What is more romantic than sweeping your significant other off their feet with a Valentine’s Day Getaway. There are numerous ways to do this without it costing you an arm and a leg. Pretty much all the options have one thing in common: Staying close to home. It might be a disappointing proposition, but unless you live in a really hopelessly unromantic place, give it a chance.

The first thing you might want to do is decide on what a romantic getaway means for you and your lover. Romance can be a lot of things to a lot of people. Try to figure out one thing that would make your Valentine’s Day trip perfect and romantic, and then plan your getaway around it. Think about it: Do you absolutely need the luxury all-inclusive Valentine’s Day package in the heart of Paris, or would the prospect of “just the two of you” somewhere nice suffice? Of course, the closer to home you stay, the better you can keep the cost down, which brings me to my second point.

When you stay closer to home, you can promptly and dramatically cut down the cost of traveling to your romantic getaway. Scope out the local hotels, resorts and bed and breakfasts. You will be surprised to find a lot of affordable beautiful options right under your nose. Many of them will probably offer some kind of “Valentine’s Day” package. But you don’t have to go for that of course. Bringing your own champagne and chocolates for instance, will cost you less and will be just as good, if not better.

Another reason for staying close to home is that it allows you to make it a short trip, maybe even just a one-night getaway. Even though Valentine’s Day is a holiday, your boss might think otherwise, and chances are you’re going to have to take that day off. Another option is to celebrate Valentine’s on a day that is more convenient for you. That way it won’t cost you any vacation days, you can enjoy your local romantic spots without the Valentine’s Day crowds.

There are luxurious ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without spending lots of money. With a little bit of effort and planning you can have a wonderful, romantic time. Going the extra mile to plan a small trip for you and your lover will be worth more than every penny you spend.