Top 10 guy getaways

6. Party in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the ultimate spot for excess, a place where boys can be boys and indulge in the activities guys love: gambling, girls, and nightlife. The Hardwood Suite at the Palms Casino Resort is tailor-made for men — think a basketball half-court and scoreboard, a massive hot tub, a full bar, and a pool table. More basketball touches like a lavish locker room and jerseys are courtesy of Palms owner George Maloof, who also owns the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. Models wearing cheerleader and referee uniforms will even act as hosts for your special night. If you're looking for ladies, we've got you covered — we recommended Vegas as a top girls getaway, too.

Book it: Nightly rates for the Hardwood Suite start at $25,000. Two master bedrooms and three extra-large Murphy beds plus a living room sleep 10. But if you’re just there to party, the max capacity is 325 — invite all your closest friends and get your game on.

7. Play cowboy in Lajitas
Nestled between Big Bend National Park to the west and the Rio Grande to the south, the rugged landscape of small-town Lajitas, Texas can inspire even the slickest city slicker to don a ten-gallon hat, pack a pistol, and settle in for a heated game of poker with his pals. The best place to corral your inner cowboy is at the Lajitas Resort’s Badlands Hotel, which recreates a Wild West frontier town complete with tumbling tumbleweeds and a rickety boardwalk, albeit with modern comforts and amenities. Don’t leave without trying to drink the town’s local celebrity — a beer-swilling goat — under the table (you’ll find Clay Henry guzzling longnecks at The Trading Post).

Book it: The 25,000-acre Lajitas Resort offers a two-night "So You Wanna Be a Cowboy" package for $390/night. Learn how to shoot the guns that won the West at Greasewood Flats, Lajitas’ cowboy action shooting range, and enjoy a trail ride or 'cutting horse' instruction with one of the Lajitas’ equestrian staff. Daily breakfast and deluxe lodging are also included.

8. Spa in Chicago
Cubs-crazed Chicago is tailor-made for a getaway with the guys; but after you’ve had your fill of sports, pizza, and jazz, head out for a relaxing day at the spa. If you secretly love to be pampered, you’re not alone — about a third of U.S. spa-goers are men. Get your back massaged (or waxed) in masculine surroundings – think pool tables, brown leather chairs, and ’40s pin-up-girl posters — at the 316 Club Barber Spa. Don’t worry: If you have to miss the Cubs game because your skin is still exfoliating, you can catch it one of the numerous flat-screen TVs in the lounge and treatment "cabanas." 

Book it: The 316 Club Barber Spa attracts guy’s guys with its players-club ambiance (free beer and wine, a Vegas-style odds board). The "Pit Boss" package includes a massaging shampoo, haircut, hand massage and detail, five-step shave, and shoeshine, all for $95.

9. Sport fish in Panama
If the only thing you know about Panama is that is has a famous canal, it’s time for a trip to Central America. Panama is full of surprises; that it’s an excellent spot for sport fishing is one of many. Grab the guys and head south for a “reel” good catch — Panama’s waters are home to swordfish, marlin, and even some shark species. Even if the fish aren’t biting, the landscapes alone are worth the trek — exploring the country’s tropical rainforests and untouched beaches isn’t a bad way to spend a weekend with the boys, either.

Shawn Patrick Ouellette / AP file Go sport fishing at the edge of Panama’s remote Darien Gap at Tropic Star Lodge. Pricing from $2,550 per person gets you three meals daily, resort accommodations, and three-to six days of fishing from aboard a captain-equipped yacht.

Book it: Go sport fishing at the edge of Panama’s remote Darien Gap at Tropic Star Lodge. Pricing from $2,550 per person gets you three meals daily, resort accommodations, and three-to six days of fishing from aboard a captain-equipped yacht.

10. Surf in Sydney
The “Man” in Manly Beach isn’t the only reason for its guy-getaway allure. Known as the Bondi Beach of the north, this strip of Sydney sand attracts hordes of visitors looking to kick back and ride the waves (and perhaps steal a glance at topless sunbathers, a regular sighting on local beaches). Bikinis (or lack thereof) aside, men who'd rather focus on the water can master killer waves by enrolling in a local surf school and learning from the pros. Plus, once the sun goes down, you can head out and enjoy Sydney’s legendary nightlife.

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Book it: The Manly Surf School provides programs with qualified instructors for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Private lessons are available from $80 an hour.

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