NICO I need your help (bachelor party suggestions)

[NolimitZ32]

Here's the story in a nutshell; about a year ago my best friend told me that he had asked his awesome at the time girlfriend to marry him and she said yes (she's a cool chick so I'm happy for him), at the same time he informed me that I was to be his best man (well no s*** Sherlock, that job better be mine, I earned that s*** for putting up with him for a decade and a half). So fast forward a couple months, I am looking at options for the bachelor party and inspiration hits, the groom and I have wanted to go on the Holyship since we first heard about it being advertised for it's maiden voyage a few years ago. So I make plans, sign up for the pre-sale, keep watching the website, etc. The day comes and boom OG cruisers pick the tickets apart, scalpers are asking ridiculous amounts of money, more than I or any of the other groomsmen can afford so that falls through (very sad panda). We talk it over and decide that EDC Vegas would be a good way for us to combine our love of EDM and Vegas debauchery, once again I start getting ready, find hotels, limo services, club specials, etc. Dates for EDC 2014 get released today (20-Nov-13) and wouldn't you know it the carnival falls on the same weekend as the wedding. FFFFUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAA! not again!!!!! (very very sad panda sets in). So guys and gals I'm asking for your help, I've had two awesome ideas which have fallen through because the universe hates me so now I am asking for any ideas. The dates are flexible between 2-June-14 & 13-June-14, can be a weekend or a week, cruise, trip, trek, binge, festival, etc, I just need ideas, throw anything my way.

CN:
- Tried 2 awesome ideas for best friend's bachelor party, both fell through.
- Need ideas from you guys for bachelor party locations or activities in June 2014
- We all like EDM, a number of extreme sports, outdoors, are auto enthusiasts, willing to travel by 3rd world means.
- pretty open ended just want suggestions of what exciting things are happening in the North America in June 2014

IN CLOSING:
I want this to be an experience, this guys is like a brother to me, hell he's closer to me than my actual brother, we grew up together and have so many memories already, I want this to be a memorable experience not stuffed with booze and strippers but with good times, I want us to be able to look back on this decades down the road and say "that was awesome, that was an experience of a lifetime" not "damn we were so drunk for 3 days and 3 nights" (although this may inevitably happen). Thanks all in advance for your suggestions.

[Greenblurr93]

http://www.dfwdriveyourdream.com/awesom ... -party.php

http://www.dreamracing.com/

[themadscientist]

I have an idea.

[nissangirl74]

If you have a week, take a road trip. Pick a destination (or throw a dart at the map like my dad and I used to do) and plan accordingly. Also, consult Jesda. he is the road trip King and knows where all the cool stuff to see / and avoid. Depending on how many go, you can drive something that will get you a big, fat (worth it) ticket....or a minivan to hold a whole crew and just take off on an adventure. Fly somewhere, rent a car and drive home.

[Bubba1]

If you have a week, take a road trip. Pick a destination (or throw a dart at the map like my dad and I used to do) and plan accordingly. Also, consult Jesda. he is the road trip King and knows where all the cool stuff to see / and avoid. Depending on how many go, you can drive something that will get you a big, fat (worth it) ticket....or a minivan to hold a whole crew and just take off on an adventure. Fly somewhere, rent a car and drive home.

^


Geez, I must be old, I had to google both Holyship (first sounded like a floating religious retreat) and EDM. As a veteran of many bachelor parties (of varying degrees of debauchery), I would advise determining out what budget the other participants are willing/able to invest before setting up an elaborate destination vacation type of bachelor party.

If the budget is a non-issue, there are a ton of things you all could do, from racing schools, ski vacations, white water rafting, sky diving, beaching, concerts, airplane dog fighting schools, fishing, pub crawling in New Orleans, South Beach Florida, NYC, etc. But I have found that the best bachelor parties that I've been to by far, involved no travelling, but were well-planned local parties, (with preplanned sober transportation home or overnight accomodations) where the ultimate goal is that groom gets properly toasted (both celebrated and perhaps a bit tipsy). If you get help from the other actual participants in the planning and execution, (and I'm not talking strippers/prostitutes), I guarantee the party will spark great lifelong memories just as well as a destination vacation.


Good luck

[frapjap]

airplane dog fighting schools

Please, elaborate! Do you know some folks who've done that?

[Bubba1]

airplane dog fighting schools

Please, elaborate!

There are a few flight schools around that fly 2 seat airplanes (not jets) that teach dogfighting (with lasers, not bullets). I had a student at VIR few years ago who instructed at one of those schools part time. He was a retired air force pilot. The pilot/instructor does most of the flying (though how much depends on your flight experience - but you don't need a pilot license to do it) and you act as the gunner chasing down the other participants. Plus the planes have video cameras so you can see your sessions. I'd love to try it some day. The downside is the cost, which is considerably more than a track day, Figure about $1500 for first timer. But I was thinking, if OP is talking about splurging on a themed cruise, this could be cheaper and more memorable.

[NolimitZ32]

Thanks all for the suggestions, the specific ones really help the most. Just a bit more info, the groom lives in New Orleans and I am planning to do a local thing in the quarter a few days before the wedding for all the guys that wont be able to attend the "away" party. I am still adamant on doing something away though because this is the best reason I have had in the last 5 years to tear this guy away from his woman coupled with the fact that we've both been working and living in different places for the last 8 years and haven't had too many occasions just for the boys. I and the rest involved would be down for a road trip but to what destination? I have been toying with the idea of a 4 day cruise to Cozumel leaving from NOLA, to make it easier for everyone (since most of the participants and the groom live in NOLA). I don't know, maybe I should just take a step back since I did a lot of planning for both of my other choices before they fell through so I'm on overload. Again, thanks for the ideas guys and gals, keep em coming.

[nissangirl74]

If Cozumel is on your list, you might want to make sure that everyone has a passport.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

+1 for a local party (like Joel said). I know destination parties drop attendance like whoa, and are super expensive. If that's something you'd like to do with him, then so be it, but like you already said, plan on having 2 parties (so everyone can enjoy).

Given no timeframe, I'd suggest going to Oktoberfest, however you said he'd be getting married before that happens again. There's a little-known super oktoberfest-like party in Stuttgart that happens in the spring (called Frühlingsfest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttgart_Spring_Festival ) that you could hit up, but it really isn't as "tourist friendly" as Oktoberfest (it helps big time if you know German).
Either way, you could get schwasted and have a good, unforgettable time
+1 for having passports ready to go.

[NolimitZ32]

Cozumel is on the list, and good point, I often overlook such details because I've always had a passport. Thanks for that heads up for sure.

The time frame would be end of May to middle of June and even though Europe would be awesome I am positive that at least 2 of the other groomsmen wont be able to swing that.

Thanks again, keep em coming, way I see it I still have a month or so to decide.

[Bubba1]

Just curious, have you solicited ideas (and budget limits) from the other groomsmen/participants?? It would seem to me that you might want to choose an activity they'd all like to do, especially if you're expecting them to invest money and vacation time to do it.

[Dattebayo]

Man oh man, maybe I'm missing something, but shouldn't you have had this all hashed out months and months ago?

I have the same duties coming up for April next year, and I had my plans ironed out 2 weeks after I was told my buddy was gonna get married. Maybe it's because not everyone can do it The Hangover style?

[NolimitZ32]

Just curious, have you solicited ideas (and budget limits) from the other groomsmen/participants?? It would seem to me that you might want to choose an activity they'd all like to do, especially if you're expecting them to invest money and vacation time to do it.

I have and they have left it up to me, they've given me budgets and basically what they are and aren't up for. They don't do very well at planning so it's fallen all on me.

Man oh man, maybe I'm missing something, but shouldn't you have had this all hashed out months and months ago?

I have the same duties coming up for April next year, and I had my plans ironed out 2 weeks after I was told my buddy was gonna get married. Maybe it's because not everyone can do it The Hangover style?

You obviously are missing something because as I explained, I had 2 absolutely awesome ideas and had everything figured out down to the particular condo we would've stayed in and got screwed on both in ways I had no control over (Tickets sold out before I even had a chance to buy for one and dates for EDC released a week ago). Thanks for the condescending response Mr. Wenneck, it was really helpful.

[Dattebayo]

You obviously are missing something because as I explained, I had 2 absolutely awesome ideas and had everything figured out down to the particular condo we would've stayed in and got screwed on both in ways I had no control over (Tickets sold out before I even had a chance to buy for one and dates for EDC released a week ago). Thanks for the condescending response Mr. Wenneck, it was really helpful.

Well it certainly wasn't meant as condescending, so you really don't have to take it that way if you don't want to... Really all I was getting at is that relying on getting tickets for a popular event without a backup plan just doesn't sound like good planning. How come you weren't considering versions of old standards for bachelor parties? It just sounds to me like you put the horse before the cart, if you will.

Anyway, all the good suggestions were taken, so sorry if I couldn't really add. I just wanted to understand the whole logic at work here, okay?

[NolimitZ32]

Sorry, the hangover comment kind of made it look condescending. No harm no foul, sorry I took it that way. As for the tickets, I couldn't get them, I didn't even have a chance, they sold out to 1st refusal buyers (which I was not). Either way, I think I've figured it out for the most part. Going to do the big one in NOLA even though he lives there it is still one of the best places in the world to throw a proper stag. As for getting away, I think the groom, myself and one of the groomsmen are just going to take a trip somewhere tropical, deciding between Cabo, Trinidad, Jamaica, Cancun or possibly the keys. Thanks all for your help. Its not 100% set in stone so if you come up with something throw it on up.