romantic – content.whygo.com

Valentine’s Day Getaway to Vegas

For anyone who’s already in LA in mid-February, the idea of needing to plan a warm-weather getaway over Valentine’s Day is probably a bit silly. There’s plenty of sunshine blanketing Los Angeles and much of southern California during February, so you could easily enjoy a romantic walk on the beach with your sweetheart with just a short drive – but if you want to plan Valentine’s Day travel anyway, why not go play in Vegas?

There are all kinds of reasons to love Vegas for a getaway destination from Los Angeles, especially around Valentine’s Day. It’s not overly hot in Sin City in February, and yet it’s generally warm enough to enjoy the outdoor pools. That may not sound so different from February weather in LA, but Vegas certainly offers plenty of activities and attractions that LA doesn’t.

Getting from LA to Las Vegas is easy – there are lots of flights every day from LA’s many airports, and if you fancy a road trip it’s not even that far to drive. Hotel rooms in Vegas may go up in price over Valentine’s Day, but for a romantic splurge it can be worth it to get a room that’s a little more deluxe than you might otherwise. There are a few things you can do to get an upgrade on a Vegas hotel room – the best options usually involve being a frequent visitor to one particular hotel or getting that hotel casino’s “player’s card,” but it’s worth considering if you go to Las Vegas often.

Valentine’s Day is on a Monday this year, so if you’re taking a long weekend trip to Sin City you might have to get a little work done on the holiday itself. If you do, you may be pleased to know that there are a few places where you can get free WiFi in Las Vegas – including McCarran Airport. Of course, unless you’re planning on relocating and finding a job in Las Vegas after your significant other dumps you for spending too much time online during your weekend trip, you might want to make sure you’ve booked a table at one of the most romantic restaurants in Vegas as a just-in-case peace offering.

photo by SimonDoggett

baromance Long known as the “Paris of South America”, Buenos Aires just oozes sex appeal. The city itself is gorgeous, home to sprawling parks and gardens, European architecture and of course, the sizzling, sultry tango. While it’s not often thought of as such, it’s actually one of the best cheap romantic honeymoon destinations.

Imagine spending your days strolling arm and arm beneath the ornate facades of buildings like the Teatro Colon or wandering through the largest Japanese Garden outside of Japan. Shop for sexy tango shoes in the Palermo neighborhood, or browse antiques at the San Temlo Sunday market. At night, feast on heaping platters of tender beef and glasses of Argentine wine, all for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere, and then spend your nights tango dancing at a local milonga.

Thanks to a very favorable exchange rate, Argentina is a cheap destination for travelers from North America and Europe. Airfare to Buenos Aires can be on the expensive side (about $800-$1000 from most places in the US) but the savings you’ll experience once you arrive will offset the extra cost of airfare. You’ll find no shortage of cheap hotels in Buenos Aires as well, with even the most lavish, luxurios properties charging less than what you would pay in other parts of the world.

And once you’ve seen the city, there are plenty of places to get away to – taste wine in Mendoza, take a short boat ride to the charming small town of Colonial de Sacremento in Urugauy or head up to Rio de Janeiro to relax on the beach.

Photo by Natalia Romay