Valentine’s 2013: Escape for the Weekend

Still stuck in that flowers and chocolate routine for Valentine’s Day? This year February 14^th falls on a Thursday so instead of rolling with the crowd, get away from it. There’s no excuse not to take off Friday and whisk your sweetie away on a weekend adventure he or she will never forget. Not sure where to go? We’ve taken care of that.

Luxury Lovers

 Luxe travelers generally like the details to already be taken care of, so a package is the way to go. New York’s Hotel Indigo and their fusion restaurant China Latina are offering a deal where couples get a three course dinner with champagne and cocktails, an overnight stay in a four star hotel and breakfast the next morning. What could be better? Scour trendy Chelsea and the Meatpacking District in the afternoon for designer shopping and celebrity spotting.  You may find yourself calling the hotel afterward for another deal the next night.

Stressed Spouses

 For any couple balancing work, kids, and some kind of a social life, no three letters say “romance” better than S, P, and A. Boost your mood with a little Vitamin D in Los Cabos, Mexico, the location of one of the world’s best spas, the One & Only Palmilla. Relax on the Baja’s powdery beaches and try one of the resort’s signature therapies like “Chocolate Synergy,” a two hour treatment that starts with a foot bath, then a massage using warm chocolate oil and ends with a bath soak in your own private garden.

Budget-Conscious Couples

 

The best way to save money on what can easily become the most expensive day of the year is to steer clear of big cities. For many of us, February is too cold for camping, so seek out something a little cozier. Try AirBnB.com, a source for renting the homes of people all over the world. In many cases, you’ll get twice the space of a hotel room at less than half the cost. Search for a romantic cottage in a snowy forest in the Catskills or Lake Tahoe and be surprised at what’s available—and how little it costs!

Foodie Twosome

 Restaurant week is ending soon, but deals or not, New York City is still the best place in America for hungry couples. Check out a few of the top 100 restaurants in the city, like Eleven Madison Park, now on everyone’s wish list, or the circus-like atmosphere of Eataly Marketplace, a 50,000 square ft. mecca for lovers of everything Italian, especially wine, pasta, pizza and specialty dishes. For dessert, the East Village is your best bet with East 7^th Street alone being home to Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, Butter Lane Cupcakes and Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream. But, hands down, the E.V.’s best is Momofuku Milk Bar, where you can order kooky items like green apple cheddar soft serve, pretzel cake, and pork buns.

Single & Solo

 Solo on Valentine’s Day? Not everyone gets lucky!  After all, Valentine’s Day is a completely biased holiday that guilts perfectly happy people into searching for someone when they might be better off doing something else, alone.  A weekend away solo might be a rewarding experience of self-discovery that can be the first step toward finding that special someone that shares similar interests. Traveling by oneself can become an opportunity for perfecting skills and getting more creative—like working on a new photography hobby, writing poetry, collecting antiques and let’s not forget making new friends.  Find somewhere where there’s a community worth a look-see or search for a moment’s peace in a cozy café where you might actually be able to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. Seek out places with a thriving arts scene where open-minded individuals like yourself abound; think along the lines of Brooklyn, Seattle, Austin, or San Francisco.