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The Best Places to Propose

Filed under: Journeys


Whether you're after a breathtaking view, a secluded romantic getaway, or a once-in-a-lifetime journey, Valentine's Day is the perfect time to find it and a popular time to for many to pop the question and get engaged. Choosing the where and the when for your proposal really is a big deal, since all the rest of your days together start in that moment and in that place.

If you're looking for inspiration check out these ideas, all of which will have you making a memorable journey together to mark a memorable moment, and please add your own suggestions in the comments!

Fairmont Holidates Packages

Filed under: Journeys


It's almost time for Valentine's Day and if you are planning a getaway the Fairmont hotels have a list of packages called Holidates. Each of the packages offers more than just a place to bunk down for the night. The options, which cost from $259 to $1,435 per night per couple include a variety of features which play off the location. For example, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City, shown above, offers the Icebreaker Package which includes a deluxe riverview room, a welcome drink and mixology session with the hotel's bar manager, choice of Ice Climbing at Montmorency Falls or a visit to the Ice Hotel Canada, a romantic dinner with wine pairing at the award-winning Le Champlain restaurant, and breakfast in bed. Package rates start from $975 per night with a two-night minimum. Other packages include the Drunk with Love holidate at The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa which includes a hot-air balloon ride in wine country and a wine-blending session and the Fairmont Chicago's Wooed In the Windy City holidate which offers couples spa treatments.

Luxe Getaways for You and Your Valentine

Filed under: Journeys


If there was ever a time of year where you could take off on an overly extravagant getaway without feeling guilty it's over Valentine's Day. Resorts and hotels know this too, with most of them putting together romantic and pampered packages in luxurious settings -- many times all-inclusive so minimal planning is required. Just decide where in the world you want to go, and if you'd prefer to stay in or go out, and finding a deal somewhere that fits the bill should be easy as pie. Here are a few we found that look particularly tempting:

Terra Valentine Romance Pack

Filed under: Wine

If you are like me, wine is a key component of your Valentine's Day festivities. An obvious choice might be something from one of my favorite small wineries, Terra Valentine. Porthos has a nice gift pack perfect for your evening of romance. Their box includes one bottle of Terra Valentine Napa Cabernet 2003 and a collection of lavender and vanilla bath gel, bathing salts, lotion, and a candle. You know the drill, light the candle, draw the bath, pour two glasses of wine and offer to apply the lotion to your beloved after the bath. The package sells for $79.

Love at Las Vegas $100,000 Package

Filed under: Journeys

Here we go again, another luxury Valentine hotel package. This one doesn't jet you around the world. The Love At Las Vegas romance package at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas includes a two night stay in The Ritz-Carlton's 2,400 square-foot Presidential Suite, a limo ride from the airport, helicopter ride to Lake Las Vegas with champagne, gondola ride, Cristal Champagne and gourmet picnic basket upon arrival and two private dinners one in your room and one about a Lake Las Vegas yacht. Other treats include a private butler, Prada Beauty spa treatments, personalized bath robes and monogrammed pillow cases. The package costs $100,000 but most of that is spent on the $50,000 shopping spree at Neiman Marcus and a $5,000 line of credit at the MonteLago Casino. The package is available starting February 1.

Millennium Hotels $150,000 Whirlwind Romance Package

Filed under: Journeys

It's time again for blockbuster Valentine's Day packages. Millennium Hotels breaks out their Whirlwind Romance package, a $150,000 adventure that starts on February 10 with a first class flight to Los Angeles. The couple spends two nights at the Millennium Biltmore's Presidential Suite, enjoys VIP tickets to the LA Museum of Contemporary Art, a shopping tow on Rodeo Drive and a four-course dinner at either the hotel's Sai Sai Japanese restaurant or the Smeraldi's Italian restaurant. On February 12, the couple jets to London and the Millennium Hotel London Knightsbridge. They will stay three nights in the Presidential Suite and experience a dinner for two chef Brian Turner's Mayfair Restaurant in Grosvenor Square and a scenic balloon ride. Next the couple goes back to the U.S., landing in New York City on February 15t to stay in the penthouse suite at the Millennium Broadway for three nights. Their New York adventures will include VIP tickets to a Broadway play, VIP tickets to the Museum of Modern Art , a helicopter flight over Manhattan with champagne toast and a private dinner and dancing on the stage of the 103-year old Hudson Theatre.Bookings for this exhausting package must be made before February 7, 2007. Personally I'd rather have jewelry and/or a Mercedes convertible.

Mr & Mrs Smith

Filed under: Journeys

Mr & Mrs Smith is a site that is dedicated to finding romantic getaways for you and your significant other, with extensive guides and reviews to finding the perfect luxurious boutique hotel. They focus primarily on Europe, but offer some selections in New York, the Northern Atlantic and around the Mediterranean, as well, and continue to expand their scope. Their panel of reviewers includes trusted anonymous sources as well as some famous names, like Stella McCartney and Anna Richardson, and every piece is written with a bit of humor and in a voice that you could easily hear checking into a hotel as the anonymous "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" with their lover. There are also books available, for Europe and UK/Ireland, if you want to take the guide along as you travel.

[via Hotel Hotsheet]

Alia Custom Invitations

Filed under: Services, Events

While silver and gold inks are always an option, up until this point, the wedding invitation market was fairly limited in how elegant paper note cards could be. In fact, some people don't use invitations at all anymore, preferring to call or e-mail their guests instead. Alia Designs may put a stop to that practice because their invitations are some of the most elegant and unique I have seen. The custom invitations include such luxurious, romantic touches as fresh flowers and rose petals, hand-embroidery, silk and real pearls.  For example, the "save the date" card, above, came with a sheer, red-silk envelope filled with rose petals. It coordinated with a wedding invitation that included a hand-beaded organza ribbon wrapped around a pearlized ivory invitation on claret silk, all of which was tucked inside a matching red silk envelope. View their portfolio to see some more of the possibilities, any of which would set the tone for an elegant, memorable wedding.

[Thanks, Xavier]

ApoteoSurprise

Filed under: Journeys, Services

Imagine this, you are in Paris, France with your beloved. It's beautiful and spectacular but you are looking for a little excitement. If plain old Paris in all her French finery isn't good enough for you, ApoteoSurprise will create a magical experience for you. The adventures include a dinner cruise aboard a yacht,  a plane emblazoned with your message on its wings, or an evening that culminates with a man with a flatscreen TV on his head that had a slideshow of your favorite romantic moments. The experiences are completely outlandish, one even involves a man dressed up as TV detective Colombo.  Prices vary according to the experience but expect to pay at least a couple of thousand dollars for your Parisian surprise.

[via Orlando Sentinel]

Forbes List of Million Dollar Jewels

Filed under: Jewelry

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Forbes breaks out their list of the world's most expensive jewels. The big pieces feature massive diamonds and many smaller, rare colored diamonds as well as sapphires, rubies and emeralds. Forbes did a cute thing with their slide show listing not only the price but the "macho-guy equivalent." This Cartier brooch includes a 65.9-carat Ceylon sapphire, 102 cabochon sapphires, 868 diamonds and a pair of emerald eyes. It costs $1.1 million or in "guy terms" 147 cases of Macallan 30-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch.

TechnoLady Casino Heart Watch

Filed under: Timepieces

One last heart-themed watch and we are all done. The TechnoLady Casino from TechnoMarine features a pave heart design with 86 full cut white diamonds and 94 full cut rubies. The rotating bezel contains 116 diamonds and the stainless steel bracelet features 48 diamonds and 88 rubies.  All that love will cost you $5900.

Coeur Leger Dior Jewelry

Filed under: Jewelry

More and more heart jewelry for your Valentine's Day. The Couer Leger designs from Dior feature smooth, flat yellow gold hearts. The Coeur Leger hoop earrings shown here have five gold hearts dangling from large gold loops. There is also a matching necklace featuring three hearts on a leather cord. The earrings are $2,300 and the necklace sells for $800. Eluxury offers Valentine's Day shipping through Monday at noon.

Jane Carroll Floral Designs

Valentine's Day and flowers are a pretty unbeatable duo. If the thought of sending plain old red roses is too much to bear, Bloomingdale's has some pretty interesting options for flower sending. Of particular note are those from Oprah-anointed floral designer Jane Carroll who stuffs flowers into boxes and cake shapes. The flower boot, shown here, is one of her unique designs and sells for $250. There are other designs on her website including a mini knot garden with a heart shape.

Fontanelli Heart-Shaped Bags

Filed under: Handbags

Although it's supposed to be heart-shaped, this black and red leather bag from Fontanelli reminds me of the Gaultier bustier backpack. The bag is made of highly polished shiny red leather with black accents and a black shoulder strap. It sells for $230. The Bag Lady fell for the crocodile-stamped leather version which sells for $310 and looks like a big, bright strawberry.

Red Valentino Watch

Filed under: Timepieces

This red watch from Valentino is a gorgeous slice of oo-la-la. The thick Valentino-red band is lizard that has been treated to look like shark skin. The case is a wide rectangular Swarovskl-studded design of red and white crystals. More wrist candy than actually timepiece (such a tiny face with such tiny hands), it sells for $500.


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