Valentines Day is just a week away! These next couple of weekends might just be the perfect opportunity to whisk away your sweetheart for a romance-filled weekend to some secluded cabin or cozy inn.
Of course, booking your Valentine’s weekend cheap sleep is just your first step toward romance. There is more you must do.
With the economy still on the fritz, your sweetheart will not be anticipating caviar with Moet. Trust me on this one. But he or she will expect romance. And the good news is, it need not cost you $100 an ounce.
Here are five key ingredients to a recipe for a very romantic cheap sleep getaway:
1. Get outside. Never mind that it’s February. Nothing inspires romance like a foray into nature. Pick an easy, snow-free hiking trail near your destination, or a very natural city park. Try to find a trail with a waterfall to gaze at, a pond to cuddle by, or big trees to snuggle under. In addition to the ten essentials, into your backpack should go the following: a thermos of hot chocolate (with marshmallows, whiskey optional), a dark chocolate bar, a generous warm blanket, and a toasty hot water bottle. You should be able to figure out what to do with these items.
2. Bring mood lighting. It’s a well-established fact that approximately 67% of all cheap sleeps in the Northwest have room lighting that is severely lacking in ambiance. Under ordinary circumstances, that buzzing overhead fluorescent is just annoying. But on a romantic getaway, it can be disastrous. BYOBL. Bring your own bedside lamp. And if the establishment allows candles, well then bring those, too!
3. Make music together. My husband and I fell in love over his guitar. Pack your favorite instrument (even if it’s just a pair of DIY maracas), print out some song lyrics, and have fun.
4. Pack wisely. There’s nothing like bringing a fabulous bottle of wine to a secluded cabin only to find there’s no corkscrew. Anticipate all of the things you will need for your weekend and be sure to pack them. You will need matches for that woodstove, a cozy fleece blanket from home to replace the worn bedspread, and CDs and a player for dancing after dinner. Does he like coffee the second he wakes up? Bring a plug-in coffee maker. Does she like to take long baths? Surprise her with bath salts and a candle. And don’t, under any circumstances, forget the dark chocolate.
5. Eat in. Obviously, this requires a stove. But if you’re lucky enough to snag a cabin rental or room with a kitchenette, go for it. We often find it more romantic, not to mention way cheaper, to prepare a simple but delicious meal together instead of eating out at a pricey restaurant on Valentines Day. Get a great bottle of wine, a prepared dessert at your favorite bakery, and an easy appetizer like goat cheese, crackers and smoked salmon. Then all you have to worry about is the salad and main course. My favorite easy, delicious main course is cooked, drained pasta mixed with a jar of pesto and a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, topped with about a cup of Parmesan cheese. Bon appetit! [Something minty might be good to have on hand after all that tasty pesto!]
Whatever you end up doing with your sweetheart next weekend, have a sweet one. (And don’t forget the chocolate!)
Photo of sunset from Third Beach, Olympic National Park by pfly.
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