This year, Valentine's Day falls on a weekend, which means getting a reservation may be a little bit trickier, even with a recession underway. However, because there is a recession underway, many of the specials we have found are valid throughout (or beyond) the month of February -- which gives you more flexibility to duck out for one night or a few.
In Chicago, New York, or Washington, D.C., Affinia Hotels (tel. 866/246-2203; www.affinia.com) has a package called Naughty and Nice that includes several perks, including champagne, late checkout, a customized room, and a strip poker set from Agent Provacateur. Rates in Chicago start from $209, New York City from $289 and Washington, D.C., from $189 per night and are valid from January 16 through December 31.
The Curtis Hotel (tel. 800/525-6651; www.thecurtis.com), whose rooms come with iPod speaker systems and flat screen televisions, gets points for creativity. The Denver hotel's Crazy in Love package offers you either a bottle of wine or shots of alcohol at the hotel restaurant. When you get back to the room, you'll be met with a game of Twister and rose petal turndown service. The package starts from $169.
For those who want a little Mexican vacation in February, the Fairmont Mayakoba (tel. 800/441-1414; www.fairmont.com/mayakoba) in Maya Riviera has a Moon Romance and Celebration package that includes a bottle of champagne, a trip through the water canals on the resort's property to a remote beach, where dinner will be served. Couples will also receive a 60-minute spa treatment, a buffet breakfast, and turndown service. The package is priced from $559, is available through April 26 and does not include taxes or resort fees. It also requires a four-night minimum stay.
Stateside, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (tel. 866/540-4499; www.fairmont.com/sonoma), located in California's wine country, has a package called Fire and Water that starts at $299 per night and includes one night in a fireplace room or suite, two hot toddies -- or other cocktail of your choosing, access to the resort's geothermal water pools, and a $50 credit toward spa services. It is available through February, subject to availability.
North of the border in Vancouver, The Four Seasons (tel. 800/819-5053; www.fourseasons.com) "P.S. I Love You" package gives guests a special cocktail, in-room flowers and champagne, breakfast in bed, and a 4pm late checkout. The package is available February 13 and 14 from C$399. At The Opus Hotel (tel. 604/642-6787; www.opushotel.com) Vancouver's Valentine romance package includes a bottle of Moet champagne, Thomas Haas chocolates, late checkout, edible chocolate paint, and a one-night stay. The hotel is located in the city's Yaletown neighborhood and the package starts at C$409.
In New Orleans, you can take part in the Lady in Red package at the boutique hotel International House Hotel (tel. 800/633-5770; www.ihhotel.com) from the moment you walk in the door, as the lobby itself is decorated in hues of red. The package includes two nights of accommodations, Red Velvet cocktails at the hotel's lounge loa, and dinner for two at Rambla. There are some blackout dates: February 5-6, 10-12, and 19-25, and it is priced from $242.
Along the Hudson River in New York is the historic, rambling resort of Mohonk Mountain House (tel. 800/772-6646; www.mohonk.com), where when you are not taking advantage of its special, starting at $165 per person per night you can relax by one of its many fireplaces, take in afternoon tea, cross-country ski on the wooded grounds or go ice skating. For guests staying February 11 and 12 you will receive chocolate-covered strawberries and a candlelit, multi-course dinner with live music. The rate also includes all resort activities and buffet breakfast the next morning.
If you want to head to Paris, TourCrafters (tel. 800/482-5995; www.tourcrafters.com) has an offer starting from $559 for a four-night, five-day special that includes roundtrip airfare from New York, buffet breakfast, taxes and service charges. The price is based on accommodations at Hotel All Seasons Voltaire Republique -- a comfortable, basic property -- but you can upgrade, starting from $888,for the St. James & Albany Hotel, which is a 17th century mansion across the Tuileries Garden. Departures are possible from other cities, including Boston from $55, Atlanta from $176, Miami from $109, San Francisco from $122, and Seattle from $53, among others. The prices, however, don't include the airline fuel surcharge of $330.
