A Last Minute Valentine Reservations Option
Smart phone apps can help if you're in a hurry
As the song goes, you can't hurry love.
But while the classic Supremes song offers plenty of precious words to keep you hangin' on, unfortunately the MoTown hit has no advice on the rush to find reservations the day before Valentine's Day.
If you managed to not secure dinner and lodging plans for a romantic night out, and are thinking love won't come easy, you still can wait until the last minute. As is often the case the Internet is your friend here.
OpenTable.com, which also has a smart phone app, has dozens of local restaurants registered on this website, allowing you, the hungry romantic procrastinator, and your date to find an open table for dinner tomorrow (or any other day).
A search of local ZIP Codes finds Rumson-Fair Haven area participating restaurants under the Central Jersey section of Open Table's website. You can literally search by the time you'd like your reservations to be, and see who still has tables open.
Also every reservation you make through Open Table gives you points, which you can add up toward dining certificates. That's good for procrastinating cheapskates such as myself.
And if you are trying to escape to a romantic upscale hotel or quaint bed and breakfast but are worrying all that's left is the roach motel, there's lots of search options to help you avoid a disaster on Valentine's Day.
Travel websites are many, but may I suggest Hotels.com? The discounts are often more than 10 percent, and it's another site with a rewards program. In this case, 10 reservations and you'll get the next one free.
And sometimes waiting very last minute scores you a discount anyone could love. For example, there's rooms left at the Majestic Hotel in Ocean Grove, normally $300, for $145. The cute Sea Girt Inn is going for $65. Some how The Berkeley, with great ocean views in Asbury Park, still has rooms available for less than a hundred.
So armed with this information, maybe you can start planning your Valentine's night out any moment now. Or you could wait some more. You've got one up on that Supremes song now and don't have to hurry love.