Underrated Bachelorette Party Destinations With Real Nightlife

The most underrated bachelorette party destinations are Palm Springs, Savannah, Asheville, Scottsdale and New Orleans (if you skip Bourbon Street). Each has real nightlife, plenty to do by day, and lodging that can keep the whole group under one roof. Palm Springs leads our list because a Palm Springs bachelorette party can take over an entire small hotel with a full hotel buyout. Here's how the five compare.

Why skip the obvious bachelorette cities?

The usual picks are fun. They're also full of other bachelorette parties, which means longer waits, louder bars and a lot of photos with strangers in matching sashes in the background. An underrated city gives you the same energy with more room to be the main event.

What we looked for:

• Nightlife that's actually good, not just loud.

• Daytime plans that don't require a hangover cure.

• Lodging that fits the group in one place.

• Easy travel for most of the guest list.

Five underrated bachelorette party destinations with nightlife

1. Palm Springs, California

Pool by day, Palm Canyon Drive and Arenas Road by night. Palm Springs gives you a desert weekend with mountains behind every photo, drag brunch on Sunday and a nightlife scene that's fun without being a bachelorette factory. Our Palm Springs nightlife guide and drag brunch guide have the details.

The lodging is the real advantage. Nine suites. Nine bathrooms. One pool. And nobody else invited. A Muse buyout sleeps up to 22 overnight guests across 10 beds plus two rollaways, with the courtyard pool, a six-person hot tub, an outdoor fireplace and pergola swings. Music is welcome at reasonable volumes until 10PM, so the loud part happens downtown and the late part happens in the hot tub.

Palm Springs International Airport is minutes from The Muse, and Los Angeles and San Diego are about two hours by car without traffic.

2. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah's historic district allows to-go cups, so a night out can drift from one bar to the next under the live oaks. By day, the squares and old homes make the prettiest walking tour in the South. Ghost tours are a must at least once. Spring and fall are the comfortable seasons.

3. Asheville, North Carolina

For the bride who'd pick a brewery over a nightclub. Asheville has a deep craft beer scene, live music most nights and the Blue Ridge Mountains right outside town. Fall color season is popular, so book early if you want leaves in the photos.

4. Scottsdale, Arizona

Old Town Scottsdale packs bars, restaurants and dancing into a compact area, and spring weather is lovely. It's the most "big night out" city on this list. If you're torn between the two deserts, read our Palm Springs vs. Scottsdale comparison.

5. New Orleans, Louisiana

Not exactly a secret, but most groups only see Bourbon Street. Head to Frenchmen Street for live jazz and a crowd that's there for the music. Eat everything. Avoid summer if you can, when the heat and humidity are serious.

How do you get a good deal on a bachelorette hotel?

• Keep the group together. One booking for the whole group beats ten separate room bookings, and splitting a full buyout across the group keeps it simple.

• Go midweek or off-peak. In Palm Springs, summer is hotter and quieter, with more pool time and easier dinner reservations.

• Book early for spring. Spring weekends and festival dates fill first.

• Count what's included. At The Muse, grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills, parking and Wi-Fi are included.

Our bachelorette party planning checklist walks through the budget conversation step by step.

TAKE OVER THE MUSE

A sample underrated weekend in Palm Springs

• Friday: Arrive, decorate, pool. Dinner downtown, then the hot tub.

• Saturday morning: Group yoga at the hotel ($150 for the group with three days' notice) or an early hike.

• Saturday afternoon: Pool party with floats and a playlist.

• Saturday night: Glam with Glam Squad Services, dinner, then Arenas Road.

• Sunday: Drag brunch and one last swim.

Underrated bachelorette FAQ

What are the most underrated bachelorette party destinations?

Palm Springs, Savannah, Asheville, Scottsdale and New Orleans beyond Bourbon Street. Each has real nightlife and lodging that keeps a group together.

What is a unique bachelorette party destination?

Palm Springs, where you can book an entire small hotel for your group. A full Muse buyout sleeps up to 22 overnight guests with a private-to-your-group courtyard pool.

When is the best time for a Palm Springs bachelorette party?

October through May brings warm days and cool nights. Summer is hotter and quieter, with more pool time.

Is The Muse adults-only?

Yes. Individual suite bookings are for guests 15 and older. Full hotel buyouts book the whole property and set their own guest list.

The default cities will still be there next year. Send us your dates and try the desert.