When Cupid Became Fiscally Responsible…
Celebrating Valentine’s Day on a Youth Budget
By Anum Lakhani
Image credit – http://i.telegraph.co.uk
As magical as budding romances or young love may be, they aren’t always too easy on the purse strings, especially not with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. Whether you’re struggling to stay afloat on a Youth budget or you just prefer not to blow all your savings on a single date, here’s a variety of options that should be fun, memorable and relatively easy on your pocket.
Sticking to the Basics:
For the less than adventurous, you can never go wrong with the timeless movie and dinner date. The requisite chick flick, bouquet of roses and a cozy dinner should set you back no more than Dhs200. If you’re a sucker for ambience, though, you could shell out an extra hundred and head to Lakeview at the Dubai Creek Golf Club, where you and your date can indulge in a Valentine movie screening and Asian buffet (accompanied by chocolate fondue and a glass of wine) under a starry evening sky, all for Dhs150 per person.
A Bit of Live Entertainment:
Theater lovers are in for a treat this Valentine’s Day, thanks to the special Valentine-themed (= rom-com) production by Drama Dubai’s Desert Players – Almost, Maine. The full package – inclusive of a three-course meal and drinks – is a bit pricey at Dhs450, but tickets for the show alone cost only Dhs100 per person, which leaves you with just enough of a margin to dine afterwards at your favorite pub, café or roadside diner.
Tickets can be bought at Timeout Dubai; the event details can be found here
For the Incorrigible Foodies:
For those who see Valentine’s Day as a chance to indulge in a little fine-dining but can’t afford to go too upscale, there are a few places that offer gourmet cuisine at reasonable prices. Thai-food lovers may want to try out The Royal Buddha at the Holiday Inn Barsha, which is offering a Valentine special set menu for two for Dhs300, including drinks and live entertainment. Those who prefer Italian may want to head over to Vivaldi, at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel, and enjoy dinner and drinks over a spectacular view of the creek for just Dhs300. For those who want to kick it up a notch, Bahri Bar at the Mina A’Salam hotel in Madinat Jumeirah is offering a selection of hot and cold canapés with a glass of bubbly and live music for Dhs175 per person. What you’re really paying for, though, is the exquisite view of the Madinat waterways and the Burj Al Arab.
Just for Kicks:
If you’re a big dim sum fan, the Chinese restaurant Ping Pong at Dubai Mall has a set Valentine’s Day menu for two for just Dhs220. That’s not the fun part, though; the restaurant’s also offering to throw a complimentary engagement party for “ladies who pop the question to the man of their dreams” at the restaurant. The conditions are: you have to make an advance booking, notify the management if you’re planning to propose and, of course, your boyfriend has to say yes. If, as this author is sorely tempted to try, you’re just looking to goof around and win a free faux-engagement party, you might want to make sure there are no binding contracts involved. Otherwise, couples looking to move forward in their relationships might consider this as a last resort for arranging an engagement party if they’re financially desperate enough. Or if they’re inclined towards tacky engagements, whatever suits your fancy.
For the Singles..
There are more than a few fun Valentine’s day options for singles as well, so those of you despairing your current lack of a love life, might want to check out The Med, at the Media One Hotel, where there’s a special singles buffet, complete with aphrodisiacs and wine to “relax your inhibitions and heighten your senses”. At Dhs250 per person (Dhs 160 with no drinks), you also learn The Top Ten Tips For Flirting and get to try them out on other singletons, which, once you get past the creep factor, can be pretty entertaining.
For the Truly Romantic (Or the Flat Broke):
If you aren’t entirely devoid of culinary skills or experience, you might even consider whipping up a homemade picnic basket and heading over to the beach for some romantic seaside dining. It might be a little more time-consuming than you bargained for, but it won’t leave you pinched and it’ll win you some lasting brownie points with your date, so consider it a sound investment.
Whatever you do.. have fun, and don’t let money get in the way… Tell us how it went..
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