also enjoy free access to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art if they need a chance to escape the heat (or pay $10 for a ticket online any other day, $12 at the door). The ever good hosts that they are, Monday through Friday, you can take advantage of Scottsdale’s free trolley to give your feet as rest. While walking through Old Town Scottsdale, we saw several party bike tours, where boozy bachelorette parties worked together to pedal through the city. If you opt not to do the party barge, this would make a great activity land-side.
Diego Pops
We wanted to spend our final night of the trip the same way we started it – connecting over dinner. You can’t be in the Southwest and not enjoy some good, authentic tacos. While there are plenty of options, the aesthetic of Diego Pops screams “bachelorette party” in all the right ways; neon signs, string lights, plenty of plants, and an overall great design. As a larger group, we were given a pre-fix menu for $45 per person. This included a margarita, a shot, chips with various dips, beans and rice, three tacos or a burrito bowl, and churros with delicious sauces. Additionally, we added on a side of street corn which we would highly recommend. Everyone was extremely satisfied with their meal and no one left hungry – we even took our extra churros to go as they were too delicious to waste! After, we made our way over to Boondocks Patio & Grill for a bit of live music, darts, and final farewell drinks before the departing flights the following morning.
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