Feature: Top lads holidays for the May bank holiday

Thursday, 12 May 2011 8:04 AM

You could say there are two types of holidays: ones with the girlfriend, the other with the lads.

With the long bank holiday weekend coming up, now is a great time to start planning a trip with your mates. From the late-night clubs of Budapest to the rowdy pubs of Newcastle, we have compiled seven of the best weekend destinations for you to party in!

Dublin

Ireland’s capital boasts grand historic architecture like the president’s Aras an Uachtarain, fine food, and the Guinness storehouse where you can stare out over the city in the Gravity Bar. And of course there are plenty of pubs for drinking the black stuff! Take a fast speedboat around Dublin Bay on the Sea Safari Weekend in the day, while partying hard in the Temple Bar area at night. Or take the Four Clove Pub Crawl where a guide will get you all toasty in the best bars in town, such as the split-level Fitzsimon’s Bar.

Croatia

Instead of turning up in a city and drinking until noon, why not try five or seven! VamosTravel offer a week-long party cruise in the Croatian Adriatic Sea with snorkelling and sunbathing in the day and late-night partying in the likes of Dubrovnik and Korcula at night. At the bargain price of £299 per week this will get you sorted.

Stopping off on Brac island, swim at the famous Dalmatia beach before sailing to UNESCO protected Split where you can crawl from Gaga bar to Red Room and drink Ozujsko beer to your heart’s content.

Newcastle

One word describes Newcastle: party-town. The city is dedicated to it. Nowhere else in England does it like this friendly place, where businesses shut dead on 5pm and bars begin to heave as the nightlife gets started.

Stay at the Copthorne Hotel based on the impressive Quayside and have a Newcastle Brown Ale at Goose at the Gardens before challenging your mates to a dance off at Sea or Blu Bamboo. For good funky tunes head to World Headquarters, followed by a late night stotty in the Bigg Market afterwards.

Amsterdam

Most see it as a city of sin, and although it can be, why not do a bit of go-karting or paintballing before you head out on the town.

Stagweb offer half to full day paintballing trips for hangover cures, including all necessary equipment for you to get even with your mates! Or just create your own itinerary of canal tours, Dutch beer tasting, or target shooting practise. Later, kick back at the numerous coffee-shops and take in the city’s canals before clubbing in the Sugar Factory.

Budapest

From the silent and grand Danube River to the communist statues of Memento Park, Budapest is a happening and cultured city with unique food and friendly locals. Chow down on some freshwater Zander dishes or Ujhazy chicken soup in the numerous Obuda district restaurants like the Regi, which also offers freshwater carp and pike!

Budapest Stag Weekends specialise in catered activity breaks where you can mix swimming in the Thermal Spa with driving a tank, trabant, or quad afterwards. Or you can just doing a bit of bowling or take a tour of the ancient city. In the evening go to a casino or take a five-hour pub crawl, choosing your own local haunts along the way. Try the local tipple Unicum. It tastes like cough-medicine, looks like cough medicine, but packs a punch!

Prague

Another Eastern European jewel, the hedonistic and historic city has been attracting groups of blokes in droves to experience its late-night revelry and ancient architecture. Food and beer are very cheap, and the local pilsner beers ensure a top night out. Shoot AK-47s or do a bit of bobsledding: the list is as endless as your imagination.

Take a brewery tour with Eclipse Leisure or drive like mad on a go-karting trip, coming with two-nights’ accommodation, breakfast, and a queue jump to town centre nightclubs. Or for a really special party weekend, book the ultimate package and take in quad biking,
pistol shooting, a club crawl and casino trips.

Cardiff

The Welsh capital is friendly, has amazing sandwich bars such as the New York Deli, and stunning Victorian arcades with one-off shops and unique cafes. It also renowned for having a fun night scene! The Welsh sure know how to party. Just head out on a Saturday night and you’ll see what I mean.

But Cardiff Bay and the Bristol Channel are beautiful, so why not take a fishing trip designed with lads in mind? Design Adventure will show you how to bait up and catch pollock and dab while also throwing in two nights’ accommodation and tickets to a comedy club and after show disco. Prices start at £140.