January 14, 2004 -- Only one month from today is V-Day, so look lively if you want to have something really neat to give your loved one -- the good deals go fast. And today we have a few more to pass along in plenty of time, from bargains in New York City to vacations as far away as Bangkok.
Love Around the World
Gate 1, one of our favorite low budget tour operators, has 15 different international destinations for you to choose Valentine's packages from, beginning in price at just $399 for a six-day getaway, to London or Salzburg, for instance.
"Enchanting Salzburg" includes roundtrip airfare form New York to Salzburg, four nights at the first-class Mercure Salzburg Hotel, and breakfast daily. You depart February 12, 2004, and return on the 17th. Optional tours in this charming city include visiting historic sights such as Mozart's birthplace and a variety of locations seen in The Sound of Music at an additional $33 per person or excursions to the nearby towns of Zell am See or Flachau for a round of winter sports for $19 each. Optional airport transfers are available for $28 each way.
Heading down to Latin America, a five-day/four-night eco-adventure Costa Rica costs from just $479. Again departing on February 12, 2004, the package includes roundtrip airfare from Miami to San Jose, four nights at the first-class Barcelo Parque del Lago, and daily breakfast. Optional excursions include a town tour and visit to nearby Moravia ($24), an aerial tram to traverse the rainforest canopy, viewing animals and plants from above ($87), a visit to an active volcanic crater and a cloud forest ($55) and more.
Farther afield is the 12-day "Taste of Exotic Thailand" escorted tour from just $999. The package includes roundtrip flight from Los Angeles to Bangkok and from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, all transfers, ten nights in first-class hotels in Bangkok, Phitsanulok, Lampang, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, hotel taxes, eleven meals (ten breakfasts/one dinner), air-conditioned motor bus sightseeing, and more.
Other specials taking place during the holiday can take you off to romantic London, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Lisbon, the Costa del Sol, Paris, Amsterdam, Florence, Athens, Rio de Janeiro and the Galapagos Islands. For details and reservations, contact them at 800/682-3333 or visit www.gate1travel.com.
Big City Lovin'
For a luxurious American hotel stay with lots of goodies, consider an offer from the Sofitel chain, which has gorgeous-sounding deals for Valentine's Day at many of their urban properties. Prices range from $144.50 per person a night up to (gulp!) $3,500 for a presidential suite. We'll skip the latter, thank you very much, and cast our eyes to the more moderately priced getaways.
At the Chicago O'Hare Sofitel, a romantic weekend starts from just $144.50 per night per person and includes a deluxe room, dinner with a glass of champagne, flowers in the room (and in the tub) and more. This offer is valid on Valentine's weekend only, February 14-15. Call the hotel directly at 847/678-4488 for more details. At the Chicago Water Tower Sofitel, there are two packages, "Le Rendez-vous" and "Amour et Passion," good from February 1 through 29th, 2004. The first costs from $399 per room per night, including a half-hour horse-drawn carriage ride, a dozen red roses, full American breakfast for two and a book of love poems. The second deal starts at $429 per room per night and includes the roses, the breakfast, the poetry, a bottle of champagne, chocolate truffles and, er, chocolate body paint. For reservations, phone 877/813-7700.
In the New York Sofitel, the "Be My Valentine" package costs from $499 per couple on February 14th only, additional nights from $199 per room. The package includes a superior room or suite, special amenities, a chocolate cocktail, a dinner for two and in-room American breakfast or at the hotel restaurant. Phone them at 212/354-8844 for reservations.
At the Sofitel Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., the "Une Soiree d'Amour" package, available on February 13 and 14, 2004, starts at $249 per room per night. You get the deluxe room, a bottle of champagne, a dozen roses, a welcome amenity, candles and rose petals for the bath, continental breakfast for two and overnight valet parking. For hotel reservations, phone 202/730-8800. At the Washington, D.C. and Chicago properties, the hotel chef has whipped up a special dinner at a cost to you of $95 or $65, respectively, as well.
Other specials include $159 per room per night in Houston, $399 per room per night in Montreal, and $389 per night in San Francisco. For more information on individual specials, go to www.sofitel.com, click on "All our special offers," then select "Valentine's Day" from the dropdown menu under "Interest."
Closer to home, in midtown Manhattan to be precise, the Apple Core Hotels have a "For Love & Money" package at their group of five boutique lodgings. Rates start at a much more affordable $99 per night for a room; the package includes continental breakfast and a box of chocolates. The five hotels, all located on the east side between 30th and 46th streets, are: Comfort Inn Midtown, Super 8 Hotel Times Square, La Quinta Manhattan, Red Roof Inn Manhattan, and Ramada Inn Eastside. You can book for one night or the entire weekend, the deal being good for February 13-15, 2004. For reservations, phone them at 800/567-7720 or 212/790-2710, or visit www.applecorehotels.com and request this package.