Mobile nav search icon Mobile nav toggle icon Mobile nav close icon

Time's Up for the mankini

Stag do’s that are stylish, not shameful

Adventure

Shame, humiliation and 2-for-1 Jägerbombs. Let's be honest: most men hate the extreme rituals that take place on stag do's. So with best man Prince William warning his brother that ‘revenge' is on the cards, here are five respectable stag do's that are stylish rather than shameful…

01

Rent a vintage yacht on the Italian riviera

Stag do's and boats go together like hot wings and cold beer. But renting a ghastly floating palace loaded with caviar and hookers is just so naff. Instead, hop on Airbnb and rent the Rondine II, a lovingly-restored classic yacht built in the 1940s. It cruises Italy’s jaw-dropping Cinque Terre coast, a UNESCO world heritage site, stopping periodically to take on crates of Campari and cured meat.

From £476 per night (six guests), airbnb.com

02

Spend the day at a Japanese bath house

If you haven’t been to a Japanese onsen, you’re in for a treat. Part rejuvenating volcanic hot spring, part soapy male bonding experience, onsen are the traditional way to detox after a night on cheap whisky-soda highballs. Admittedly, getting naked with your mates is a bit weird, but they will provide a tiny flannel if you’re shy.

£1.50 admission, japan-guide.com

03

Conquer the Malt Whisky Trail

Bad news: the drinks in Club Tropicana are not free. Besides, you’re probably over the whole provincial nightclub thing. Instead, we recommend exploring Scotland’s Malt Whisky Trail. It comprises nine distilleries in the Speyside region, including Cardhu and Glenlivet. Each boutique sauce-factory will roll out the red carpet and serve up a sample its peaty wares.

Guided tours from £10 per per distillery, maltwhiskytrail.com

04

Be a high roller in Ian Fleming’s favourite city

Vegas is outdated, cheesy and tiresome. These days, VIPs and high rollers head to the Chinese city of Macau. This year, there are three new luxury hotels opening. The £1billion Zaza Hadid-designed Morpheus, the £2.5billion MGM Cotai, and The 13, which is comprised of 200 ‘villa suites’ built at a cost of £4.5 million each. Fleming would almost certainly approve.

the13.com / mgm.mo / cityofdreamsmacau.com

05

Hit up an Italian butchery masterclass

Italian steakhouse Macellaio RC, located in London's Union Street, offers interactive butchery classes. Head upstairs to the 'meat theatre' and the head butcher will school you and your friends in the art of butchery. You'll learn a range of skills including how to slice the restaurant's signature cut of beef, fassone. Assuming that you still have both your thumbs, the three-hour experience concludes with a three-course meal.   £90, macellaiorc.com

Wild swimming

Read next

The top five wild swimming spots in Britain

Adventure, Health 1 year ago

Curve card review

Read next

Curve review: a high-tech Mastercard for...

Technology 4 years ago

Related articles


Adventure

Dwayne Fields in Jason Fox’s Wild Tales Podcast

Martin Robinson

3 weeks ago

Adventure

Guy DeaconThe man who drove the full length of Africa –...

Martin Robinson

7 months ago

Adventure, Health

Wild swimmingThe top five wild swimming spots in Britain

Tom Bailey

1 year ago

Adventure

The Best Wild Swimming Kit

Martin Robinson

3 years ago

Adventure

Jake TylerThe Man Who Walked Britain (To Overcome Depression)

The Book Of Man

3 years ago

Adventure

ROSS EDEGLY TALISKER AND PARLEY PARTNERSHIPThe Talisker and Parley Mission With Ross Edgley

Mark Sandford

3 years ago

Adventure

Get Involved with the Under a Tarp Challenge

The Book Of Man

4 years ago

Adventure

How to build a resilient mindset

Martin Robinson

4 years ago

Adventure

cabin pornCabin porn: five luxe huts that ditch civilisation...

Tom Bailey

5 years ago

Adventure

Slow travelThe best slow travel holidays

Tom Bailey

5 years ago