Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and many travelers have plans for a romantic getaway to a favorite destination. Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, some are traveling the weekend before, others the weekend after and some not going anywhere at all, choosing instead a night on the town. Then there is that “other” group that a whole lot of people fit in: Broke, forgetful, uninspired or just too busy for any of it. All is not lost for that last group with some inexpensive, inspirational travel ideas that take little time and will make them come off as being one of the most thoughtful people on the planet.
“It’s the most romantic day of the year,” says HerCampus, the #1 on line magazine for college women, adding “…until you end up basically sitting in the lap of the couple next to you at an exorbitantly expensive Valentine’s Day dinner, wondering if the gift you got your boyfriend was too much or not enough.”
AskMen, an on line magazine offering advice on dating and secrets of love, agrees. “Valentine’s Day is a big deal, so whatever you have planned for February 14th this year, be sure to make it memorable. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune or be especially elaborate, but making her feel special is essential”
Checking in with both sources, we found 10 great travel-related things to do on Valentine’s Day.
- Reenact your first date– “There’s a good chance that the beginning of your relationship was the time when you made the most effort to show her your romantic side, so why not turn back the clock and remind her how charming you were when you were wooing her?” says AskMen. “Women love it when men remember details from when they were still getting to know each other. Think back to your first date, and take her to the same place, eat the same food and do the same things that first sparked your romance.”
- Go ice-skating- HerCampus rates ice-skating high for a Valentine’s Day date. “If romantic comedies have taught us anything, it is that skating rinks breed romance. So go have yourself a Serendipity moment and spend the day ice-skating with your BF-don’t forget the cocoa! “
- Get Physical– No, not that kind of “physical,” says AskMen who agrees, ice skating is a good idea, encouraging us to “start things off by getting your heart rates up together doing something fun. Take her out ice skating or cross-country skiing, or spend some time together at an indoor swimming pool. The idea is to enjoy a little activity and get those endorphins flowing to leave you both in loving moods.”
- (Or Skinny Dipping)– As an alternative to Ice Skating, HerCampus says that if “ice skating is too tame and your school is in a sunny place, many HCers recommend nighttime skinny-dipping. Seriously, not much is hotter than a steamy late night swim. Just be careful please, getting caught for trespassing might kill the mood.”
- Make a path of rose petals– “Anticipation is half the fun of a romantic surprise,”contends AskMen. “Start the excitement when she walks in the door by leaving a trail of rose petals leading to the bedroom, where she’ll find Valentine’s Day gifts. Feel free to go all out with the heart-shaped box of chocolates, red-and-white teddy bears and candy hearts. She’ll love the corny romance of it all.”
- Be homebodies- “Actually, not traveling can be fun too with Sometimes the best Valentine’s Day gift you can give is the gift of uninterrupted time together,” encourages AskMen. “You don’t need to leave the house to make Valentine’s Day special.”
- Dinner in bed– Going out for Valentine’s Day dinner is a tradition that needs to go. Unless you’re Posh and Becks the service is bound to be terrible, the menu limited and the prices steep. Instead, try ordering in from a favorite restaurant and eating the meal in bed. Spend the night relaxing over good food and cozy company instead of cramped with strangers.
- Indoor picnic- “To decorate your space, string white Christmas lights around the room, buy some picnic-y snacks, pop the champagne and set up a blanket and pillows for you and your boy to sit on,” recommends HerCampus.
- Pop the question-“If you’ve been thinking about asking her to marry you, there’s no time like Valentine’s Day for a romantic proposal,” says AskMen. “The day is meant for lovers, after all, and getting down on one knee with a ring is one of the best ways you can profess your love for her.” Try to make it happen someplace you might be able to visit decades from now. The apartment you are sharing with four roommates might not be the best choice.
- Give up, give chocolate- Plain and simple: “Chocolate is to Valentine’s Day what Bruce Willis is to Die Hard — the star of the show. It’s a fact that chocolate has a batting average of about 1.000 when it comes as a present, so why not turn the entire day into one, long sweet gift?” encourages AskMen saying “set up your day so that your partner experiences one or two every hour throughout the day. The returns on this relatively effortless Valentine’s Day idea are staggering because your partner will be reminded of your excellence all day long.”
Another idea would be to try one of Gadling’s recommended Couples Hotel Packages or check out where other people are traveling.
Flickr photo by Karl Blackwell