Monday, 25 February 2013

Your HenDo Tour guide for Prague


We've made it a little easier for you to see why Prague is the perfect place to enjoy a girly HenDo abroad. 
The City of Prague offers various opportunities to let your hair down, so check out the ones below we have shortlisted which will show you the best time of your life! 
Places to eat

Hanavský Pavilón-with its central location along with its stunning views it is easy to see why this is highly recommended by locals. Hanavský Pavilón Serves Czech food - a set menu consisting of three courses-on a terrace that overlooks the river. It was first opened in 1891 so still maintains many of the ornate original features.

Suterén- located in the ‘new town’, this restaurant is in a cellar space which has been renovated to a high standard, with exposed brick and beans still visible. The cuisine is international so caters for many tastes. The price is around £10 for a main meal, which is average for this standard of dining but could be seen as expensive when considering the exchange rate.
Tourist attractions

Lesser town- surrounds Prague castle, has been the set for many films and commercials due to its old-style buildings and quaint cobbled streets. Many of the local pubs and restaurants still have the original features and character adding to the experience and feel. Tours are available around this area to get the most out of the time spent. The square is also a social point with cafes and shops.
Golden lane at Prague castle-part of the site in which the famous Prague castle is on, golden lane is a row of preserved historic (16th century) cottages in with goldsmiths used to live.
Astronomical clock-The astronomical clock is one of the main attractions in Prague, part of the square in the old town. The intricate clock draws the crowds ever hour when a small door opens and Jesus and his disciples walk out, whist a skeleton (death) rings the bell.
Wenceslas square- in new town, where clubs and bars are located, has also been a place of historical importance.
Things to do
Charles Bridge- Stroll along Prague’s most famous bridge and take in the views of the river and the architecture/attractions which line the riverside, also a great way to get from the old town to the lesser town(Prague castle).
Estates Theatre- Prague’s oldest theatre is well worth a visit to see the opera or if just to visit the building itself for the stunning architecture.
Dinner concert Mozart in Prague-With delicious traditional food and opera singers entertaining the audience in an atmospheric historical hall, it is a very unique experience.


Places to go out in Prague
Lavka bar and club- widely considered as one of the best clubs in Prague by locals as well as tourists. With two big terraces and located on the riverside it gets very busy in the summer months, and gets remotely quieter in winter. During the day it is a relaxed place to have a quiet drink and then transforms in the evening, thanks to the up to date music played.
Karlovy lazne bar and club- Arranged over 5 floors, Karlovy lazne id the largest club in central Europe. With each level providing its own music style it’s easy to find something to everyone’s music taste. Past 10pm on weekends there can be a long queue so arrive earlier to avoid this.
N11 club- a cellar club in the new town square Wenceslas, plays mostly mainstream music hip hop and R&B. Attracts locals
Aloha bar-not as widely known but still a buzzing place on weekends, playing 80’s/90’s/00’s/10’s music it creates a fun atmosphere with cocktails to keep everyone happy until the early hours.


Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Budapest tourist guide- A perfect HenDo destination


Thinking about booking that all important HenDo, yet not sure exactly where to go? Budapest often surprises those booking a Hen Do as it's not your typically talked about wild and loud destinations, but what people also don't know is how vibrant and versatile the city really is. 
Below we have come up with some of the best places and attractions in Budapest, ensuring you and your friends don't miss out on a single thing. 
Where to eat
Menza
Menza is located on Budapest’s most lively square. Try and book before you go as is a really popular restaurant for diners looking for good quality classic Hungarian dishes at a low price. Close to the centre so perfect for lunch or dinner.




Spoon
Spoon’s is a restaurant on the main river running through the city, serving international cuisine. With amazing location and views you would expect to pay high prices for the food; however the exchange rate allows you to have a main meal for around £10.







Kárpátia

Modern Hungarian cuisine in a palace because the restaurant is so big it is perfect for large groups. The building is 130 years old and the modernisation of the building has been sensitively done to preserve the authenticity, this adds to the drama and ambiance of the room.



Tourist attractions
Andrassy Avenue
– Wonder down Andrassy Avenue which connects the inner city with heroes square. Browse the luxury shops; take in the architecture and opera house and stop of for a drink in one of the many cafes.




Vaci Street
- A lovely road to stroll down and take in the architecture. Wonder in the stretch of high end shops, boutiques and high end restaurants. The best season for this is early spring or mid autumn as in high season it can be a bit over crowded as it’s known for being one of the best things to do in Budapest.



Castle district
- The royal palace and Matthias church are within this district, both of which are extremely popular tourist destinations. Just exploring the old monuments and side streets with the old style houses is worth doing if churches aren’t high on the agenda. Panoramic views are also a highlight of the castle district and can be accessed by the highly praised funicular which costs under £2.50 for an adult ticket.


Things to do
Wine tasting-Buda castle wine tasting (Faust wine cellar) is recommended however there are many other wine tasting venues around the city. Faust wine cellar is within the Hilton hotel in one of the cellar pathways and it has been converted into an intimate wine tasting location with restaurant. It’s a fantastic opportunity to taste some of the wine produced from all over Hungary.




Thermal baths-people flock to the thermal baths of Budapest from around the world because of the uniqueness and historical settings. The old baths are built around natural hot springs- the most famous being ‘The Gellert baths’.








Chain bridge and Danube Promenade-Chain Bridge is an important part of the cities heritage, being the first permanent connection between the two former cities Buda and Pest. It’s a great way to get from one side of the river to the other, and a lovely walk to the peel off to one side to the Danube promenade which runs along the riverside(a tram can also be taken).






Where to go out
Bar Domby-one of the best bars in Budapest, with a vast selection of cocktails on offer (over 80 whiskeys alone). The bar staff have particular attention to detail-if you are a cocktail fan Bar Domby is a must!




Laven-also doubles as a restaurant but most known for is great atmosphere and its stark white interior. It’s commonly used as a sociable place to be before heading out for a club.









Negro cafe- a relaxed bar atmosphere with the outdoor terrace getting full use in the summer months. It is loved by locals for its chilled ambiance and fantastic cocktails- the perfect location for drinks with friends.




Morrison’s 2-for cheap drinks (beer costing 50p) and a cheerful youthful atmosphere Morrison’s 2 is perfect. It also features on some nights, a karaoke evening which adds to the fun atmosphere.

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

How to book a hassle free Hen Do

The pressures of having to book a wedding are bad enough without having to think about pleasing all of your individual girl friends in one go. Having to think about how and where you're gonna have this great night out can make us flap a little more than it really should.

At ClubHen.com we know that there are steps we can take which will take some of the weight off your shoulders, so go grab your coffee and take in these tips to ensure it all runs as smoothly as possible.


Get your mates to do it for you! 
Before you think; 'Now that is a BAD idea', just think about it. You'll still get to have a say in everything that happens, but your friends will take it all on board and make sure it goes to plan. Your friends should love having a little control in this night out that you've all been waiting a lifetime for, and will take pleasure and pride that you trust them to help you with this. It does make it harder as we all prefer different music and drinks, but when your friends are all together they may be able to talk about something that will be fit for the whole team, without you doing it on your own at your kitchen table imagining what would work best. So forget the worries, and the weekend of a lifetime will come to you in no time. 





Do your research
If you are going to be taking this on, on your own, you can save a hell of a lot of time researching to find out exactly what it is you'd like to do. You'll find thousands of websites including places perfect for Hen Do's such as holidays abroad, where to find the best nightclubs and daytime activities that will allow you and the girls to bond like never before. Don't be scared of being over faced my too many ideas either, because you can't do it all in one night. The research may also give you a better idea of the activities you can take out after your wedding, on a honeymoon or whilst having a HenDo abroad. The best thing though, about looking into these exciting ideas is that it's something to focus on separate to all of your day to day worries, allowing you to look forward to something special that you know you deserve. 


Personal Reviews
Rushing brings on panic. And nobody likes to panic. You don't wanna make the mistake of turning up to a shocking venue, and having to stress about everyone having a bad time. Now you can easily get hold of reviews from other party goers to find out where's hot and where's not. Making sure that you look into your Hen Do plans way before they happen will mean no mistakes can be made, and there's nothing more reliable than reading personal reviews on where you'll be staying over as you know they're more than likely to be true.








Agree a budget
Trust me, there's nothing worse than waking up to find that you've spent your whole months wage in a couple of days, or even hours. By agreeing on a budget you'll find it a lot easier to shortlist the fun things you've found to do form your research. Not only will you get to know what's totally off limits, you won't have to worry about splurging hundreds just to enjoy yourself. If you're choosing to do something special like going abroad, perhaps agreeing that the whole group will put an equal amount into the budget to make sure the expenses are kept minimal or fair. Another good thing to do would be to draw as much cash out as you're willing to spend on the one night, so you're not tempted to overspend on an expensive bottle of champaign.

Theme it up!
Not only does having a them for your HenDo make it a hell of a lot funnier and more daring, it also allows you and your friends to forget about your day to day worries, and concentrate on getting the best outfit out of all your friends. Wether you're choosing to go as The Spice girls, The Wombles, naughty nurses or rebellious schoolgirls; you wont't have the dreaded worry of choosing between two party dresses. We all know that's not a good idea. 




So girls, remember...

Making sure your HenDo gives you the least stress possible is easy. 

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Budget Beauty Buys for your Hen Do.


Heading off on a hen do and want to get gorgeous before you go? Here are our tips for the best budget beauty buys.


Legs
Before you jet off, your pins must be in optimum condition both for bikini beauty and when they’re poking out of your favourite bodycon dress. For silky smooth skin, you could try Origins’ gorgeously rich Salt Rub which comes in at over £25, but we prefer Sanctuary’s Daily Spa Escape Salt Scrub, which is a more purse-friendly £11.50 for 650g.



Fake It
Before you slap on the fake tan, every girl knows that moisturising is key. Every teenage girl’s favourite Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion still smells as gorgeous as you remember and rubs in no problem for gorgeously shiny legs. And it’s just £3.75 from Superdrug!
For that all-important pre-tan, it’s beauty’s worst-kept tanning secret: St. Moriz! Cheap and cheerful, this tanning mousse provides you with an even, golden tan for as little as £2.99. Even experts swear by this product, and you can pick it up at Bodycare or Home Bargains on your way home from work. Perfect! Just make sure you use a mitt as it has serious staining power on the palms of your hands.
Beach Babe Hair
You can’t always rely on the power of the sea... if you want to fake the look we definitely recommend Umberto Giannini’s Glam Hair Grunge Glamour Tousled Salt Spray, which is pocket-friendly too at just £5.61.










Perfect Pout
Make-up looks for long days and nights. For ultimate sticking power for big nights out this year’s hot lips are matte. With Valentine’s Day coming up there’s no better time to go for ultimate-drama red lips. Revlon’s “Really Red” is just £7.49 and works with most skin tones, but looks especially gorgeous with beach babe hair and a golden tan.




Perfect Peepers
Waterproof mascara is a must for any holiday. Whether it’s for swimming in a lovely warm sea or getting hot and sweaty on the dance floor, Maybelline’s Volume Express Colossal Waterproof Mascara has serious staying power and costs just £6.99. Team it with Collection (previously Collection 2000)’s Illuminating Touch Concealer (a budget alternative to YSL’s ubiquitous Touche Eclat, at just £4.99) for beautifully bright eyes with absolutely no bags – no matter how late last night was!







Post-Party Lifesavers
Those late nights and boozy days can really wreak havoc on our skin! For post-party beauty it’s important to detox your skin and revive your complexion, so you can look calm on the outside and keep the inner struggle with last night’s cocktails a well-kept secret!
It’s obvious really, but the best thing you can do to detox your skin is to keep hydrated. Water, water, water. The juice of half a lemon squeezed in will help to flush toxins and can make skin appear brighter. But if you need a more aggressive approach, Liz Earle’s Instant Boost Skin Tonic is a bit pricey (it retails at around £16 for 200ml) but it’s a product that genuinely works. When your skin feels a bit flushed, this tonic stops it from overheating with essential oils like rosewood and lavender and calming botanical aloe vera and cucumber, for maintaining that perfectly calm exterior.
Skin Saviour
Finally, but most importantly, the best beauty product on your shopping list if you’re heading somewhere sunny is, of course, sun tan lotion. We recommend Aldi’s Lacura Moisturising Sun Spray (SPF 30) which contains an anti-ageing formula and at £2.79, it’s cheap enough to apply liberally! So there’s no excuse not to stay sun-safe.