January 12, 2004 -- Even though it's said Valentine's Day was originally a pre-Christian fertility festival, and there is some argument concerning which of several St. Valentine's the occasion is named for, there is no disagreement about what people in love should do on the day -- they ought to make a gift offering to the other party. And what better present than a trip to some romantic spot? You have a month to prepare, so listen up.
One of our favorite websites, Bed and Breakfast.com, has sifted through its 27,000-plus establishments for a sampling of Valentine's Day getaways, and we have cherry picked some of the best for you here:
Getaways USA
Costing just $250 for two persons is the promotion at Inn Britannia, Searsport ME. The package includes lodging for the weekend (two nights) on this gorgeous part of the Maine coast, a candlelight breakfast, roses, chocolates and complimentary wine. The price is good anytime in February if you can't make it on THE weekend. Contact them at 866/INN-BRIT or visit www.innbritannia.com.
For just $250 per couple you can spend the night at the House on Cherry Street in Jacksonville FL on Valentine's Day. The package includes the overnight stay, wine and cheese on the riverfront, breakfast for two, and an illustrated love poem for each person, "written by a nationally-published writer" and illustrated by a local artist. The poem will be based on a form you fill out stating what it is that you love about your partner, incidentally. Contact them at 904/384-1999 or visit www.geocities.com/houseoncherryst.
Still in New England, where keeping warm and cozy on a cold night is a tradition carefully maintained, the Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club on Cape Cod has a "Ruby" package for you, at $295 per couple per night, not including tax and tip, but with breakfast. The package includes Passion Martinis, a candlelit dinner at the restaurant overlooking the bay, brunch the next day and (delivered to your guestroom) a split of Champagne, a costume tiara, and jewel-shaped Marie Belle chocolates. Contact them at 800/343-6074 or visit www.oceanedge.com.
Getaways Away
You might want to wait until spring to travel through Holland by riverboat, but if you book before February 10, 2004 and pay at the same time, Viking River Cruises will take $500 off your cabin price on any of five itineraries they offer on the Rhine, Danube and other historic European waterways. They also say they will send a bouquet of roses to your beloved on Valentine's Day. You have to ask for the offer number 05echo. One tour is priced for seven nights at just $959 (no airfare included), so a $500 discount would mean a price of just $709, a real value. Package prices include outside cabin, all onboard meals, welcome dinner, Captain's dinner, cocktail reception, daily shore excursions (including an Amsterdam canal cruise, visits to several museums; Hoorn: Edam: Marken; Het Loo; Kinderdijk; Rotterdam; Delft; The Hague, etc.); folkloric entertainment and lectures, and transfers. Contact Viking River Cruises at 877/66 VIKING or visit www.us.vikingrivers.com.
Jumping up the scale a bit is a neat suite for your sweet at the Yucatan's newest hacienda, the Xcanatun, where a four-night Valentine's stay runs $1,550 per couple. This is a magnificently-restored 18th-century hacienda, not far from colonial Merida and surrounded by its own nine-acre oasis of flowers and trees. A formal sisal plantation Xcanatun (pron. Ssh-kana-toon) has 18-foot ceilings, bathroom skylights and more. (It means "Tall Stone House" in Mayan). If you can't stay a full four nights, there's a three-night package at $1250 per couple. Each package includes a private garden-view suite with private terrace, an in-suite honey and flower massage for him and her (with candles and incense, claimed to be "an ancient Maya ritual"), a four-course candlelit feast (with strolling musicians), and a bottle of bubbly on Valentine's evening, plus daily breakfast in the room. A welcome fruit basket and bottle of wine, taxes, service charges, and roundtrip Merida airport transfers are also included. And if you have time, the ancient Maya cities at Uxmal and Chichen Itza are not far away, while there are two freshwater pools and golf on hand, as well as tennis. Visit their website, www.xcanatun.com, or phone them at 011 52 999/941-02-13.
An Early Gift
If you can't wait until February, and don't mind others calling you a "senior," consider St. Augustine's Senior Sweethearts promotion down in Florida this month (January 2004 only). A collection of 27 bed and breakfasts, all within walking distance of every corner of the town's historic district, have banded together to offer a third night free if you book two nights at regular midweek prices, a second night at half price for a two-night stay. The program is valid Sundays through Thursdays throughout the month. Whether you are celebrating Valentine's Day early, renewing your vows, observing a birthday or anniversary, you'll enjoy the sunny (but cool) weather, the fireplace warmth at night, the museums, shops and restaurants. A few sample room prices: Alexander Homestead $99, www.alexanderhomestead.com; Our House $100, www.ourhousestaugustine.com; St. Francis Inn (the city's oldest) $109, www.stfrancisinn.com; and the Inn on Charlotte $129, www.innoncharlotte.com. For more information, visit www.seniorsweetheart.com to get the full list of B&Bs and then contact the inns directly. If you can't get in at an inn, wait until June 2004, when St. Augustine B&Bs say they will do this all over again.