If anyone knows me, they know I LOVE to plan things - trips, parties, events, you name it... I’ve probably planned it. Writing guest lists, researching flight costs, browsing AirBnB’s, budgeting and organizing activities may seem stressful to some, but I seem to thrive. Besides getting to stand next to one of my best friends on her wedding day, one of the most exciting things that came along with MOH duties was getting started on planning Cori's Bachelorette!
You’ll see in a future post that I already had a good start on potential Bachelorette locations, which I had shared with Cori, but it was clear after speaking with a girlfriend from work about her Bachelorette in Scottsdale, this was the obvious choice. Cori gave us full reign to plan her Final Fiesta, all we asked was that she showed up. We ended up with a group of 9 girls flying Toronto to Phoenix (one from Vancouver) in early June for 4 nights of the most fun with the best group of girls. Hands down, this remains my top weekend of the year and below you can learn why The West's Most Western Town should be at the top of your Bachelorette (or Bachelor) list too!
Theme:
Everyone knows a party becomes that much better when there is a theme, so when it came to Scottsdale, where Cacti are a plenty, we knew we wanted a desert themed Bachelorette. Pineapple and Cactus floaties were ordered. Green, pink and gold decorations were made. And our AirBnB was ready to host #CorisFinalFiesta!
Where to Stay:
There is no shortage of accommodation options in Scottsdale. Some prefer the hotel route, which some high end favourites include The W and The Saguaro. If you’re looking for a budget hotel option you can check out Aloft Scottsdale. We went the AirBnB route which I believe is a great option for bigger groups. Not only does it provide you with the opportunity to have a big space for the whole group to hang out, but also allows you to do groceries and cook some meals at home or have a proper ‘pre-drink’. In Scottsdale there are hundreds of options for all sizes and the added benefit is the vast majority have pools which is a great place to hang out with the Scottsdale heat! A word of warning if going the AirBnB route … the quiet hours are no lie. I wouldn’t recommend blasting the music and having hot tub parties at 2am or you will wake up to a $400USD bill!
Getting around Scottsdale is quite easy as well. Uber and Lyft is cheap and always available, however we personally preferred getting around via Tuk Tuk aka the golf carts that were on every corner. While we probably ended up spending more this way, we quite enjoyed squishing 9 of us on these golf carts for 10 minute open air ride homes at the end of the night!
What to Do:
Arizona Party Bike - There were a lot of really good moments of this trip, but the pedal tavern was, without a doubt, the highlight! Most US cities are familiar with what a Pedal Tavern is, but for those who have never experienced one before, it is essentially a giant BYOB party bike. We had ordered matching one-pieces before as our one ‘Bachelorette Accessory’, paired with a pair of jean shorts and made for the perfect party bike outfit. We loved riding around the city, blaring Goodbye Earl, The Middle and everything in between, not to mention making the most out of our flabongo! This trip was complete with 3 or 4 stops at local bars and extended well past our two hour time frame into the night (apologies for the reservation we were late for and the 4 people on the back of the bike). Luckily these pedal taverns are fully equipped with motors as I can’t imagine we were much help past bar number 2!
W Pool Party - Another highlight of the trip was the Saturday Pool Party at the W Hotel. This is a true Vegas style pool party, but similar to the nightlife which you’ll see below, it felt a little bit more casual and less pressure. We opted to purchase a couple of bottles to secure a booth by the pool to store our stuff. This definitely isn’t necessary as there was a lot of booze flowing in the pool and we didn’t spend much time in the booth, but nice that our belongings were tucked away. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing and the crowd was great (shout out to the Pink Hats). I would highly recommend the W Pool Party for any Bachelorette (or Bachelor) party. There is a second pool party at Maya Day Club, but without having visited I couldn’t provide a recommendation.
Other - Scottsdale has a ton of other activities that could be suitable for your Bachelorette/Bachelor needs and I was pitching hard for a couple that we ultimately didn’t have time (or the energy) to get around to.
Golf - Arizona is definitely a golf hot spot, home of the infamous Waste Management Open in February, many Bachelor parties choose this destination for the abundance of golf courses. While I knew I wasn’t going to get 18 in with this group, I was hopeful to stop by Top Golf … but ultimately lost this battle. Top Golf is a driving range, also popping up in cities across the US. Top Golf is a great afternoon activity with each booth coming equipped with a simulator and full bar service! I went in Nashville and had a blast, no doubt Top Golf Scottsdale would be a hit.
Hikes - Camelback Mountain is one of the most popular, but there are a ton of options for those who want to get active on their Bachelorette. This was in our initial itinerary, however with the heat clocking in over 100 degrees Fahrenheit each day, our safety had to come first (I swear it was not the hangovers!).
Where to Party:
The nightlife in Scottsdale reminded me of a blend of Nashville (think Broadway with all the bars on one strip, only all the bars are spread across a square block) and Vegas (nightclubs, free bottles). The biggest difference from Vegas is that while they might have a ‘nightclub’ feel (not really my scene) you could go in casual dress (flip flops permitted) and overall was more of a casual scene which was amazing.
My personal favourite (being the country music lover that I am) was Dierk’s Bentley’s Whiskey Row. Country music blended with top 40 and an all around great time! We were able to walk in, handed a bottle and a booth near the front and did not waste any time to dance the night away around (and on top of) that booth! Other big nighttime locations we hit up along the square were the Bottled Blonde (a Scottsdale favourite) and Riot House. Boondocks was a more casual vibe with a giant patio, games, etc. We made a stop here on the Pedal Tavern and went back on our own. Definitely a great location for some afternoon drinks. There are a ton of other bars in downtown Scottsdale, but the ones mentioned above were the most memorable.
Where to Eat:
The nice thing about staying at an AirBnB vs a hotel is the opportunity to grocery shop and make some of your own meals. And while we did this occasionally, Scottsdale has an up and coming restaurant scene which we were eager to check out.
Brunch
Sumo Maya - Mexican-Asian fusion fare. We did a family style, bottomless brunch at Sumo Maya before heading to the W Pool Party at Sumo Maya. Bright indoor scene with live music was the perfect remedy to get us over that morning hump and ready for Day 3! If you like sweets the cinnamon french toast is great and the pomegranate guacamole!
Happy Hour
The Montauk - Plan out your day and make sure you catch Happy Hour at Montauk (3-6pm Tues-Fri)! $3 Beer, $4 Cocktails $5 Wine and snack specials are a can’t miss. It doesn’t hurt that their decor, especially the back patio, is super cute!. Get the crispy rock shrimp … and lot’s of it! East-coast beach inspired.
Diego Pops - Definitely a stop you’ll want to make for the pictures alone, but you won’t regret the pitchers of margaritas and tacos! No reservations, usually only a short wait time (a little bit longer for the patio).
Dinner:
We ate out twice for dinner at Citizen Public House and Culinary Drop Out. We enjoyed amazing meals and wine at both locations with Citizen Public House being a little bit more upscale which we treated ourselves to on our first night. Nice dinners are always a little bit tough with long days, typically involving alcohol, but would definitely recommend squeezing at least one in! You won’t be disappointed with either option.
Budget $1500-$1700 (approx. CAD)
Flight (From Toronto): $425
AirBnB: $200
Pedal Tavern: $50
W Pool Party: $100
Food: $250
Drink: $450
Bach Supplies: $50
Misc: $50
All in all I would give Scottsdale a 10/10 recommendation for any future Bachelorette (or Bachelor) Parties! I will say it is more Bachelor heavy (vs Nashville being Bachelorette heavy), but all the more reason to bring your Bride Tribe to Scottsdale, which is quickly joining the ranks of Vegas, Nashville and Austin as a Bachelorette hot spot!
Comments