Hosting the Perfect Holiday Cocktail Party

With a little planning and maybe some help from your Luxury Beach concierge, you can ring in some good cheer in Banderas Bay with an event that is as much fun for the hosts as it is for the guests.

1. Be clear about the hours of your cocktail party, which are usually between 6pm and 10pm.  Nothing is worse than that one guest who after a few too many rum and eggnogs doesn’t know when it’s time to leave.
2. Buy ice…and then buy some more.  Remember that you’ll use ice not just for drinks but to chill bottles and cans.  1 pound of ice per person is a good rule of thumb.
3. Get your glassware ready.  Try to have a selection of glasses including highball, tumbler, champagne, or martini glasses depending on what you are planning to serve.  Try to have at least two glasses per guest.
4. Stock your bar.  You should have red and white wine (one bottle equals 5 servings), beer, two bottles of liquor that can be made into a variety of cocktails (like vodka, gin or tequila) and mixers.
5. Have a small menu of appetizers.  Make sure that they are things that can easily be managed in one hand so that your guests aren’t trying to balance a plate and their cocktail glass.
6. Have the number for a Vallarta taxi service handy to ensure that your guests get home safely.