SteveNo matter where you are in the world, going to a stag do (bachelor party) in Las Vegas is by far the pinnacle of places to go! My good friend asked me a few years ago to plan a stag do to Las Vegas, and that meant coming up with a host of stag do ideas and many other considerations that go with such a responsibility. Not an easy task! I wanted to write a post on my own experiences in planning a stag do in Las Vegas, so here goes . . .
Pitching the idea
I remember fondly a conversation that I had whilst driving to an Indian restaurant with the groom. Shortly after I was asked to be the best man for him, we got talking about where to go for the stag do. Being UK based, I rattled off the usual suspects – Amsterdam, Prague, and even Edinburgh. The groom replied back to me with “how about Las Vegas?”
The groom had never been to Las Vegas before but had heard me drone on about how awesome the place is over many a curry. He wanted a ‘statement’ kind of stag do, and he also realised that it may be his only chance to get to see Las Vegas.
This got me thinking about pitching the idea to friends. At this point, all ideas and decisions were discussed in advance with the groom. Going to Las Vegas is a big deal, and I wanted to make sure it was the right kind of stag do.
I decided to arrange a lad’s night out with as many of our close friends as I could muster. I pitched the idea to everyone all at once, and with plenty of time in hand. We had almost a year from pitching the idea, to roughly when we planned to go. This was important to make sure everyone had a chance to save up, and get permission from their better halves!
The groom is a pretty popular fella, yet we both knew that not everyone would want, or be able to afford, a trip to Las Vegas. Absolutely fine, we discussed that there would be a catch-all night out planned as well. This way nobody felt they would be missing out. I also explained if anyone chose not to go for any reason, then it was absolutely fine. There would be no judgements. We agreed we really needed a minimum of 4 people to make it viable.
When I presented the idea of a stag do in Las Vegas, most of the group responded positively. I said it is not only a stag do but also a once-in-a-lifetime lad’s holiday. This was a chance to do things that some may well never do again. Of utmost importance was to explain that given the costs involved, we would make sure everyone had a good time. This meant making sure we catered to everyone’s tastes. In the following months, we had many discussions about our potential stag do ideas.
How many people should attend?
The groom and I decided 6 people was the ideal number for a trip to Las Vegas. There were a few reasons for the magic number of 6. Firstly, it seemed like a sensible number to manage whilst being away. Secondly, I know from past experience you can get 6 paying guests into a helicopter. This was one of the ideas I had for the trip to Las Vegas. Lastly, making table reservations would be easier than having a huge group.
All in all, we asked about 18 people to go to Las Vegas for the stag do. In the end, we happily ended up with 6 people which was perfect. We knew at the time that not everyone would want, or afford to go. Therefore it was important to ask a larger number of the chaps to start with. From the beginning, we had 10 chaps saying that they were definitely interested. This ultimately dropped to 6 when we were at the time of booking the trip.
How long should you go for?
Ahhh, the big question. I guess this depends on where you are. If you’re stateside, then a weekend is typically a good idea as it’s relatively easy to get to Las Vegas. It’s also more affordable than starting the journey from across the pond.
Being based in the UK (or indeed Europe) it’s a more difficult question. Ultimately we settled on 6 nights in Las Vegas. This was based on travelling on a Saturday morning, and arriving in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon. Coming back, we flew from Las Vegas on Friday afternoon and arrived back in the UK on Saturday morning. We found this worked well, as it meant we only had to take 5 days’ holiday from work. Being such a long way away (jet lag anyone?) it made more sense to have a decent amount of time in Las Vegas. This would give us a chance to enjoy the many activities we had in mind without having to rush them. More on that later!
Where to stay in Las Vegas
Another big question! I figured as long as we were on the strip, then it wasn’t too important where we stayed. I decided to invite the other 5 chaps to my house to review hotel and price options together. We had discussed a rough budget that was acceptable to everyone and found a number of choices within that budget. I thought Planet Hollywood would be a good choice for a group of lads, being mid-strip and having a ‘party’ vibe.
In the end, the groom suggested we stay at the Bellagio. It was about £80 over our budget for the trip, and whilst it’s a great property to stay in – I wasn’t sure if it was one of the best stag do ideas. I asked the groom ‘why the Bellagio’, and he elegantly replied that it was the best hotel for bragging rights. Everyone in the UK has heard of the famous Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip after all! All of the lads agreed, and shortly afterwards we had the trip booked.
What’s it going to cost?
At the time of the initial pitch to the lads, I gave a rough estimate of the cost of the trip. It was important for everyone to know this upfront so they could decide if it was affordable or not.
A few years ago, I knew we could stay in a decent hotel on the strip with direct flights for around £800 per person and this was part of the initial pitch. I told the group that we would need between £1,000-£1,200 in spending money, but this was just a guide as it really depended on what we ended up doing, eating and drinking. It should also go without saying that a gambling budget was extra! None of the lads are big drinkers and super fancy restaurants are not really our thing either. Allow accordingly!
Nowadays with prices going up everywhere, I’d say you can get a decent strip hotel with flights for about £1,000 per person. Of course, it depends on the time of year you travel. The stag do trip was taken in the month of March. It was just after spring break, and hotel prices seemed to be reasonable and March weather is generally great. Not too hot, but warm enough to be T-shirt and shorts weather and get a tan.
When it came to booking, we looked at Expedia, BA Holidays and Virgin Holidays. In the end, we booked with Expedia, flying with Virgin Atlantic. Over the years I’ve had great deals with BA flight and hotel packages. On this occasion though, Expedia won out.
Obviously the longer you have in Las Vegas, the more time there is to do stuff. I figured that 6 days and nights would be ample time to pursue our stag do ideas. Trust me though, it was a packed 6 days with lots going on!
Stag do ideas in Las Vegas
Rather than bore you with a detailed itinerary, I’ll just point out some of the things we managed to get up to. None of which involved going to a strip club, as being savvy lads we figured it was too much of a rip-off. That said, if lap dances are your thing then there are plenty of choices. Most of which are just off the strip.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour – one of our best stag do ideas!
One of our big ticket experiences was a helicopter to the Grand Canyon. We flew with Serenity Helicopters and had a fantastic trip that included a landing and picnic in the grand canyon. Maverick Helicopters also seem very popular for tours to the Grand Canyon.
We were picked up by a Limo, and then taken to a small airport in Boulder City. Once weighed, and checked in, we were shortly boarding our helicopter for a trip to the Grand Canyon. The flight took around 20 minutes to get to the Grand Canyon. Once we arrived we descended deep into the canyon and flew along to our landing site. We had about half an hour wandering around, taking pictures and munching on our picnic. Then it was time to do it all in reverse. We paid just over $400 each, but I’d expect that to be a little higher now. It’s a big expense, but we all agreed it was something we simply had to do! Our trip was definitely one of our best stag do ideas.
Shooting guns
One of the big attractions for a UK visitor to the US is the ability to have a go at shooting guns! There are plenty of gun ranges around Las Vegas, and we chose to visit The Gun Store. It’s a short 10-minute taxi from the strip, and one of the oldest established ranges in the area.
There is almost every type of gun to try at The Gun Store, with many excellent bundled packages to choose from. We chose a package costing $150 each. For that, we had a 9mm handgun, a sniper rifle, a machine gun and a light machine gun. All came with ammo, targets and a fully qualified rangemaster to guide and supervise.
It may sound a bit childish, but we all got a real rush from shooting the different guns. Some kicked more than others, and we had a fantastic time. Naturally, there was some friendly rivalry with our marksman skills! A must-do for adrenaline seekers, and right up there with our best stag do ideas!
The Las Vegas Sign
You cannot visit Las Vegas without going to the famous Las Vegas sign! It’s easy to get to as well and costs nothing. You will find the sign in between the northbound and southbound carriageways of Las Vegas Boulevard, about a 10-minute walk south of Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.
The sign is very popular with tourists and you will typically find everyone queuing patiently waiting to get the money shot. One tip I can give is that you can simply start your own queue, and take a shot from a slightly different angle. Saves a bunch of time! No one minds as long as you’re not in their shot.
Whilst you’re in this neck of the woods it’s worth popping into the Pinball Hall of Fame. We visited this in its previous location, and now they have much bigger premises. You can find the Pinball Hall of Fame just by the Las Vegas sign approx. 2 minute’s walk. It has the largest playable collection of pinball games in the world (probably), plus a stack of old arcade games to boot. The newer games only cost 50 cents to play, and the old ones are even more of a bargain at just 25 cents. Visiting was one of the more cost-effective stag do ideas.
Fremont Street and Slotzilla
Fremont Street is part of Downtown Las Vegas and is a 2-mile walk or taxi/uber from the Strat Hotel and Casino. Going to Fremont Street is one of the great stag do ideas as there are loads to see and do there. The area around Fremont Street Downtown has a number of bars and restaurants that are kind of kitchy cool, along with a vibrant arts district to explore.
Fremont Street is part of the ‘old’ Las Vegas. Before the strip existed, Fremont Street is where you found the gambling action. Nowadays, Fremont Street is a tourist attraction in itself. The casinos are still there, and there are also a host of other attractions.
Fremont Street is a lively place, with free music concerts, street artists and a real party vibe. The best thing about Fremont Street is the Slotzilla zipline attraction. Two kinds of ziplines run from one end of Fremont Street to the other and go under the digital canopy. Queues can be huge, so best to buy your tickets ahead of time. In my opinion, the zipline is best experienced at night. With all of the neon and lights, it’s an amazing experience! Just make sure you book the ‘superman’ version of the zipline which is much longer and higher than the ‘sit down’ one!
See a show
Depending on your taste and budget, there are a ton of shows to see in Las Vegas. From headliner singers, to Cirque du Soleil performances, to magicians – Vegas has it all. Here’s a great place to start when checking out what is on when you plan to visit.
We chose to see Penn and Teller’s magic show at the Rio. It was one of our best stag do ideas because who doesn’t love a good magic show? We had a good deal on the tickets, and managed to get seats quite close to the front of the stage. Did you know that Penn Jillette plays the double bass with a small band whilst the audience assembles?
Pawn Stars and Counts Kustoms
If you were to walk from the Strat hotel and Casino north towards Fremont Street, you’ll find the Iconic Pawn Stars pawn shop. If you are a fan of the show it is worth a look inside to pick up a souvenir or two!
When we left the shop we found a free shuttle service right outside that took people to Counts Kustoms. As we were all car guys we jumped at the chance to have a nosey round and see some of Danny Koker’s own cars. We also caught a glimpse of Danny driving past us in his Porsche as we arrived!
It’s free to tour the shop and see the cars, and of course there is a Merch area too. As we bought our T-shirts we were told the cast would be at Danny’s bar later in the evening. We hastily changed our dinner plans that night and headed over to Vampd Rock Bar and Grill. We had a great meal and got to meet some of the cast for a snap. Talk about random!
Skypod and Observation Deck at the Strat
The Strat Hotel and Casino is at the top end of the strip before things start to thin out a bit. It has a very tall tower with a range of attractions at the top that are worth visiting.
Aside from the obvious restaurant and bar, it has a brilliant observation deck. This gives 360-degree views of all of Las Vegas, the airport, and the wider Las Vegas valley. When I visited, I had no idea just how big the whole area was!
There are also a couple of thrill rides at the top of the tower, along with a sky jump if you’re feeling brave!
Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel and Casino
Clearly, it’s not the real Eiffel Tower but a pretty accurate replica tower that gives brilliant views up and down the strip. It’s a half-size replica with a viewing platform at the top.
The best things are without question the views from the tower. You can see almost every hotel up and down the strip, as well as a cracking view of the Bellagio. The tower is open day and night and there is often a bit of a queue to get up to the top in the lift.
Being located mid-strip makes it an easy choice to dive over to check it out without wasting too much valuable Vegas time!
Exploring Las Vegas
Honestly, there is so much to see and do in Las Vegas that it’s really tough to put together a daily itinerary for a group. Instead, we focused on some key stag do ideas and big-ticket things. The rest of the time we had a general wander around and did things on the fly.
One thing to know about the hotels in Las Vegas is they all have multiple attractions to get people to visit. For instance, there is a brilliant roller coaster at the New York New York hotel. The Bellagio has its fountains and epic conservatory display. The Mirage has its volcano show. I could go on, but maybe it’s best you explore for yourselves.
One bit of advice I will give is getting to and from places in Las Vegas takes some time. More than you think. The hotels are absolutely huge and walking from one to another next door will take longer than you realise! Taxis and Uber is your friend.
Gambling
I could write a separate post on this subject but here are the plain facts. You can have an epic time in Las Vegas without gambling at all. If you do gamble, take a separate gambling budget. In our group, we had a couple of gamblers, and the rest were happy to have a token go at something. Quite often we’d find ourselves dropping a few dollars into a machine as we passed through somewhere. For us, everyone was happy to say they had played a hand of blackjack at Caesars for instance. Bragging rights again!
Eating and Drinking
Finding food and drinks in Las Vegas is not hard. Choosing what to have and where is, however. Choice is actually a problem because there is an abundance of it. My advice would be that if you want to visit a posh or celebrity restaurant then book ahead. Our group didn’t worry too much about this and had no problems as we ate in more ‘normal’ places.
There are plenty of cheap eats in Las Vegas as well as places with a more typical price tag. One highlight for us was Hash House a Go Go. There are a couple of these in Las Vegas, and we ate brunch at the restaurant inside the Rio Hotel and Casino.
Portions are huge in Las Vegas, as they are in all of the bits of America I’ve seen so far. I’d recommend Hash House a Go Go for brunch as it really sets you up for the day. The bloody marys are also fantastic if you are a bit delicate from the night before!
Oh, don’t forget you can drink for free when gambling. Just grab a server as they walk past and place your order. You must tip a couple of dollars, but it’s a great way for cheap drinks.
Stag do Ideas for Las Vegas
There is a lot to think about when considering stag do ideas for a trip to Las Vegas! I’d say the most important thing is to keep communication lines open. Talk to your group about prices, a rough plan of ‘must-do’ scenarios, and when everyone can make it! Not everyone will afford a trip to Vegas (if you’re not starting off in the States!) so bear that in mind. I’d also suggest selling the stag do idea as a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Aside from the fact that it will be, it is also an easier sell to our better halves!
Why not check out my other Las Vegas posts whilst you’re here?
