Leave the heart-shaped box of bonbons at the store. This Valentine’s Day, luxury packages from local hoteliers will lift your love plans to new levels:
A February 14th overnight stay at the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa includes all of the usual (a.k.a., welcome) suspects: champagne, truffles, a couple’s massage and a gourmet, four-course dinner for two at Bacchus Restaurant – Valentine’s Day oldies but goodies for $824, plus taxes and gratuities. http://www.wedgewoodhotel.com/
Enhance a classic romance package from the Shangri-La ($525, including a five-course tasting menu at Market by Jean-Georges) with a “Lover’s Retreat” at Chi Spa. Included: a private spa suite filled with roses, a eucalyptus steam for two and a 60-minute West Coast Wave massage for an additional $375. http://www.shangri-la.com/vancouver/shangrila/
A Valentine’s stay at the downtown, boutique Loden Hotel will yield you a signature king suite, complementary bubbly, chocolate-dipped berries, a DIY bath kit, an iPod of romantic tunes (to set the mood) and the ultimate love tool – a game of Twister. From $349, or pair with a three-course dinner for two at Tableau Bar Bistro. http://theloden.com/
Venture (slightly) out of town to Madeira Park in B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, where the Painted Boat Resort’s “Love Boat” package ($832 plus) boasts sparkling wine, soft music and dim lights in your suite, a candlelit bath and couple’s massage, and access to the property’s healing spa garden (think glacial rain shower, massaging waterfall, salt-water floatation pool and crackling fire pit). www.paintedboat.com
Vernon’s Sparkling Hill Resort will also require you to leave city limits behind – for good reason. Relax in a luxury guest room (complete with Swarovski crystal architecture, floor-to-ceiling “window walls” and a custom soak tub), savour a three-course meal at PeakFine Restaurant and indulge in a couple’s massage class – something that could prove romantically useful for the other 364 days of the year. Two nights, $250. http://www.sparklinghill.com/
