Even though you’re on a budget you can still find plenty of romantic playgrounds.

Off-Peak Travel

Sometimes just knowing what time of year is off-peak will impart a treasure-trove of typically pricey destinations. Be aware that during the winter months most of the major US cities are budget destinations. This includes San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and New York City. Since 9/11, New York has had to work hard to boost its tourism industry back in the right direction. This is added buying power for the budget-minded. And one of the greatest cities on the planet is home to some of the more exciting sights and sounds. Compare flights on the major travel websites, such as Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) Expedia (www.expedia.com), or Hotwire (www.hotwire.com). These sites are in the business of searching the web for you and delivering the most up-to-date flight rates. You can also find car rentals and hotels. Try bidding for an upscale New York hotel stay on Priceline.com. You might find yourself surprised to secure reservations with a view of Times’ Square. Most accommodations would prefer to fill rooms than leave them empty. With the money you’ll save on flights and hotels here, use the rest of your dollars to buy a carriage ride through Central Park or a cozy dinner at Café Atlas on Central Park South.

Key West

What couple would not like an island that celebrates the sunset everyday with a festival atmosphere? Long hailed as a bohemian hideaway for both heterosexual and same sex couples, Key West is easily one of the more untraditional and laid back couples’ spots for the money. All the elements for an enjoyable and unique vacation are here: shopping, nightlife, accommodations, boating, and cuisine. Don't forget its colorful history and lore, Ernest Hemingway, and the locals who stay even in the worst hurricanes. People-watch. Rent a car and go for a drive along highway 1 and the rest of the Keys that dangle like a tenuous necklace below the Florida mainland. Here you can pull off the road for a dip in a warm emerald roadside lagoon. A nightly tradition—the sunset festival in Mallory Square-- music, food, dancing, and the Key West sunset.

Mexico

If you depart Oaxaca, Mexico on a first class bus, you will find yourself winding along the little roads in the Sierra Madre mountains that lead to lesser-known outposts on the Mexican coastline. If you speak Spanish and are up for a true adventure, depart on a second-class bus, instead. Beaches along this stretch of coastline, because of their inaccessibility, are typically less pricey than their more upscale and convenient counterparts. Puerto Escondido (http://www.tomzap.com/escondio.html) is a surfer’s paradise, boasting one of the top surfing areas in the world. Beware swift currents in some areas and ask locals for the safest bathing spots. East of here is Huatulco (http://www.tomzap.com/huatulco.html) a more vigorous tourist resort. Great beaches and a wealth of places to stay and eat.