Romantic Getaways for Couples Who Want to Stay Close to Home

Only seven more shopping days until Valentine’s Day, so, instead of checking out the flowers and candy, a lot of Valley people will be checking into a hotel.

Hotels in this area are more than happy to welcome the neighbors, particularly over the weekend, when the business trade goes home and the occupancy rate goes down.

This does not mean that you will be booted bag and baggage if you try to check in Monday through Friday.

What it does mean is that--if you can wait until the weekend--you will probably get more for less.

Almost all hotels have weekend rates that are sometimes greatly reduced, hotel managers say. And some hotels, particularly those that think of themselves as resorts, have packages that are geared to specific clientele.

The idea is to get away from it all, but not too far, according to David Iwata of the Warner Center Marriott.

It’s a good deal for two-job families with kids, and that includes a lot of local residents, he says, adding, “A lot of couples have heavy workloads and a full family life. They don’t have a lot of time, but just need to get refreshed.”

Lynda Asher of Woodland Hills, who has three children and teaches part time at Calabasas High School, takes advantage of the deals. “My husband, Jeff, is a structural engineer whose work takes him away from home a lot. His idea of the perfect weekend is to kick back at home and enjoy his family, but sometimes I need to spend time regrouping, time alone with him,” she said.

Their solution is to take a night off and head for the Marriott, which is about 10 minutes and light years away from the responsibilities at home. Asher said she and her husband check in and head for their room about 4 in the afternoon and don’t come out until checkout time.

She said the whole thing--including dinner, breakfast, and the fee for a baby-sitter with the kids at home--costs about $100, “and you are still nearby if there is a problem at home.”

The Marriott offers a package of two nights with breakfast for $89, and a deluxe package with an upgraded room for $104, Iwata said.

There is also a Honeymoon Package available for $139 that includes the room, breakfast for two, champagne upon arrival and valet parking.

For guests whose tastes run to the opulent, the hotel has an Ultimate Weekend Package which, for $1,500, includes the Presidential Suite, limousine service to the airport for a helicopter ride over the city, dinner in the hotel dining room, breakfasts in bed and valet parking.

And, in addition to the pleasant memories guests might hope to take home, they get to keep the his and hers bathrobes.

Of all the Valley hotels hosting locals, the two in Universal City are probably among the most family intensive, and busy.

Universal City Hilton and Towers public relations person Dinorah Conejo said the hotel’s neighbor may have something to do with it.

“A lot of our weekend guests are families who come to do the Universal Studios Tour,” she said.

Conejo said the Hilton, which started out life as the Registry, is considered a true resort, which means never having to go off campus to have fun.

But a lot of guests do.

During the week, they are businessmen doing deals at the studio. On weekends they are families doing the make-believe towns.

The favored package for family tourists costs $104 per night per room with a two-night minimum stay Friday through Sunday. That price includes a continental breakfast and free lodging for the kids.

The Studio Package is for people who would like to leave the children at home. It costs $129 a night for one to three weekend nights and includes two adult tickets for the studio tour.

For the couple who couldn’t care less about clomping around drafty sound stages, there is the Romance Package that includes champagne, a room for the night, and breakfast for two. This costs $175 for the package, or $240 for a fancier room in the tower.

The Sheraton Universal next door is an equally elegant and well serviced resort that caters to the same entertainment business clientele during the week and well-heeled locals on weekends.

Its Easy Reach package offers a deluxe room, two adult tickets to the Universal Studios Tour, and one night of free parking for $130 per room per night Friday through Sunday.

For families, there are discounted children’s tour tickets available through the hotel concierge and the children may stay free in their parents’ room.

For those who would rather entertain each other than be entertained, there is the Hollywood Romance package in which champagne is delivered to the Executive Suite upon arrival and the guests are not disturbed until they call room service, check out or expire from happiness.

Guests furnish not only their own entertainment, but their own bathrobes for this one.