Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts: Ideas for the Romantic at Heart [PHOTOS]
Valentine's Day 2012 is less than 24 hours away, but many lovers and romantics are still scrambling for that last-minute gift idea.
Whether you're planning to spend $10 or $1,000 (or more), gifts related to this special day also act as a huge booster for the economy.
According to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans are expected to spend some $17.6 billion on Valentine's Day gifts this year.
That averages out to be $126.03 per person, an 8.5 percent jump from 2011 and the highest in 10 years.
The survey also reports that more than half of all tablet owners will look for gift ideas (and purchase gifts) using their iPads, Galaxy Tabs, Playbooks and other devices.
Before settling on Valentine's Day regulars like breakfast-in-bed, flowers, chocolates or massage packages, here are some last-minute gift ideas for the romantic at heart, guaranteed to score plenty of (additional) points with your better half.
Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts: Ideas for the Romantic at Heart
While roses, chocolate, champagne and even breakfast-in-bed are almost guaranteed wins on Feb. 14, here are some other ideas to woo your Valentine on Tuesday.
Deals on Groupon, Living Social
By now, it’s too late to order anything online in time for Valentine’s Day delivery. But there’s still hope for other great online deals, thanks to sites like Groupon and Living Social.
Take New York City for example. Groupon’s best deals include an In-Home Cooking Lesson for Two (starting at $99) and a Star Naming Gift Set ($14). Living Social has a three piano lessons on sale for $60 and a 2 ½ hour cake pop course for two ($39).
Both sites also include (really) last-minute deals on restaurants and bars (location-specific): check out Groupon's "Now!Deals" and Living Social's "Instant" sections.
Museum of Sex (New York)
If you’re in New York City for Valentine’s Day this year, treat your lover to the Museum of Sex. For an appropriate price of $69, the Valentine’s Day package includes 2 admission tickets, 2 drinks at OralFix Aphrodisiac Bar, 1 (edible) massage candle and other toys in a satin bag, complete with white rose petals.
Current exhibitions include F*ck Art and Universe of Desire.
More information at museumofsex.com.
A Jeremy Lin Valentine
Number 17 is hot these days.
So pucker up to your Valentine with any of these Jeremy Lin inspired gifts: a Jeremy Lin jersey, tickets to a future Knicks game (home or away), an NBA League Pass for mobile streaming, a trip to his current city (New York City), a trip to his hometown (Palo Alto, Calif.) or a quick visit to Cambridge to tour Harvard.
Bon Iver discography
Bon Iver’s two studio albums (and EP, for bonus points) make an exceptional gift for any music lover’s collection.
Fresh off the band’s Grammy wins, copies of “Bon Iver, Bon Iver” will surely be flying off the shelves and iTunes this week. Bon Iver will not only help set the mood (thanks to Justin Vernon’s smooth falsetto), but will surely make for good dinner music (among other occasions).
"Bon Iver, Bon Iver" and "For Emma, Forever Ago" are both in stores now.
Spring Training
A trip to Arizona or Florida, along with tickets to a spring training game will warm the heart of any baseball lover. Plus, haven’t you always wanted to go to Peoria, AZ (Mariners) or Port St. Lucie, FL (Mets)?
For more information visit mlb.com/mlb/tickets/spring_training.jsp
Will it be Madonna or the Beach Boys? Lady Gaga or The Boss?
Madonna, the Beach Boys, Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen, among others, are set to tour the world this year.
Treat your lover with tickets to some of the year’s hottest shows (and if you feel like stretching out your wallet, buy a ticket for a show not in the US; Madonna, for example, will be playing in in Milan, Italy, in June).
Visit Ticketmaster.com for more information.
