Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, and if you’re fortunate enough to have someone to love, showing is better than telling. Of course, it doesn’t take a private jet and a trip to Paris to prove your love, especially if your budget is tight.
One of the easiest, most economical ways to create the perfect Valentine’s Day for your sweetheart is to plan in your own city. There are so many benefits to staying in town. You don’t have to spend money on airfare or car rental. You know your city. You know the best places to go, and the best sites to see. Most importantly, you can handle all of the negotiations in person. This is a major plus, because you can see and approve of a hotel and other services in person, instead of being surprised upon arrival. It gives you more control as the consumer.
So, here are some tips to creating the perfect Valentine’s Day experience in your own city:
1. Splurge on a nice hotel.
So, you’re not traveling out of town, and you can afford to put in a little extra into the hotel room. Shoot for a hotel that’s at least 4 stars, but 5 stars is the best. You’ll probably pay $200 for the room, but no one can put a price on love, right? The experience will be priceless, guaranteed. Many hotels offer Valentine’s Day packages, so you may get a discount on the room and extra services, like massages or chocolate covered strawberries.
2. Make nice with the hotel reservations or front desk clerks.
Most people treat the front desk agents like automatons. Don’t be one of those people. Being nice on the phone, and especially in person, gives the agent, who has the flexibility to choose a hellish or heavenly room for you, a greater incentive to choose the latter. Be upfront, and explain that you’d like a special room. It’s that simple. Ask, and you shall receive. (As long as it’s available.) Most people just don’t ask.
3. Make nice with the hotel concierge.
After you finish with the front desk, head over to the concierge desk. This is where you’ll spend the majority of your time. A concierge is basically like your personal secretary. They exist to do your bidding, and no task is too hard for them. As a matter of fact, they enjoy the challenge of a hard task. But be careful, no task is priceless. You’ll probably want to ask up front how much a service costs before committing to it.
4. Romanticize the room.
Definitely utilize the help on the concierge on this one. You can create a path of rose petals from the door to the bed, and have candles lit and a special music CD playing in the background. Make sure to have a bouquet of flowers, also! Each hotel has different offerings, but those geared toward luxury are more enthusiastic about your ideas to create a certain ambiance in the room. If you want to have a room filled with balloons, it can happen for you. The best way to romanticize your room is to think of a special event that you and your love share, and find a way to illustrate it. For example, if you both love Breakfast at Tiffany’s, decorate the room with Tiffany’s signature blue boxes, and have little trinkets or handwritten love notes inside. You don’t have to spend too much to show your love.
5. Eat well
Okay, so the hotel isn’t the only splurge. Valentine’s Day calls for getting all dressed up, and showing each other off. Find a nice restaurant that you can both agree upon, and dine to your heart’s (and stomach’s) content. If going out isn’t fun for you, then order room service, and enjoy the quiet simplicity of each other’s company. Don’t worry about the prices. It’s all for love, and you only live once.
