Well, we avoided the lovey-dovey talk as long as we could. But it *is* Valentine's Day, and there're a bunch of mushy, bleeding hearts out there gagging for news of the romantic.
Fortunately, HotelChatter has lots of ideas for sexy hotel stays that'll woo your love even after tonight. Even if you blow it, you can always make it up to her (or him!) with a spa getaway.
But if you're one of those types who hates all the V-Day garbage, you're not alone. If you can make it, find us at Johnny Utah's tonight riding the mechanical bull instead of the roller coaster of love.
How can we not keep thinkin' of love on Valentine's Day? We already figured out--a little sadly--that Paris is the ciy of arguments, if not a damn fine place to break up with your other half, at least for the British. But all is not lost with the we-thought-they-were-romantic French, because Singles Week at Avoriaz Ski Resort exists.
Yep, the UK Times checked out a special Singles Week in the French Alps. The travelers are all singles who've found out about the week through one of a variety of online dating sites, like the UK's Dating Direct.
Single you come, and single you might well leave unless you get really lucky, but in the middle of your week in France you definitely won't be lonely. Various games and activities are set up to help people get to know each other (there's a "musical snowball fight" for example), and big meals and plenty of booze help things along.
Being Europe, you may find yourself attracted to someone who doesn't speak your language--about two thirds of the last Singles Week participants were French-speakers--but the language of love is international, right?
And to think we'd always considered Paris the capital city of Love. It might be for some, but a recent British survey unearthed the disturbing result that 34 percent of British travelers consider it:
the city most likely to cause them to argue on a romantic break, with lovers' moods darkened by a "grey" and "difficult to navigate" city and surly restaurant service.
What might be worse is the fact that 10 percent of Britons surveyed have ended their relationship while on vacation with their partner. That makes going on holidays sound kind of risky.
Other top cities for arguments and break-ups included Marrakesh, Morocco and Amsterdam, so take these results to heart next time you're planning your hopefully-romantic trip.
What better place to look for love before Valentine's Day than Love Field? We've never hooked up at Dallas' secondary airport, but with that kind of name we expect at least mild passenger-to-passenger flirtation. Or alternately, a secret Flickr admirer.
For better luck and less chance of getting frisked in the security line, try these other Dallas locations:
Frankie's Sports Bar and Grill -- The NFL season may be over, but there's still time to find a cute guy drinking with his brothers at this big-screen-and-pool-table joint. They even have WiFi, so you can post your connection right after you miss it, you wuss. 3227 Mckinney Ave.
Ghostbar -- This W Hotel hot spot with a sister bar in Vegas isn't cheap, especially when it comes to $300-plus bottle service. But while you're contemplating the LED-lit bar you might get to lock lips with a fellow Van Halen fan. 2440 Victory Park Ln.
Crossroads Market Bookstore & Cafe -- Well, even if you don't find a guy who can take a hint, at least you'll come out with something good to read. 3930 Cedar Springs Rd.
Meanwhile, all that romance isn't distracting HotelChatter from Fashion Week parties or the fact that Nicky Hilton can't get into 'em. Luckily our very own Amanda P was there and can fill us in on all the details.
In the days leading up to February 14, do you find yourself spending your commute mentally composing love sonnets--and annoyingly sharing them with anyone who'll listen? Boozing it up with unattached friends and denouncing the holiday for the commercial farce that it is? Collectively cursing St. Valentine, Cupid and Hallmark for forcing you to dream up yet another romantic present? Well, we can't help the besotted or the bitter, but we might be able to do something for the befuddled. And by that we mean, well, guys.
If you're not quite ready to present your sweetie with something small, sparkly and potentially appraisable, you can still look like the hero by giving her a couple's massage, an experiential gift that's also a pretty sweet present for you. Spas throughout New York are actually discounting treatments for the holiday, and since they rarely lower their rates, it's a prime time to take advantage. Snag a gift certificate now and score major points later--no love poem required:
Oasis Day Spa: You can get 15 percent off any purchase you make online, from massage to facials to body wraps. Check out the weekly specials for other deals on services.
Metamorphosis Day Spa: While several therapies, like scrubs and masks are being offered at $10 to $25 off, go for the couple's chocolate oil massage, which includes a 50-minute Swedish rubdown with candles, wine, roses and chocolate kisses.
Shizuka New York: Couples get a 10 percent discount at this Japanese day spa when they come in together, from now through February 17. The services don't have to be identical, just booked at the same time.
Bunya City Spa: This Soho-based facility is offering four Valentine's themed treatments at special prices. We recommend the Steamy Love package--an organic ginger and honey scrub designed to increase circulation and boost the heat between the two of you.
After there was the Loved Ones of the '60s, and before there was the Loved Ones with the dude from Kid Dynamite, there was the Loved Ones from the Bay Area. Fans of the Bay Area band of Hightone Records fame should be pissed at the latest name hijacking, because the superior Loved Ones have gotten lost in the shuffle. But the band is fighting back tonight in San Francisco, at a special VD event.
The Loved Ones you should care about play their annual reunion show at Annie's Social Club tonight. The group includes pop genius Bart Davenport on lead vocals, and Mike Therieau, also a Bay Area wonder, on bass and background vocals. If we were in San Francisco on this special day, this is where our $10 would go. Though broken up, the Loved Ones are still apparently big in Spain, which we guess is better than being big in Japan.
Manchester Airport isn't such a bad place to spend part of your VD in. Besides the mood lighting, its also set up a secret password program for Valentine's Day. Yup, you heard us right. Pax smuggling engagement rings and other romantic surprises can whisper the password to security personnel, who will screen them in a way that doesn't blow their cover in front of a date. But doesn't the password itself kind of give everything away? Then again, you know they'd consider just about anything else a bomb scare.
MAN also apparently has some of the craziest passengers anywhere. A new report on the state of security at the airport includes a listing of incidents involving angry travelers rebelling against liquid restrictions. That includes a guy who pissed straight into zip-top bag to protest the rules. What his point was, or how that proved it, we're not entirely sure. But he's still our new hero.
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