Single for Valentines Day? Try speed dating on a ski lift!

by Kraig Becker on

Saddleback ski resort, located near Rangeley, Maine, has come up with a unique way for single skiers and snowboarders to meet that special someone this Valentine’s Day. On Monday, the resort will host a speed dating event which will run all day long and give would-be lovers the opportunity to get to know one another while riding the double chairlift to the top of the mountain.

The festivities will get underway at 9 AM Monday morning with two lines forming near the lift, one for the guys and one for the ladies. When the empty chair comes along, one person from each line will hop on and take the ride to the top, giving them the opportunity to chat along the way. After the short ride to the summit comes to an end, the pair can decide to ski back to the bottom together, and elect to either return to the speed dating line in search of a more compatible connection or head to the lodge to get to know one another better. The event will cost just $25 and includes a lift pass for a full day on the slopes.

Saddleback hasn’t forgotten the couples who are already happily paired up either. The married set can come enjoy the $25 lift tickets too, and at 1 PM they can renew their vows at the top of the mountain in a mass ceremony that is sure to appeal to the romantic ski bum in all of us.

The whole concept of speed dating on a ski lift sounds like it is full of hilarious potential. On the one hand, if you meet someone you like, that ride to the top of the mountain will fly by and you’ll be happily shredding the slopes together in no time. But on the other hand, if the connection isn’t a good one, that ride could feel like an eternity. Heaven forbid the lift should malfunction, leaving you stranded with your new friend for hours on end.


Valentine’s Day in the sky: find love on a plane

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Are you headed into Monday solo? If that’s the case, it might make sense to book a quick flight for the most romantic day of the year! Don’t spend Valentine’s Day on your couch despising Cupid for neglecting you. According to the latest from travel search site Skyscanner, “flyrting” may be your key to happiness.

According to Skyscanner, almost half of all passengers have confessed to flirting in flight … and thus making the friendly skies a little friendlier. In a survey of more than a thousand travelers, the company found that a substantial 45 percent make their intentions known, with a third of them resulting in a “rendez-vous” after the plane has landed. Eight percent of flyrtatious encounters have led to relationships!
Skyscanner’s Karin Noble, once a cabin crew member, says, “More and more people are now traveling by air so it’s no surprise that flights have become a place to flirt. After all, you are sitting next to someone for an hour or more, and the fact that you’re both traveling to the same place means you already have something in common.”

Need a little help? Noble continues that there are “lubricating” effects to the in-flight service, adding that “the heightened effect that alcohol can have at altitude and the more relaxed ‘holiday mood’ that many travelers feel, and it tends to give people the courage to flirt with a fellow passenger or even take things further, especially on overseas routes such as flights to France or the UK.”

So, how many people get lucky in flight? A separate Skyscanner survey found that 20 percent of passengers have joined the mile-high club, half of them with strangers they met on a plane. Meanwhile, 95 percent copped to a desire for membership!

Skip the chick flicks this Valentine’s Day, and get yourself an aisle seat instead … you never know where it will lead.

[photo by moonlightbulb via Flickr]

Valentine’s Day Travel: World Wide Bus offers free bus tickets from NYC-Boston

by Amy Chen on

If you’re tight on cash this Valentine’s Day, it may still be possible to plan a last-minute getaway to New York City or the Boston area. World Wide Bus, which launched last fall, is offering free round-trip bus tickets from Manhattan to Cambridge, or vice versa.

Too good to be true? Well, if you can take time off work, the free tickets are valid for travel on Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day), Feb. 15, Feb. 16, or Feb. 17. I just checked and found that there are still seats left on the 9 a.m. departure from Manhattan, which would put you in Cambridge by 2 p.m. — that leaves you plenty of time to explore before sitting down to a romantic V-Day dinner.

The company initially set aside 1,000 one-way tickets for this Valentine’s Day promotion, but is now aiming to add buses to accommodate any increased demand. Even so, it’s best to lock in these free tickets now. There are three daily departures from each city. The nearly five-hour bus ride is made a bit more tolerable with Wi-Fi and power outlets at each seat.

The Deal: The round-trip tickets are worth $30 ($15 one-way).

The Details: Limit two round-trip tickets per customer. You must register in advance of the day you’re traveling, and enter each passenger’s name on the ticket. Other free routes between Feb. 14-17 include Manhattan to Newton, Mass., or vice versa.

More Info: www.worldwidebus.com

Budget-friendly London Valentine’s Day ideas

by Alex Robertson Textor on

With Valentine’s Day coming up shortly, it’s time to catalogue some romantic Big Smoke activities. Here are five budget-friendly London Valentine’s Day ideas.

1. Flower hunting at Columbia Road Shops & Flower Market. East London’s Sunday flower market is jam-packed with shoppers and aimless strollers alike. The streets are full of stands selling flowers, with salesmen barking prices in hardcore Cockney tones. Columbia Road shops are also delightful, with cafes, furniture stores, and curio shops sharing retail space. Columbia Road Market is open on Sundays between 8 am and 3 pm. Arrive early to avoid the crowds and to pick up the best possible selection of Valentine’s Day flowers for your loved ones.

2. Valentine’s Day at Tower Bridge. For £15 ($24) per person, participants can ascend to the bridge’s walkways, eat chocolates, drink a glass of bubbly (pink Champagne, no less!) and enjoy views over London. Organizers promise “scented flowers, seductive lighting and live mood music” in the background. Wow. In other words: one part cheesy spectacle, one part make-no-bones-about-it goosebump fest. This activity is scheduled on the evening of February 14 in four one-hour admission shifts, at 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm, and 9:30 pm. 18 and older only.

3. Romantic candies. Pick up some Valentine’s Day sweets at Hope & Greenwood. The very British confectionary shop has two branches, one at 20 North Cross Road in Dulwich and the other at 1 Russell Street in Covent Garden. They’re hawking a line of special Valentines candies right now; these include an organic spotted dick chocolate bar, love hearts, and champagne truffles.

4. Makeshift river cruise. Bypass the terribly pricey Thames dinner cruises and cobble together a romantic river journey of your own. On Valentine’s Day afternoon, take a River Cruise eastward from Westminster to Greenwich or westward from Greenwich to Westminster. A cruise leaving Greenwich at 4:50 pm arrives at Westminster at 6:10 pm, affording almost a full hour of post-sunset views of the city. A one-way journey for adults costs £9.50 ($15.30) and a roundtrip runs £12.50 ($20.10).

5. Primrose Hill views. Few neighborhoods in London are quite as picturesque as Primrose Hill. The hill itself perches on the northern flank of Regent’s Park, and affords beautiful, sloping views of central London. Primrose Hill is also home to ungodly numbers of British celebrities. Will they be out on Valentine’s Day evening, enjoying the view? Unlikely, but you never know.

Searching for the perfect romantic bolthole for Valentine’s Day? Of course you are. Check out our list of five romantic properties in Boston, California, Mexico, Quebec, and St. Lucia.

[Image: Flickr | siddhu2020]

Top 5 hotels to visit for Valentine’s Day

by Melanie Nayer on

It’s Valentine’s Day… that special Hallmark holiday when women swoon over heart shaped candies and men scurry at the last minute to find anything red that might suffice as a thoughtful gift. But let’s be real, teddy bears and chocolates are so cliche. Unless it comes in a little blue box with a white ribbon, you’re going to have to start upping your game on Valentine’s Day.

Good news lovers: We’ve found the perfect way for you wow your partner, and also enjoy a little bit of the holiday for yourself. These five hotels have everything you could want for the perfect Valentine’s Day – romance, seclusion, and of course, room service.

  1. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec, Canada. Take your princess to a castle in Canada and cuddle up in storybook fashion at the Fairmont Frontenac in Quebec. The hotel, declared a World Heritage site from the UN, has an old-world European charm that captures any heart.
  2. XV Beacon, Boston, Massachusetts. The hotel is a hidden gem in one of the most cosmopolitan cities. XV Beacon sits right on Boston’s historic Beacon Hill and offers amazing views of the copper-domed state house, Boston Common and the Boston skyline. What’s more, each room comes complete with a fireplace – the perfect excuse to cuddle up on a cold winter’s night.
  3. El Dorado Resorts, Riveria Maya, Mexico: Escape to Mexico for a little romance in the Riveria Maya. The all-inclusive El Dorado Resorts offers three classes of rooms for various price-points, all with ocean views and in-room jacquzzis. Hint: Champagne goes really well with that bath.
  4. Jade Mountain: St. Lucia’s most romantic resort includes infinity pools, endless spa services and the utmost privacy. Enjoy restaurants, bars, boutiques, art gallery, spa, water sports or just spend time at the beach in Jade Mountain.
  5. Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, California: Nothing says romance like roasting marshmallows at an outside fire pit while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, is located only 23 miles from San Francisco, making it an easy jaunt for last-minute travelers wanting to impress.