Oh no! You forgot to plan something big and romantic for Valentine’s Day, and the huge package your partner bought you just got dropped off by UPS. Or maybe you met The One just last week and want to blow out the big day in style.
Or maybe it’s a dozen other possible reasons you suddenly need to book the perfect romantic holiday on short notice. While the classic love-fests may be booked solid or too expensive now, Skyscanner has your back.
Save the day and consider these perfect last-minute romantic getaways this Valentine’s Day.
Pacific Northwest: McMinnville, Oregon
This valley town near the Willamette Valley has two great advantages for the perfect romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day. First? The coziness. McMinnville, and a half-dozen other small towns nearby, host dozens of small bed-and-breakfasts and the kind of quaint experience that really kindles the flame of romance.
The other is wine. Oregon is famous for its vineyards, and the vineyards of this small valley are famous throughout Oregon. Put those two together and this makes a perfect “sip trip” for a happy couple.
Fly into Portland, Oregon, and either rent a car or take an inexpensive shuttle for the 45-60 minute drive. Right now, tickets run between $147 from Denver to $400 or so from the east coast.
Southwest: Sante Fe, New Mexico
If art and beauty are what you and your partner have most in common, Santa Fe offers opportunities to experience both at every budget level. The galleries, museums, and art markets of the town are world-famous, and offer more than you could explore even if you stayed for a month.
Just outside town, but visible from throughout the city, is some of the most beautiful and accessible desert in the country. Whether your idea of romantic fun is gazing at the desert sunset from a balcony, hiking the rugged mountains nearby, or a guided mountain biking tour, they have something for you.
Flights to Santa Fe range from to $355 from New York and $558 from Dallas or New Orleans. Flights into Albuquerque – about an hour’s beautiful drive through the desert – tend to run $100 to $200 cheaper.
The West: Napa Valley, California
This may be the least surprising spot on the list, but it’s such a wide region that there will still be room for you and your soulmate to book a last-minute Valentine’s Day getaway. Options start with a nice bed-and-breakfast and, of course, wine-tasting, but why stop there?
Tour a winery built to look like a Tuscan castle, or one inspired by the palace at Versailles. Ride a hot air balloon to view the valley while you sip wine and eat gourmet cheese. Take a break from the “grown-up stuff” and go water skiing at nearby Lake Berryessa. Get creative, and share it with your love.
Fly into Oakland International Airport to reach Napa Valley, with flights ranging between $258 from Denver and $400 to $500 from the east coast.
Rockies: Beaver Creek, Colorado
In most of the US, snow is beginning to at least look like it’s melting by Valentine’s Day, but Beaver Creek remains a winter wonderland well into March and April. It’s on the pricier side, with its luxurious resorts, but well worth the cost if you can afford it.
Naturally, it’s a perfect fit for couples who ski together, but this mountain destination offers non-skiers plenty to do. Snowmobile and even dog-sledding adventures await the outdoorsy types, while warm rooms with snow-clad views await those who would rather spend their romantic time cuddling by the fire indoors.
Reaching Beaver Creek starts with a flight to Denver, which right now costs between $125 from Orlando and $286 from New York.
Southeast: New Orleans, Louisiana
Another less surprising item on the list, New Orleans is perfect for a quick romantic Valentine’s Day vacation. An international destination without having to go through customs? Check. Live music for dancing? Check. Iconic art and architecture? Check. Food and booze like nowhere else in the country? Check and check.
New Orleans isn’t just for partygoers, either. If you’re more the couple to cruise art museums and sculpture gardens in a city half a century older than the United States, NOLA offers that as well.
Being a centrally located tourist hotspot, New Orleans also offers surprisingly cheap flights. Right now, it’s just $100 from Austin, $234 from Chicago, and under $300 from both New York and Seattle.
New England: White Mountains, New Hampshire
New England is famous for its romantic woodland and mountain drives while the leaves change, but that doesn’t do much good for Valentine’s Day. In February, the White Mountains are clad in stunning winter finery of snowdrifts, icefalls, and frost-rimed evergreens.
It’s a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts year-round, but takes on a special, even magical vibe in the winter. Whether you’re a couple for bundling up and hiking the trails, or covering up and staying indoors, you won’t regret the visit.
You can fly into Mount Washington Regional Airport, but that’s extremely expensive. Instead book your tickets to Logan International in Boston, then enjoy the drive through the scenic New England winter. Last-minute tickets right now cost between $265 from Chicago to $416 from Los Angeles.
Great Lakes: Chesterton, Indiana
Living in the Midwest leaves a lot of people feeling like a proper beach vacation is out of reach. Both coasts, and even the nearer Gulf Coast, are a long and expensive flight. But what if we told you that sandy beaches and even dunes are right in your back yard?
Chesterton, which sits on the shores of Lake Michigan, offers boardwalks and sand, wind-stunted trees, and the sorts of resort you expect to find at the seaside. February’s still a bit chilly, but that just means you’re paying off-season prices for a lovely beach vacation while celebrating a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway with your sweetie!
Fly into Chicago Midway (O’Hare is an hour farther away), with tickets today ranging between $103 from Boston to $287 from San Diego.
The South: Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston hits that “sweet spot” among romantic vacation options where the city is small enough for a visitor to manage while also being large enough to offer most things a couple might want.
Mixing southern and colonial architecture with world-class seafood, and a nightlife that’s both lively and safe, Charleston is a great romantic escape for couples who want to explore.
Flights to Charleston range right now from $227 out of New York, to $319 from Ohio, to $500 or $600 from the west coast.
