Did you catch our Valentine’s Day Getaways segment on CTV Morning Live Vancouver?
Our Flightie Allison Wallace sat down with CTV and shared our top four picks for Vancouverites (and honourary Vancouverites) to spend Love Day. Whether you’re local, visiting, or travelling through, get ready to pack your bags, cue up a playlist, and whisk your special someone away.
Whistler
Just a short road trip along the coast and up the Sea to Sky Highway and you’re in one of the cornerstones of Canada’s pride and joy – Whistler. Get outta the city, wind down with a world class après-ski, and then wine and dine your love at top notch restaurants in Whistler Village.
The 4-star Delta Hotels Whistler Village Suites is conveniently located right at the base of Whistler Blackcomb. Grab a bite at Hy’s Steakhouse which is no further from your suite than the downstairs lobby and then head over to the Brickworks Pub, also downstairs, for an after drink.
Road trip playlist inspiration: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye
Prices start at $355 per person for two nights at the Delta. Prices start at $499 per person for two nights at the Delta and a roundtrip transfer from Vancouver. Travel dates, Feb 11-13.
Tofino
Tofino is legendary for its lush, rugged Pacific coastline. Massive wave breaks fit for surfing, hiking trails for exploring, and beaches for combing. This Canadian island is a perfect wild Pacific getaway to disconnect, get even further away from the city and breathe in that fresh salty air. On top of a road trip, you get a ferry ride where you can take a short break and start slowing things down.
“It feels like it’s on the edge of the world.” Allison perfectly describes Tofino in the CTV segment.
The Long Beach Lodge resort has stunning panoramic views of the beach that you can just watch, sunrise to sunset, from your deluxe beachfront king suite with a glass of wine in hand. There’s a surf club here with convenient onsite rentals, a sauna, and an in-ground outdoor heated pool to relax in post-surf. The cozy Great Room also has a roaring fire you can sit by and stormwatch.
Road trip playlist inspiration: Lovers Carvings by Bibio
Prices start at $435 per person for two nights at the Long Beach Lodge Resort in a deluxe beachfront king suite and your roundtrip ferry pass. Travel dates, Feb 10-12.
Portland
It’s known for keeping things weird, Voodoo Donuts, putting a bird on it, and bringing feminists and bike couriers to the forefront of our minds. Not to mention, it’s Simpsons creator Matt Groening’s hometown and the one he based Springfield on.
But while Portlandia and Portland (and Springfield) start and end within each other somewhere on the same spectrum, we love Portland because it’s also the ultimate foodie getaway and absolute haven for wine and craft beer enthusiasts. A good tip from Allison: base yourself in Portland, explore Portlandia and then venture out because just an hour outside of Portland is a number of mini romantic road trips like to the Willamette Valley wine country, or to the iconic peak of Mount Hood, and the whole Oregon coast to explore.
The Jupiter Hotel is a boutique hotel, with warm, yet striking minimal design features in each room, conveniently located downtown. From Vancouver, it’s about an eight-hour drive to Portland, or a one-hour flight.
Road trip playlist inspiration: Feel It All Around by Washed Out
Prices start at $825 per person for four nights at the Jupiter Hotel and roundtrip flights. Travel dates, Feb 11-15.
Honolulu
If you’ve got a few more days (or a very generously long weekend) to get away, you have to go to Hawaii. This tropical paradise is a choose-your-own adventure getaway. Road trips to the North Shore, Waikiki Beach, rugged coastlines from north to south and back, the lush mountainside of Diamond Head – combine all of these and you have a trip you’ll remember forever.
The Waikiki Pearl is a comfortable 3-star hotel base, not directly across from the beach but nearby, only about a block and a half away. We don’t mind this at all though – Waikiki is walk-able and best experienced on foot.
Road trip playlist inspiration: Dreamlover by Sam Cooke
Please enquire for pricing; 7-nights at the Waikiki Pearl and roundtrip flights from Vancouver. Travel dates, Feb 12-19.
Have you fallen in love with these romantic destinations? For more details, contact a Travel Expert by connecting with us online, calling 1-877-967-5302, or visiting your closest Flight Centre store.