I was flattered to be included in Dana Dratch's piece on Bankrate.com: "Spend less on romantic weekend getaways".
In addition to reading great tips from Peter Greenberg and Travel + Leisure's Rich Beattie, you'll find some of my affordable ways to plan a romantic getaway:
-- Savored.com: Skip the Groupon or LivingSocial coupons to avoid the cheapskate label. Honesty may be the best policy in a relationship, but do you really need to let your partner know that you're saving 30% on the bill at Le Cirque? (And yes, Le Cirque is a participating restaurant.) Frugality isn't so romantic.
-- SelectRegistry.com: You could spend hours sifting through B&B listings on TripAdvisor, or you could look at this association's website of well-maintained B&Bs and inns. Don't expect to find lace doilies and outdated decor here. Instead, many of these B&Bs are done up with crisp duvets and modern furnishings -- think boutique, not tacky. And the breakfasts! We're talking omelettes, French toast, homemade pastries, and more as part of the included room rate.
-- Always compare packages to a DIY price before booking. I write about travel deals a lot and unfortunately, I reject more than I'm able to cover. To me, a package is a great deal only if you're saving money -- and it's more convenient than booking everything a la carte. Some packages have inflated prices and all too often, these packages include things that you won't end up using. Be honest with yourself. Will you redeem that restaurant credit or those museum passes? Or could you book just the hotel room at a lower price without the package? (If all you're looking for is convenience, then you're probably not traveling on a budget anyway.)
Photo Caption: On a beach in Santa Barbara over Valentine's Day. Photo by Amy Chen
