Hi, I live in New Orleans and I intend to plan a romantic vacation for me and my wife and I am looking at these 4 cities. Which do you think the best place would be for a romantic week-long getaway. By the way, cost is not that much of an issue unless prices are astonomical but that probably wont be a problem because I am planning for late April - a slow travel season i think.

Hmm..broad question that will pull out the biases of all the various lovers of each city on this board!

Can you help narrow down what you and your wife consider romantic? Do you want late-night dancing, long walks in beautiful nature areas/beach, art museums, what?

I hate to disparage my own city, but the weather in Chicago in the last week of April is totally unpredictable. Could be sunny upper seventies, could be freezing forties. Would this ruin your plans?

I have been to all four cities and love NYC and SF, but not Chicago or LA. Between NYC and SF it would depend on if you are big on shows and culture...which would be NYC or scenic views and some culture, which would be SF. NYC can get very expensive, whereas SF is a bit more reasonable. Both are great cities and the weather should be decent in either by then, but I think SF is more romantic.

Thanks for the replies. Generally, we are looking for a place where we could get a little of everything, give or take a few. I would love culture and ethinicity while she would love a beautfiul place where we could relax at the end of the day.

San Franciso - one of the MOST romantic cities! Weather should be nice then, too. (I too live in Chicago & wouldn't recommend coming here at that time of year - weather is too iffy.)

I would go with either New York or LA. Both offer great culture and restaurants, a well as views. LA has the great sunny beaches, while NYC on the other hand may not have the nice beaches, but is a world class city in every respect. Chicago is also nice, but the weather may be a problem at that time of year. SF I probably would not consider. SF was a great place about 20 yrs. ago, but has since become quite dirty. There is a big problem with homeless people on the streets. Of the 4 cities, SF is by far the smallest, and as such does not offer as much in terms of culture and restaurants.

Then it becomes a weather issue. LA is going to win that hands down, and I might suggest Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. I haven't stayed there, but I've seen it, and Santa Monica offers plenty of good restaurants, in addition to a lovely beach (city one, but pretty). Not sure how the water quality is for swimming.

Chicago weather is iffy, NYC will likely be gorgeous spring weather, and SF will be nice, too. But LA is most consistent. How much time do you want to spend on a plane? That might help be a deciding factor. You'll get effectively one or so days less vacation by flying to the West Coast because of travel time.

Have fun choosing!

All are great and have so much to offer. I'd opt for either LA or NYC. I would give the edge to NYC I think just because it is so much more centralized than LA and you wouldn't need a car. NYC is such a perfect walking city (as it downtown Chicago but wouldn't chance it in April). I've been to SF in April and it was quite chilly and rainy...another unpredictable city. Yes, the more I think about it....go to NYC. There is NO WAY you won't have a fabulous time there for your romantic get away.