2nd Night 50% Off at the Bedford Hotel New York

The Bedford is as New York as can be. Midtown Manhattan location on 40th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues in the Murray Hill area, and sandwiched between two very famous New York attractions, the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, and its a nice short stroll to Fifth Avenue shopping, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, the theater district and the United Nations.

And unlike the usual pint sized rooms on display at most New York hotels, the Bedford offers 136 spacious studios and one bedroom suites, most with fully equipped kitchenettes, in-room safes, iron and ironing boards, hair dryers and all the usual amenities. What else could you ask for?

Well, how about a post-holiday sale, with 50% Off on 2nd nights, if you book one night at the regular price. Effective January 02-February 12, 2009. Use promo code post50off. Rates from $155.00/$77.50 (first night/second night) onwards. Rates are per night, do not include hotel taxes, and are based on single or double occupancy. More details here.

And the Bedford also houses Domenico's Italian restaurant (www.domeniconyc.com), which has been serving out classic Italian cuisine for over 20 years, with private dining rooms can accommodate up to 150 people. And even better, Domenico's has a Valentine special all lined up, with tender Long Island little neck clam chowder, beef tenderloin or veal slices with wild mushrooms & Marsala wine, and chocolate mousse cake or strawberries & whipped cream. Doemnico's also has a special pre-theater menu, if you're so inclined.

Romantic getaways in the Big Apple don't get any better than this. The rooms are decent and affordable, the hotel is perfectly located for checking out all the sights and some frenzied shopping, and more importantly, its perfect for a romantic evening of wining and dining and theater. You'd be hard pressed to come up with another hotel offering an entire weekend like this in New York City for $232.50 plus taxes.

Info: 118 E. 40th Street New York NY 10016; (800) 221-6881 / (212) 697-4800; www.bedfordhotel.com/

Yoshi's Romance at Jack London Square

What kind of a club is called Yoshi? And are you in the U.K., eating fish and chips, if you're standing in Jack London Square? In answer to the first question, there are Yoshi clubs and restaurants in Oakland and San Francisco.

The clubs feature live jazz, and the Oakland Yoshi's Club is widely considered to be the best East Bay nightclub with live music. The 320 seat San Francisco branch opened in November 2007. And the restaurants offer Japanese cuisine. I love sushi as much as the next guy, but I'm a lousy food critic, so we'll leave the restaurant reviews for those more worthy (and fat) and continue with question 2 - Jack London Square.

As you might have guessed, Jack London Square is the place to be, if you're in Oakland, CA and in much the same way as all the important hotels in San Francisco are bunched together in Union Square, so the best Oakland hotels boast of a location in Jack London Square. For someone from a big metropolis like New York or Chicago or Miami, the place can seem to be a bit surreal.

It's populated by a whole lot of nerds and geeks, and the pace is slow enough for a turtle to have a hissy fit, go nuts and scream - wake up, do something, faster please! Ok, maybe that's a bit of a whopper, but it's still a good way to understand that Oakland is as good a place as any for romantic getaways where nobody expects you to do anything, and you can get up late, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, stay in your room or laze around in the same spot all day long, and no one will bat an eyelid. Enjoy some light jazz and an excellent dinner in the evening at Yoshi's.

And this is where the appropriately named 'Inn at Jack London Square' comes in. They're offering a Yoshi's Romance special, which includes deluxe accommodations, 2 tickets to Yoshi's Jazz Club, and breakfast in the morning for two. More details here.

You've got each other, a nice private room in the best location in town, free tickets to the best East Bay jazz club, and complimentary breakfast. San Francisco is a ferry ride away, and the Amtrak station is 3 blocks from the hotel. Standard rates from $99 onwards. Have fun!

Info: 233 Broadway Oakland CA 94607; (800) 633-5973 / (510) 452-4565; www.innatthesquare.com

Snuggle & Smooch at EdgeWater Seattle

Maybe it's the wine or the location on water's edge or maybe it's just the weather in Seattle. Whatever 'it' may be, it's the cause of all the snuggling and smooching going on inside the warm confines of Seattle hotels. Especially the ones with a view of the water, as in the Edgewater Hotel.

The hotel is offering a steamy, sultry one-night escape with our newly redesigned romance package – Snuggle & Smooch. Start your overnight love-fest with chocolate dipped strawberries delivered to your room and hand made by our in-house pastry chef.

With an exclusive Romance Box made especially for The Edgewater by Bumble B Design, your romantic getaways are just a click away! Get down and chocolatey with chocolate body frosting, or indulge with ylang ylang and ginger lotion – perfect for a sensuous massage! To keep things easy, your overnight parking is also included!

Includes:-
Overnight accommodations for two
Romance box made exclusively for The Edgewater by Bumble B Design.
5 chocolate dipped strawberries delivered to your room
Complimentary valet parking for one vehicle

More details and online booking here.

For the record, the Edgewater is actually located right at the foot of Pier 67, with sweeping views of the Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains in the distance, and the downtown Seattle attractions just a few steps away. Half of the 223 guest rooms offer views of Elliott Bay, and the other half face the Seattle skyline from the isolation of the pier.

All rooms are furnished with custom-designed knotty pine furniture, overstuffed chairs and a fuzzy bear ottoman located in front of the gas fireplace. There's amber quartz slate flooring, glass surround European spa showers, and white vessel sinks atop absolute black granite counters and stainless steel base.

You get 100 percent Egyptian cotton bedding, hair dryers and bath amenities complete with a rubber ducky! Additional amenities include an iron and ironing board, in-room private bar and refrigerator, coffee service with complimentary Starbucks coffee and teas, seating area, cordless telephones and HDTV televisions with digital entertainment. Rooms service from the Six-Seven restaurant.

Info: 2411 Alaskan Way Pier 67 Seattle WA 98121 1; (800) 624-0670; www.edgewaterhotel.com/

Romance at the Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento

There's plenty romance in Sacramento, as it is. And there's no shortage of gardens and flowers either, manmade or of the natural variety. But when its freezing cold and you're thinking more in terms of room service with some bubbly and a warm fireplace and heated cozy rooms with large comfortable and deeply inviting mattresses and beds, then you're looking for the Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento-South Natomas Hotel. Sometimes, you just gotta enjoy the comforts of modernity.

And to make the notion of romantic getaways in Sacramento more inviting, the Hilton Garden Inn is offering a romance package. Includes:-
• Early check-in & pre-registration upon request
• In-room sparkling wine upon arrival
• Full American breakfast or buffet for two
• Late check-out available

More details and online booking here.

As for the hotel, it is located just across the river from downtown Sacramento and 10 miles from the Airport, with complimentary airport shuttle service. Offers 154 guest rooms, complimentary high-speed internet, coffee and a 24 hour business center, fitness center, outdoor pool and courtyard, valet and self laundry, and a Great American Grill restaurant.

The guest rooms are equipped with microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker, king or two double size beds and comfortable sitting area with an ottoman, and a spacious work desk with a specially designed ergonomic chair.

Compared to other upscale Sacramento hotels like the Hyatt Regency, the Hilton Garden Inn is a bit off the normal tourist track. Visitors usually want to stay somewhere near the State Capitol and within easy walking distance of Old Town Sacramento and the other visitable attractions in Sacramento. But look at it as a romantic getaway in Sacramento, and its near perfect. It's far removed from the bedlam of the downtown area, and yet easily accessible.

Info: 2540 Venture Oaks Way Sacramento CA 95833; (916) 568-5400; www.hiltongardeninnsacramento.com/

Shop & Stay Escape at Jumeirah Essex House

For those not in the know, Jumeirah Essex House is one of the most historical hotels in New York, imbued with an elegant Art Deco flair. There's even a Central Park walking tour which has Jumeirah Essex House as one of its stops.

In fact, it actually is a member of the Historic Hotels of America. And here's what they say about Essex House - For over seventy years, the Jumeirah Essex House has been an oasis of class and elegance on the edge of Central Park. The hotel offers stunning views of the park and the New York skyline, complemented by luxurious appointments and first-class service.

And this historic hotel with magnificent views of Central Park is offering a 'Shop & Stay Escape' package. Includes accomodations and exclusive shopping priviliges and benefits at Bloomingdale’s:
15% Savings Certificate
Bloomingdale's signature gift
Complimentary Frozen Yogurt or Cappuccino
Personal delivery for packages totaling $250
Signature gift with purchase of $200 or more
Appointment with a personal shopper

Rates from $309. More details and online booking here.

The hotel was simply known as Essex House, until it was recently purchased by the Jumeirah company. With 509 luxurious guest rooms and suites with views of Central Park and Manhattan, its an understatement to say that it is one of the more desirable properties in a prime location. To complement the Art Deco surroundings, the rooms offer high-speed internet access, cable television, make-up/shaving mirror & hairdryer, a minibar and a laptop compatible safe.

Amenities include health spa services with massage treatments and steam bath, fitness facility, jogging path, meeting and banquet rooms, and complimentary guest bicycles. There's also one restaurant (South Gate) and a Lobby Lounge.

All said and done, I wouldn't go so far as to label it as one of the attractions in New York, like the Plaza Hotel or the Chelsea, but Essex House makes up for it by offering its guests a glimpse of New York in the form of a Central Park walking tour and private art tours.

Info: 160 Central Park South New York NY 10019; (212) 247-0300; www.jumeirahessexhouse.com/