Of all of the celebrations surrounding a wedding, perhaps the most fun and stress-free is the bachelorette party. No longer just a night of debauchery, the bachelorette party is a time for bonding with friends and honoring the next phase of your life. Whether you choose a weekend getaway or an in-town soiree, with the right location and our experts' simple guidelines you can create the event of a lifetime. 

GET OUT OF TOWN
Nothing builds excitement like anticipation of a girls' getaway. "Weekend-long events allow guests an opportunity for extra bonding time and a chance to combine daytime and nighttime activities," says Pamela Yager, creator of Bride's Night Out, a company dedicated to bachelorette party planning.

Some things to consider: Longer events are more expensive, and sometimes a weekend away doesn't work into everyone's schedules. If your bank account can support a multi-day event and everyone's available, it's vital to plan gratifying activities for your guests. Spa time, wine-tastings, gourmet cuisine, and pursuits ranging from belly dancing to snowshoeing are sure to please. And don't forget to schedule some alone time so guests can catch their breath, suggests Diann R. Valentine, president of the Pasadena event planning firm D.R. Valentine and Associates, Inc.

Here are three luxurious locations ready and waiting to host a bachelorette bash.

DESERT DELIGHT - A one-hour flight from Los Angeles will find you and your friends soaking in the desert atmosphere of Scottsdale, Arizona. Check into the retro-cool Hotel Valley Ho, once a getaway for Humphrey Bogart, Bing Crosby, and Marilyn Monroe.

Room choices abound: Cabana Guest Rooms are located poolside; Studio Guest Rooms have deep tubs that let you watch the flat-screen TV from your bubble bath; Terrace Suites have patios and balconies as large as the suites themselves; and the mod Executive Suites offer circular tubs and expensive patios. The urban retreat provides pampering via the top-notch VH Spa as well as easy access to the nearby restaurants, art galleries, and downtown Scottsdale.

Head into town on the hotel's Paul Frank-stylized Julian bikes to shop on Fifth Avenue and the Waterfront. Enjoy tea at The Mandala Room, ice cream at the Sugar Bowl, and wine tasting at the Kazimierz World Wine Bar. Back at the hotel, keep the party rolling with Mai Tais and dinner at Trader Vic's semi-private Luau Room.

The next morning, grab the girls and hike Camelback Mountain or take a Yamuna body rolling class before grabbing breakfast at Cafe Zuzu. Split your day between the pool and the spa. Get a red flower Hammam full-body massage before corralling the party to a poolside cabana and donning coin belts and scarves for belly dancing lessons. Henna tattoos and flavored tobaccos for hookah smoking are available for adventuresome gals. Follow it up by having your hair and makeup done by the spa.

On your final night, pile into a limo for Mexican fare at the Pink Taco, followed by elixirs at the newly opened e4 nightclub.

RANCH REVELRY - Poolboys and butlers are two of the many great reasons to host your bachelorette party at Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley, California. Better yet is the "Babes in the Woods" hiking program.

            Cradled in a secluded canyon amid the Mayacama Mountains, the resort takes advantage of the beautiful surrounds by melding its architecture with the landscape. A prime example is the Estate Lodge, with indoor and outdoor living rooms complete with fireplaces, and an outdoor hot tub with views of the forest. As part of the "Babes in the Woods" package, the kitchen is stocked with custom-blended, homemade ice cream for when late-night munchies strike. Magazines and DVDs are also on hand for lazing indoors. When nature beckons, however, it's difficult to resist.

            Hit the trails for hiking and biking, or try activities unique to the property, such as poetry, meditation, and photography classes. Spend another day wine tasting at local wineries. A lime transports your group, stopping along the way for a picnic. Toast your weekend with dinner at The Lakeshore Restaurant overlooking Lake Lommel. Return to the lodge, where monogrammed bathrobes and leather-bound journals await.

            The next day, visit the Bathhouse Spa. Try the Ultimate Chocolate Indulgence treatment: a chocolate espresso scrub, chocolate milk bath, and chocolate lotion massage. Next up is a private session in The Bathhouse's spring-fed soaking pools, with local wines and cheese for sustenance. Later, have a private chef cook up gourmet fare at the lodge, or head to Calistoga to dine on cuisines from around the world at the Wappo Bar & Bistro. As your journey draws to a close, gather by the fire for a walk down memory lane.

MOUNTAIN MERRIMENT - Nestled in the idyllic village of Vail, Colorado, is the stone and hewn wood Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (VMLS), where the spacious yet cozy Camp Hale  Suite will make a great base for your stay. Comfy amenities include a deep soaking tub, heated bathroom floors, a fireplace, and a balcony overlooking Gore Creek and Vail Mountain.

Upon arrival, hop aboard the free Town of Vail bus for an overview of the village and stops for boutique shopping. Next, check in at the spa at VMLS with Ellen Miller, two-time summiteer of Mt. Everest and creator of Mountain Divas program. Miller is all about helping women achieve their goals, whether it's scaling a mountain, reconnecting with old friends, or getting wedding-dress ready. A custom-designed Mountain Divas weekend begins by shaking off jet lag and getting accustomed to the mountain elevation with a hike through the Vail trail system. For a decadent reward, hikers share dishes such as Thai beef lettuce wraps and sweet potato ravioli at the VMLS's Terra Bistro.

The next morning, embark on a four-hour round-trip hike or a snowshoe expedition to Gore Creek Falls for a picnic lunch. Back at the spa, stretch out tight muscles with a yoga class Additional creature comforts include a sports massage that uses a combination of warm basalt river stones and cold tumbled marble. Later, walk across a covered bridge to the village square for dinner at Sweet Basil. For dessert, savor hot sticky toffee pudding cake while watching the sun set over Gore Creek. Afterward, take part in the night scene. Summer visitors can catch a performance at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre. The Tap Room, The Club, and The Red Lion are year-round mainstays for grabbing a beer and listening to live music, and the Samana Lounge is a fun place to dance the night away.

On your final day in Vail, engage in a mix of activities that involve agility, flexibility, and strength training. Get things rolling with lessons on the VMLS's climbing wall. Then hike up to the top of Vail Mountain for soaring views before riding the Eagle Bahn Gondola back down to earth. 

 

PARTY, L.A.-STYLE
For ultimate convenience, host a bachelorette party in town. Parties held locally are more cost-effective, but more creativity may be required to make a celebration in familiar surroundings memorable, says Valentine. Her solution: Plan a party with multiple activities.

"Stop for dessert at a different location, go to a night spot that has disco as well as a room with live music, or plan breakfast before the party ends," she says. When it comes to venues made for celebrating , Los Angeles knows how to get the party started. Here are a few.

 REVELRY AT REPUBLIC - Since its debut in March 2005, Republic restaurant and lounge has hosted some of the more happening parties in town, with a VIP list including celebs like Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah, and Charlize Theron. The establishment is essentially six venues rolled into one: Prana Cafe, serving al fresco breakfast and lunch; the hip, sophisticated Dining Room; the Cocktail Lounge; the Balcony Lounge; M Lounge; and Venue, for large-scale events. Republic is packed with style, from the patio lounge's water-wall entrance to M Lounge's crocodile leather walls.

First, a limousine send by the restaurant will arrive at your doorstep to whisk your group away. Once at Republic, share a champagne toast in a cabana on the romantic patio. Move inside to the Dining Room, where a fire burns on a bed of glass, and a wine fairy belays up and down a 20-foot, floor-to-ceiling Tower of Wine, plucking vintages from the 1,450-bottle collection. Taking center stage is a menu featuring gourmet American cuisine with a Southern kick. Two dishes to try: Maryland blue crab cake and BBQ-style pulled pork. After dinner, head upstairs to the Balcony Lounge for cocktails and tunes spun by a DJ. Finally, get moonstruck in the lunar-inspired M Lounge while reminiscing over coffee. 

RAISE THE ROOF AT THE ROOSEVELT - Where better than Carmen Miranda Square for a fete with your best pals? At the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (HRH), numerous suites befit such a grand event, from the Gable & Lombard Penthouse with its outdoor bar and rooftop garden to the Marilyn Monroe Suite with a terrace ideal for watching happenings at the pool.

Celebrate with a dinner of steak and seafood at the sophisticated Dakota restaurant. Then rally around the Lobby Lounge fountain with drinks from the Library Bar. Ready to take o the night, walk among Elvis impersonators and Darth Vader wannabes at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on your way to Lucky Strikes Lanes for bowling or The Highlands Nightclub for dancing. Close out the night with gourmet burgers, fine wine, and cheese at the HRH's 25 Degrees. Don't miss the thyme-seasoned French fries with 12 dipping sauces from which to choose.

If you're continuing the festivities overnight, start the next day by shopping at the Hollywood & Highland Center and go on a trousseau-stocking spree at Frederick's of Hollywood. Then assemble the group at the Suite100's cabana beside the David Hockney-designed swimming pool, which has played host to parties with attendees like Jessica Simpson and Colin Farrell. Luxuriate with poolside services from the HRH's Massage Garden spa menu. As the day wanes, don't bemoan the loss of the sun. Between the fire pits and the Tropicana Hollywood pool bar, you've got the makings for a night to remember.

FESTIVITIES AT FORTY DEUCE - After a bridal shower over high tea, going to the other extreme for the bachelorette party might be in order. Round up the girls and head to Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce in Hollywood.

Mood-setting searchlights cut through a dry-ice haze, and tunes spun by a DJ prompt feet to move and hips to shake. Arrive prior to the 11:30 p.m. show and get close up to the action with reserved VIP seating at the bar. A clue that you've found the perfect place to let your hair down: Liquid Salvation and earplugs are at the ready.

On Thursdays and Fridays, catch the "Forty Deuce" classical burlesque show, two 14-minute performances accompanied by the bump and grind stylings of the Forty Deuce Band. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the "Royal Jelly" show brings seven girls to the stage for two 25-minute sets in a gala performance set to live rock music. Perhaps the most fun is joining the other revelers on stage to shake your groove thing during intermission.

 

DO'S AND DON'TS
To alleviate bumps in the road and ensure a successful bachelorette bash, heed these recommendations from Diann R. Valentine, president of the event planning firm D.R. Valentine & Associates, Inc. and Pamela Yager, creator of Bride's Night Out, Inc. 

DO
- Consult the calendar. Consider everyone's schedule and plan months ahead.
- Invite female age-appropriate members of the groom's family.
- Be budget conscious. Unless you're picking up the whole tab, take your guest's  pocketbooks into consideration.
- Be considerate of guests' tolerance for naughty or nice games.
- Incorporate details into the event that reflect the bride's personality.
- Plan enough activities so everyone is engaged while celebrating with the bride.
- Pack a camera. Later, you can design an album of photos so guests will always remember the party. 

DON'T
- Don't neglect to ask about guest's dietary restrictions or food allergies.
- Don't include elements that could make the bride uncomfortable.
- Don't plan anything that the future bride's husband may not approve of.
- Don't drink and drive. Have a designated driver or hire a car service.
- Don't let the bride leave empty handed. Create activity stations where party members can make something memorable for the bride, whether it's a personalized T-shirt or scrapbook.
- Don't go it alone. If planning becomes overwhelming, hire a professional.