Hot Vs. Cold: Valentine's Day Vs. President's Day
Relationships can be hot and cold, so is Valentine's Day weekend because it's battling with President's Day. So choose between going HOT to one of Jamaica's many romantic properties or staying on the COLDER side in New York State. Or just stick with your squad and make it a weekend away. Either way, air prices are down and prices are reasonable so make it happen!
Hot Hot Hot
Jamaica Inn
Few places are more romantic than Jamaica Inn, an eight-acre property situated on a private cove in beautiful Ocho Rios. The resort's Celebration of Love, a five- or seven-night romance package, includes accommodations for two in a Deluxe Verandah Suite with ocean views, a bottle of Champagne in-suite upon arrival, a one-hour couples massage, VIP pass for departure to the airport, full daily breakfast, nightly five-course dinner under the stars and one private candlelight dinner on the beach.
Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort and Spa
A Valentine's Day getaway doesn't have to break the bank with the Fall Into Winter rates at adults-only Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort and Spa. Rooms start at $135 per person/per night and are all-inclusive. Enjoy the resort's luxurious accommodations at this completely redesigned oceanfront retreat on Jamaica's north coast.
Sandals
Sandals is the perfect destination for a romantic retreat any time of year. Specifically designed for romance, the all-inclusive, adults-only resort takes care of everything so guests can focus on their significant other and a romantic Valentine's Day. Visitors to Jamaica have seven Sandals to choose from, with properties in Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios and Whitehouse.
Winter Wonderland
Romantic or Friend Adventures
Dog sledding, Snowshoeing and Winter Horseback Riding. All quite the adventure! Golden Arrow Lake and Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours will have you racing across Mirror Lake in the cold, crisp air of Lake Placid on a sleigh pulled by dogs who love to run. And Lake Placid and Lake George it's easy to cross gorgeous terrain in the back of a horse or using old fashioned snow shoes. You pick and make it a weekend of outdoor fun.
Didn't plan ahead? Finger Lakes Beer Trail, Cooperstown Beverage Trail, ShawanGunk Wine Trail and Canandaigua Wine Trail make romance or friendship over wine or beer easy as 1 drink, 2 drinks, and 3 drinks!
Wine or champagne is no longer limited to imbibing; hotels and wineries around New York State are giving their guests the chance to customize their own blends. The Inns of Aurora, a collection of three properties in the Finger Lakes, has an excursion to the Heart and Hands Wine Company, where guests work alongside the owners, Tom and Susan Higgins, to make either a pinot noir or Riesling wine. Wölffer Estate Vineyard on Long Island has a package in which visitors tour the winery, receive a tutorial on growing grapes and mix varietals including petit verdot and merlot into a wine they can sip over a meal or cheese platter on the grounds.
Make it a weekend trip to one of New York State's 50+ ski trails. After a day on the slopes cuddle up to fire pits and enjoy local food, libations and maybe a trip to the spa.
From sea to farm, New York State offers a variety of spa experiences that take an unconventional approach to relaxation. Incorporating local ingredients such as wine, maple, apples and minerals, spas around the state have created treatments that are utterly indigenous to the destination to help keep complexions bright.
Millstone Farm Facial at Buttermilk Falls Inn in the Hudson Valley located in the Hudson Valley, the Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa has just 18 rooms and is located on a 75-acre farm. 45 of those acres are taken up by Millstone Farms, which grows stone fruit, Swiss chard, kale and watermelon (seasonally). There's also a livestock barn with heritage breed chickens and peacocks, as well as an aviary house. The spa uses solar and geothermal power, and incorporates home-grown herbs, honey and even pumpkin in its treatments. The signature Millstone Farm Facial includes a mask made with the farm's honey, as well as a homemade cucumber-honey toner. Pumpkin, an antioxidant, is the star ingredient of the Pumpkin & Spice Body Wrap.
The Adirondack Maple Sugar Body Scrub at Mirror Lake Inn is a signature treatment that taps into the natural richness of local maple sugar, allowing guests to experience a wonderfully hydrating and re-mineralizing full body exfoliation. The result is smooth skin, long lasting hydration and overall feeling of well-being.
Wine Infused Treatments at Mirbeau Spa in the Finger Lakes pay homage to the region's famed wineries while keeping products localized. The Honey & Wine Wrap includes a warm blend of wine and honey providing intensive moisture to the skin, protecting against dehydration. The Crushed Cabernet Scrub uses a blend of grape seed, honey and brown sugar to create a scrub that invigorates and refines, to stimulate microcirculation and drainage of excess toxins.
Ellicottville Salt Cave Halotherapy Spa in Chautauqua-Allegheny is a 45-minute session shared by up to four people in a room filled with 100 percent pure Himalayan salt. Gravity chairs, blankets and pillows are provided for total comfort. Relax and breathe in the healing salt air created by a soothing water feature. Calming music filters through the dim, color-lit (chromotherapy) room to enhance the ultimate experience.
Mineral Water Treatments at the Roosevelt Baths & Spa in Saratoga Springs established in 1935 opened thanks to President Franklin Roosevelt's visionary act to preserve the Saratoga Springs. Transformation begins with a private soak in Saratoga's naturally effervescent water. Guest will discover a delightfully buoyant quality to the mineral water, and revel in Saratoga's signature brand of aquatic bliss. The mineral water is captured cold from underground springs, then mixed with warm fresh water to a neutral temperature for maximum benefits. The Roosevelt Baths & Spa offers 42 original treatment rooms and a complete menu of services, including mineral baths, massages, facials, scrubs, body wraps, and a full-service salon.
Suggestions come from Jamaica Tourist Board and I Love New York.
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