The bachelorette trip has evolved far beyond a single night out with matching sashes. Today it is a full weekend -- sometimes a full week -- that celebrates the bride and strengthens the friendships that will carry her into married life. But planning one? That can feel like organizing a small wedding of its own, complete with competing opinions, budget anxiety, and logistical headaches.

I have helped plan more bachelorette trips than I can count, and I have also attended plenty where the planning fell apart. The difference between a trip everyone raves about and one that quietly breeds resentment almost always comes down to early, honest communication and a clear timeline. Here is the step-by-step guide I wish someone had handed me the first time I was named Maid of Honor.

The 6-Month Planning Timeline

6 Months Before: Lay the Groundwork

This is where you set the tone for the entire trip. Before you pitch a single destination, you need three pieces of information:

The bride's vision: Does she want a chill wine-tasting weekend, a wild beach party, an outdoor adventure, or something in between? Ask her directly. Do not assume based on her personality -- plenty of introverts want to dance until 3 AM for their bachelorette, and plenty of extroverts dream of a quiet cabin weekend.
The guest list: Get the full list from the bride. This is her call, not yours. Once you have it, create a group chat (more on managing that below).
The budget reality: Send an anonymous survey to the group asking for their maximum comfortable spend, all-in. Use Google Forms or a simple poll. This one step prevents more drama than anything else you will do.

Pro tip: Frame the budget question as "What is the most you would be comfortable spending on a 3-night trip, including flights, accommodation, food, and activities?" You want the real number, not the aspirational one.

5 Months Before: Lock the Destination

With budget data in hand, narrow your destination options to two or three and let the group vote. Here is how to match the vibe to the destination:

For the Chill Bride:

Napa Valley or Sonoma, California: Wine tastings ($25-$40 per winery), gorgeous vineyards, incredible food, spa days. Budget $200-$350 per person per night for a shared rental.
Tulum, Mexico: Beach clubs, cenote swims, yoga classes, and the most photogenic food in North America. Budget $150-$250 per person per night.
Savannah, Georgia: Walkable historic charm, open-container laws (yes, really), amazing Southern food, and rooftop bars. Budget $100-$200 per person per night.
Sedona, Arizona: Red rock hikes, spa treatments, stargazing, and wine tasting in the Verde Valley. Budget $150-$300 per person per night.

For the Party Bride:

Miami, Florida: South Beach clubs, pool parties, Cuban food, boat rentals. Budget $200-$400 per person per night.
Scottsdale, Arizona: Pool party culture, Old Town bar scene, desert jeep tours. Budget $150-$300 per person per night during shoulder season.
Nashville, Tennessee: Honky-tonk bars, pedal taverns, live music everywhere. Budget $120-$250 per person per night.
Ibiza, Spain: If budget allows, the ultimate party destination. Beach clubs by day, world-class DJs by night. Budget $250-$500 per person per night.

For the Adventure Bride:

Costa Rica: Zip-lining, waterfall hikes, surfing, hot springs. Budget $100-$200 per person per night.
Iceland: The Golden Circle, glacier hikes, natural hot springs, Northern Lights (winter). Budget $200-$400 per person per night.
Park City, Utah: Skiing or mountain biking depending on season, plus a charming downtown. Budget $150-$350 per person per night.

4 Months Before: Book Accommodation and Flights

Do not wait on this. Bachelorette-friendly rentals (large houses with pools, downtown condos) book up fast, especially for summer and fall weekends.

Accommodation tips:

Vacation rentals beat hotels for groups. A 4-bedroom Airbnb or VRBO with a pool and a big kitchen will cost less per person and give you shared space for getting ready, pregaming, and late-night hangouts.
Look for properties with outdoor space. A patio, pool, or rooftop makes the accommodation itself a venue for activities.
Book with one credit card and have everyone Venmo or Zelle their share immediately. Waiting to collect money later is a recipe for awkwardness.
Read the fine print on noise and guest policies. Nothing kills a bachelorette faster than getting a warning from a property manager at 10 PM.

For flights, create a shared Google Sheet with everyone's arrival and departure times so you can coordinate airport runs and plan activities around the full group's availability.

3 Months Before: Plan Activities

The golden rule of bachelorette activities: plan 60% of the time, leave 40% unstructured. Over-scheduling leads to exhaustion and resentment. Under-scheduling leads to the group standing around asking "so what should we do?"

A strong bachelorette day looks like this:

Late morning: Brunch at a restaurant you have already reserved
Early afternoon: One planned activity (wine tour, beach club, cooking class, boat rental)
Late afternoon: Free time (pool, nap, explore)
Evening: Dinner reservation, then a planned night activity or bar crawl

Activity ideas by budget:

Activity	Budget Range	Best For
Wine or cocktail tour	$40-$80 per person	Chill or party vibes
Cooking class	$50-$100 per person	Foodies, chill groups
Boat or yacht rental	$50-$150 per person (split)	Party vibes, Instagram
Spa day	$100-$250 per person	Chill, luxury groups
Guided hike or outdoor tour	$30-$80 per person	Adventure groups
Club or VIP table	$50-$200+ per person (split)	Party groups
Drag brunch	$40-$80 per person	Fun, inclusive groups

Book everything that needs a reservation now. For popular restaurants, three months out is not too early.

2 Months Before: Handle the Details

Create a shared packing list. Include any theme or dress code for specific events.
Order custom items if you are doing matching swimsuits, shirts, or tumblers. Allow time for shipping delays.
Coordinate surprise elements with the rest of the group (without the bride). A scavenger hunt, a slideshow of old photos, a surprise guest -- one or two thoughtful touches go a long way.
Send a detailed itinerary to the group with addresses, reservation times, and what to wear.

1 Month Before: Confirm Everything

Reconfirm all reservations (accommodation, restaurants, activities, transportation)
Collect final payments from everyone
Share emergency information: nearest hospital, local ride-share availability, the accommodation address
Download offline maps if traveling internationally

The Week Before: Final Prep

Charge portable batteries and download playlists
Buy snacks and drinks for the rental (or arrange grocery delivery for arrival day)
Prepare any decorations, games, or gifts
Send a final "get excited" message to the group with the weather forecast and a reminder of the first day's plan

Budgeting for Different Income Levels

This is the hardest part of bachelorette planning, and most guides skip it. Here is the honest version.

When the group has mixed incomes:

Set the budget to what the most budget-conscious person can afford. Pushing someone to spend beyond their comfort zone will make them resent the trip, even if they say it is fine.
Build in opt-in upgrades. The core itinerary fits the budget. A spa add-on or a nicer dinner is available for those who want it.
Let the bride go free -- but only if everyone can genuinely afford their share. In a group of 8, covering the bride adds roughly 14% to each person's cost. If that pushes people past their limit, it is okay to split her costs partially or skip this tradition.

Rough budget tiers (per person, for a 3-night trip, excluding flights):

Budget ($300-$600): Shared rental in a domestic destination, home-cooked meals mixed with dining out, free or low-cost activities (beach days, hiking, bar crawl)
Mid-range ($600-$1,200): Nicer rental or boutique hotel, most meals out, 2-3 paid activities
Luxury ($1,200-$2,500+): High-end rental or resort, all meals out, premium activities (yacht, spa, VIP experiences)

Handling Group Dynamics

The Decision-Maker Problem

If every decision goes to a full group vote, nothing will get decided. Instead, the Maid of Honor or designated planner should make most logistical decisions and present them to the group. Offer votes only on things that genuinely have multiple good options: destination, one or two key activities.

The Flaky Friend

You will likely have one person who commits, then backs out, then recommits. Set a firm deposit deadline. After that date, if someone drops out, they are responsible for their share of any non-refundable bookings. Communicate this upfront -- it is not personal, it is financial reality.

The Over-Planner vs. the Go-With-the-Flow Crew

If you are the planner, resist the urge to schedule every 30-minute block. If you are the go-with-the-flow type, understand that someone has to make reservations and coordinate logistics. Meet in the middle: clear plans for meals and one daily activity, freedom for everything else.

Alcohol Expectations

Not everyone drinks the same amount, and not everyone drinks at all. Avoid "all-you-can-drink" group packages unless you are certain everyone is on board. For group dinners, ask the server to split the bill by what each person ordered, or agree on an even split before sitting down.

Surprise Elements That Actually Work

The best bachelorette surprises are not expensive; they are personal.

A photo slideshow or video montage from the bride's friends and family, played during a quiet moment at the rental
A "Why We Love [Bride's Name]" jar where everyone writes notes for her to read
A surprise activity she has always wanted to try but never done (surfing lesson, pottery class, horseback riding)
A letter from the groom or partner, read privately or aloud depending on the couple's style
A custom playlist of songs from every era of the bride's life

Making It All Easier with TripGenie

Planning a bachelorette trip means juggling dates, budgets, activities, and opinions from 6 to 15 people. TripGenie can streamline the hardest parts: generating itinerary options based on your destination and group size, keeping everyone's preferences organized, and building a day-by-day schedule you can share with the whole group in one link.

Instead of managing a spreadsheet, 47 screenshots in a group chat, and three different booking confirmations, you can keep everything in one place and let the group see exactly what is planned, when, and where.

The Bottom Line

The best bachelorette trips share three things: a destination that matches the bride's personality, a budget that does not strain anyone, and enough structure to feel special without enough to feel stressful. Start planning early, communicate openly about money, and remember that the point is not perfection -- it is celebrating someone you love with the people who love her too.

The bride is not going to remember whether the dinner reservation was at the trendy place or the second-choice spot. She is going to remember laughing until she cried, feeling loved by her closest friends, and the look on everyone's face during that one moment that could not have been scripted. Plan for that feeling, and the details will fall into place.

How to Plan the Perfect Bachelorette Trip: A Step-by-Step Guide