Get the accommodation right and the rest of the weekend falls into place. Get it wrong and you’ll spend Saturday morning arguing with a receptionist about the noise policy while the stag sleeps in the bath.
Here’s how to choose where your group stays, what to check before you pay a deposit, and where to stay in the most popular stag destinations.
Your options
Hotels
The easy option. Someone else makes the beds and there’s usually a bar downstairs. Check the hotel is happy to take stag groups, and be aware that some insist on a two-night minimum at weekends. If you want breakfast, say so when you book, as it isn’t always included.
Apartments
Everyone under one roof, a kitchen for pre-drinks and nobody sneaking off to bed early. The catch is usually the deposit: apartments often want a bigger one than hotels, so check how much it is and what gets it back.
Party houses and big group houses
Great for bigger groups or a weekend that’s more hot tub than nightclub. They’re often out of town, so plan your transport, and read the house rules on noise, guests and damage carefully.
Budget and hostels
If the plan is to be out until breakfast, you might only need a bed. Cheap and cheerful works, as long as it’s central.
Tips for booking stag accommodation
- Book early. Popular cities fill up fast in summer, and festival dates (August in Edinburgh, for example) book up first and cost more.
- Stay central. Being able to walk home saves money on taxis and stops anyone getting lost.
- Check they take stag groups. Find out before you book, not when you turn up.
- Read the deposit and cancellation terms. Especially the damage deposit, and what happens if someone drops out.
- Collect the money early. Stag companies’ online payment systems let each person pay their own share, which saves the best man chasing everyone.
- Consider a package. Stag companies bundle accommodation with activities and nights out, and can often get group rates.
Where to stay in popular stag destinations
- Prague: the Old Town or near Wenceslas Square, close to the Charles Bridge clubs. See our Prague stag do guide.
- Benidorm: Levante, near the English Square. See our Benidorm stag do guide.
- Krakow: the Old Town, which is compact and walkable. See our Krakow stag do page.
- Edinburgh: anywhere central, but book well ahead (and expect to pay more) during the Fringe in August. See our Edinburgh stag do page.
Want accommodation and activities sorted in one go? Compare stag do packages with nights away included.
