Stag and hen parties now cost each guest an average of ￡242

Stag and hen parties are now costing each guest an average of ￡242 – 61% more than a decade ago.

A survey found that the cost of going on a hen or stag do in 2012 was around ￡150 per head.

But today, that figure is an eye-watering ￡242 – with 42% regretting parting with so much cash.

And 47% believe pre-wedding parties have become more extravagant in the last couple of years with brides and grooms wanting to compare themselves to online influencers.

The poll of 1,200 adults also revealed that, pre-pandemic, UK cities were the most likely candidates for a stag or hen party, with London, Liverpool and Manchester the most commonly visited.

But the UK’s capital drops to 12th on the list of places people will go on their next one, with exotic locations like Amsterdam, Marbella and even Miami and Las vegas more likely destinations.

The survey was commissioned by Hotels.com, which has coined 'Stag doe', a mixed gender celebration (for stags and does), killing two birds with one stone when celebrating ahead of the big day.

The survey by Hotels.com found that pre-pandemic most people (24%) said they didn't take any days off work to go to their last hen or stag party.

But when asked the same question about the next one 21% of people were booking a whopping three days leave.

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“It’s clear hen and stag dos are on the rise," says Emma Tagg, a spokesperson for Hotels.com. "We have even seen a 12% increase in searches for group trips compared to 2019, with people clearly ready to celebrate in style."

“It’s clear Brits are going bigger than ever with more holiday days being taken and more money being spent this year."

Hotels.com booking data has also found the most searched for amenity for groups this year was a pool, as opposed to a free breakfast in previous years.

The survey also found that, of those whose have regretted going on a hen or stag do, 40% put the blame on spending too much money.

Just under a third (32%) admitted they had behaved in a ‘regrettable’ manner, while 32% claimed the entire trip was just a nightmare all round.

But 38% felt the event dragged on too long, meaning they had to take more time off work than they’d have liked.

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Nearly one in 10 who have a pre-nuptial trip coming up reckon they’ll need to use up an entire working week of annual leave to fit it all in.

As a result, 64% wish they didn’t have to take so much time off – to attend other people’s celebrations.

And six in 10 said stag and hen dos are simply bad for their bank accounts, according to the OnePoll data.

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Despite this, 42% confessed that for their own stag or hen party, they’d want their friends to take them on an extravagant trip.

It also found 31% have been on a 'Stag Doe' – a mixed-gender stag or hen do, with men and women present.

The same amount has been – or been invited to – a money-saving event where the hen and stag parties were combined into one.

"The growing trend for people to combine their stag and hen parties into one is really interesting, as that can save both cash and precious annual leave," says Emma Tagg. “ All hail the rise of the Stag Doe."

Additional reporting SWNS