chris rodgers - top 5 romantic getaways for Valentine's Day
Everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day in their own special way. Whether it’s going to both Jersey Mike’s and Zaxby’s and then settling in to watch Netflix (me and Tim) or traveling somewhere special - it’s really all about who you spend it with. Amirite, Galentine’s Day?!
Chris and his wife, Monica, have traveled to and lived all over the world. Here are the top 5 most romantic places to spend your next Valentine’s Day.
equilibreyaum: Tell me about your background, why did you first start traveling? How many cities/countries/continents have you been to?
Chris Rodgers: My first trip abroad was to France in 2004. I'd always wanted to travel extensively and it became a priority for me and Monica once we started dating. We were married abroad in Scotland, honeymooned in Ireland and have now traveled to over 40 countries. We've lived on four continents and traveled to five. Australia and Antarctica remain on our list. We maintained a travel blog at working2live.com that's idle at the moment but we look forward to reviving it in the future. Our latest trip was to Peru this New Year with a group of friends.
e: You've been married for 10 years now so you've celebrated your fair share of Valentine's Days. What are your top 5 cities for a romantic celebration?
CR: That's right. August 2018 marked ten years for us. We returned to Scotland for our tenth anniversary and certain places hold personal sentimental value for us. When we lived in Brazil, their Valentine's Day equivalent was June 12. China's closest equivalent, Qixi, follows the lunar calendar. So, celebrating the American February 14 can actually sometimes be quite easy to find a reservation abroad. But in general, Hollywood and its commercialization rule, so most of the world knows about American Valentine's Day. I'd recommend the following destinations for a romantic weekend. Still, despite going many places, my knowledge remains very, very limited. Each place you go, you only learn more about places you haven’t yet been. The bucket list of destinations never shortens but only grows.
number five - Savannah, Georgia
I'm going with a coastal Georgia town most famous for its St. Patrick's Day. But for slightly lower rates and less debauchery, Valentine's Day is a perfect time to check out Savannah, Georgia.
If you've never read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, add it to your list! No book better sets the atmosphere for Savannah and no quote does it more justice than the following: “'If you go to Atlanta, the first question people ask you is, 'What's your business?' In Macon they ask, 'Where do you go to church?' In Augusta they ask your grandmother's maiden name. But in Savannah the first question people ask you is 'What would you like to drink?' Savannah is an anomaly in Georgia, in the American South and in life.
Where to Stay: History and cobblestone walks surround you along with a bit of mystery and haunted tales. Book a room as close to River Street as possible, then enjoy the historic district on foot.
What to Eat: For dinner, check out The Pirate House, The Olde Pink House or Vic's. For lunch, take a ride to Mrs. Wilke's Boarding House or venture to Tybee Island and have endless seafood at The Crab Shack. And if you’re one of those people who likes to skip to dessert or at least make it the major part of your meal, check out Better Than Sex, recently opening in Savannah after successful runs in Key West and Orlando.
What to Do: Take a romantic carriage ride, walk through the parks and even the cemeteries. Savannah is a fun spot that won't overwhelm you for a short Valentine's visit.
number four - Las Vegas, Nevada
Vulgarly, colorfully, and without regard for your feelings, Las Vegas taxi drivers give the best advice on life. Skip the Uber ride here. Go old school. Hop in a taxi and talk about life. If you're trying to repeat some past date or memory, they'll be the first to tell you, leave that sh#% in the past and don't f&@* it up. Make new memories.
What to Eat: Endless buffets abound but those aren't the best date spots unless they come aboard an accompanying cruise. Go to Top of the World for the views, Yardbird if you're not from the South, or an endless number of restaurants and casinos that help you fantasize about being somewhere else...Paris, New York, Italy. It's all in Vegas.
What to Do: Go to a show together. Cirque du Soleil shows are always great and Vegas has their own steady supply for all tastes. Whether or not you enjoy the city, absolutely every entertainer comes here. Vegas is another place that can be fully explored in a couple of days. The casinos and their themes are amazingly interesting but unless you're an avid gambler will only keep you occupied so long. Check out Fremont Street and the old strip as well. And maybe the Mob Museum, too. It's quite interesting, it's a big part of Vegas' history and a wall representing Chicago's most famous Valentine's Day will remind you why (along with February weather) you didn't choose the Windy City as your nice Valentine's destination.
number three - Paris, France
Paris is known as "The City of Love" so of course, no list of romantic destinations could exclude it. But Europeans from other parts generally have a love-hate relationship with Paris. Some see it as super clean; others as super dirty. Some see it as beautiful, others as quite rude.
Where to Eat: Michelin star restaurants abound in Paris. Book early and be ready to pay. But, if you're not trying to impress anyone, the best Paris meals will take place in cafes hidden away or in restaurants with sidewalk side tables. For your special evening, there are many splendid romantic restaurants in the art district of Montmartre. Eat there and then go see the show at Moulin Rouge without the overpriced standard touristy dinner. For most meals, stay away from touristy areas if you want to enjoy food better than your local 7-11 serves.
What to Do: You must go to the Louvre but not go to see only the Mona Lisa. If it's your only target, you'll be disappointed. Do a bit of research, choose your prime targets and maybe hire a guide. You'll want to return again and there's no way you'll see everything in a day. And you can cap your Valentine's Day experience by adding a lock to the Pont des Arts bridge and throwing away the key to symbolize your endless love for each other. Just suspend disbelief and never return to look for it. The bridge, does after all, have weight limitations and can't literally hold locks for all the world's lovers forever.
Any City, Italy
Pick a spot. It doesn’t matter where. A Venetian gondola ride, Florence’s beautiful scenery and David, Tuscan wine and sunsets or the bustle of Rome among grand art. You can’t go wrong with Italy. An added bonus for me is that it’s the only place in Europe I really feel I can pull out my South American driving skills. An added rush of adrenaline on the way to dinner. And Rome’s Colosseum…definitely the first place I’d go to time travel.
If it’s Rome, L’Antica Birerria Peroni is great for a meal. Like Paris, though, look for places far from the beaten tourist path, as local and small as possible. Hotel Artemide is close to all the classic sculptures and features a great breakfast.
The Italian countryside is one of those places you really need someone to share with, so Valentine’s is the perfect occasion. As Anthony Bourdain stated while in Greece, "Is it worse to be someplace awful when you're by yourself or someplace really nice that you can't share with anyone?" Yeah, while Rome can be great solo, Valentine’s under the Tuscan sun is much better together than alone. If I were booking an exotic destination for two this Valentine’s Day, it’d be somewhere remote in Greece or Italy.
number one - Vienna, Austria
Monica’s favorite European city. Romantic. And therefore my #1 choice for Valentine’s Day. Coffee, music and grand architecture. More horse drawn carriage rides. And our favorite style of schnitzel.
Where to Stay: Check out 25HoursHotel, a lovely new European concept chain. Hotel bars and restaurants are also quite nice in Vienna, including Hotel Imperial. And you must make the touristy stop at the famous Mozart Café.
What to Eat: Vienna’s establishment has 1500 Foodmakers inside, perfect for dining big without a long walk. Schloss Concordia was our favorite meal, specializing in eastern European fare.
What to Do: Stay in for an evening and watch The Third Man (1949) then go see the sites including the Wiener Riesenrad, one of the world’s oldest ferris wheels, and potentially a fun romantic ride. Tour the Schonbrunn Palace, one of the most beautiful palace grounds anywhere. And it’s one of many places in town to catch a live concert. Men may find themselves bored at times, but hey, it’s better than opera.
e: What a list, thank you so much Chris! Tim and I will really have to step it up next year. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
CR: Monica and I rarely give each other gifts. We agreed long ago to travel together for special occasions whenever possible. It's a tradition we hope to continue and our list of places left to go continues to grow longer. And your #1 romantic weekend destination is likely not to be found on any list. It's wherever the two of you remember smiles, laughter and stories that bring you closer together, even if that's February in Chicago.
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