When it comes to travel these days, it's not always a bad thing if you wait to the last minute (if you're a procrastinator) or you like to wait for inspiration to strike (if you are spontaneous). There are plenty of last-minute options scattered across the country to those from whom the calendar has escaped. In other words, there are still specials available at various places for those who have forgotten that Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away.
If your Valentine's Day plans involve air travel, Travelocity (tel. 888/872-8356; www.travelocity.com) is advertising a special from Airtran which is having a huge sale on one-way flights from $34 (price reflects Chicago to Minneapolis-St. Paul), to nonstop destinations in its network across the country. You must travel on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday for the best fares, and purchase by February 13 and travel by May 23. Sample routes include Dallas/Ft. Worth-Newark, $109; Atlanta-Boston $89; New Orleans-St. Louis, $89 and Detroit-Los Angeles $154.
American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) has a "Fall in Love With Europe" fare sale starting from $288 round-trip from more than 30 cities. You must book by February 5 for this sale, which is good for departures through February 28 and you must return by March 30. Sample routes include Boston-Frankfurt $326; New York-Dublin $288; New York-Zurich $353; Denver-Paris $408, Baltimore-London $288. Taxes and fees are not included.
The beautiful historic property The Chanler (tel. 866/793-5664; www.thechanler.com) in Newport, Rhode Island has a two-night package that includes a romance butler who delivers a seemingly endless supply of chocolate. You and your sweetie will get a massage and drink a cup of Grand Marnier-spiked hot chocolate on your suite's private balcony, receive a chocolate-scented bath, and dine in chocolate fashion -- with a tasting menu from the onsite restaurant. The hotel is located on the cliff walk in Newport, right on the ocean. The package is offered based on availability and is priced at $650 based on double occupancy for two nights; additional nights are available from $375.
In Cooperstown, New York (tel. 888/875-2969; www.cooperstownchamber.org), home of the baseball hall of fame, the SnowFest takes place February 15-19. Activities include the 22nd Annual New York State snow sculpting championship, beer and food tastings (the award-winning Ommegang Brewery is nearby), horse-drawn sleigh rides and all kinds of outdoor winter activities from sledding to tubing to ice skating and more. Accommodations are still available at the nearby historic property the Cooper Inn (tel. 800/348-6222; www.cooperinn.com), which is offering a Glimmerglass Romance package that for an additional $75 gives guests a bottle of champagne, two souvenir glasses, a tray of chocolate covered strawberries and petit fours, gift shop or golf shop discount and a flower in your room. The package is available over the SnowFest weekend; rates are $115 per night for a single or double occupancy room and include complimentary breakfast and free wireless Internet access.
HomeAway (tel. 512/493-0382; www.homeaway.com), which makes homes, cottages, condos, apartments and more available for vacation rental, has some specials available across 90 countries on six continents. And it still has some properties with specials available the weekend of February 9-11. If you want to head somewhere warm and quiet, try the Tarpon Pond Cottage in Seabrook Island, South Carolina about 20 miles or so from Charleston. The cottage is available from $135 per night (or $650 per week) for three-bedroom accommodations, valid through February 28. The property is near the ocean, has a fireplace and air conditioning, and a balcony. HomeAway also has a listing for "Romantic Alto Salto" a three-bedroom property in Taos, New Mexico. The special offer is $500 off for a weeklong stay (priced at $325 per night) and it's actually valid through June 30. The home has 360-degree views of the mountains -- recently covered in snow -- a master suite with wraparound porch and is situated on three acres. Please note that you must book the property with the individual owner, not HomeAway.
Hotels.com (tel. 800/246-8357; www.hotels.com) has a "Sweet Deals for Valentine's Day" offer valid for various destinations for travel February 9-18 in destinations such as Acapulco, Atlantic City, Hilton Head, South Carolina, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and more. Snow lovers can take advantage of a few deals in Killington, Vermont, such as the Summit Lodge available from $132 or the Cortina Inn and Resort from $119 per night, both specials valid until February 15. Or head up to Niagara Falls, where the three-star Old Stone Inn is available from $97 per night until February 15, or Santa Fe, where the St. Anthony, a Wyndham historic hotel, is available from $169 per night until February 15.
Islands in the Sun (tel. 888/828-6877; www.islandsinthesun.com) has an offer with Air Tahiti Nua has a special called "Take your Sweetie to Tahiti" priced from $1,199 including airfare from Los Angeles to Papeete and five nights accommodations in a superior lagoon view room at the Sofitel Tahiti Resort. A Polynesian lunch for two, along with transfer and baggage handling and welcome lei upon arrival are included. Departures are available February 22, March 22 and April 12.
Lake Placid Lodge (tel. 877/523-2700; www.lakeplacidlodge.com) in the Adirondacks in upstate New York has a romance package priced at $650 for two people spending one night. Your cabin has a soaking tub with a forest view, lake and mountains. The room comes outfitted with the makings for a fire, along with a whole kit of soaps, bubble bath, rose petals and monogrammed robes. The lodge is undergoing renovations, which makes the price of this special half off regular rates. The property is for adults only -- this means children over the age of 14 are welcome, and that's it. The package is offered based on availability; additional nights are available from $350 and up.
La Costa Resort and Spa (tel. 800/854-5000; www.lacosta.com) in Carlsbad, California, has a Valentine's day special that includes two nights of deluxe accommodations, chilled champagne upon arrival, daily breakfast for two, a set of lotions from the onsite spa, with packages beginning at $699 per room, per two-night stay. The package is available February 1-28 -- so you don't have to technically go on Valentine's Day. Taxes for the room plus $21 daily resort charges are not included.
The Mansfield Hotel (tel. 800/255-5167; www.mansfieldhotel.com) in midtown New York, a small, quiet boutique property, is offering a special "unforgettable" package that includes overnight accommodations in a luxury suite, continental breakfast for two, one bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne, bathrobes, chocolate turndown service and Japanese orchids. The package starts at $599 per night and is offered February 9-18.
OK, so perhaps the Las Vegas might not be your immediate idea of a romantic getaway for Valentine's Day Â? unless you're looking to elope. US Airways (tel. 800/455-0123; www.usairwaysvacations.com) has a special to save up to $100 on packages for air and two nights from $99 from select cities, as long as you book by February 5. You can choose from Aladdin, Circus Circus (although that tends to attract families), Flamingo, Luxor, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, the Mirage and Riviera. You must travel by March 1 -- but there are blackout dates February 15-19, so if you are thinking of Valentine's Day travel you'll have to redefine the date. Cities included are Detroit, Denver, Oakland, Minneapolis, San Francisco, New York, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale. Enter the promotion code LAS50 when booking.
Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach (tel. 800/WYNDHAM; www.vivawyndhamresorts.com) in the Bahamas is offering an all-inclusive romance getaway package starting from $144 per person per night, good for travel February 9-18. The package includes a two-night stay in an ocean view room, a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, welcome fruit basket and hors d'oeuvres, a keepsake photo, a sunset cruise and unlimited meals, snacks, cocktails and wines along with taxes, surcharges and amenities, and all non-motorized sports and activities.
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