Love is in the ATX: Austin ranks among the best cities for Valentine's Day
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Looking for a romantic destination for Valentine’s Day this year? The perfect may be much closer to home than you thought.
Austin ranks as one of the best cities in the country in which to spend Valentine’s Day in a new analysis by WalletHub.
The site ranked cities using 25 metrics to determine the “most romantic and cost-effective cities” for celebrating the holiday. Metrics range from the cost of a three-course meal for two to the number of jewelry stores and florists per capita.
Austin ranked 12th overall and was the highest-ranked city in Texas ahead of Houston, which ranked 22nd. San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Las Vegas and Denver ranked as the top five cities for Valentine’s Day.
Here’s how Austin ranked in some of the metrics:
- 12th for overall ranking
- 14th for average beverage price
- 17th for number of restaurants per capita
- 17th for number of greeting card stores and gift shops per capita
- 20th for number of jewelry stores per capita
- 21st for number of florists per capita
- 27th for cost of a three-course meal for two
- 36th for number of chocolate shops per capita
Here’s the full list of metrics that WalletHub considered for its rankings:
- Cost of a three-course meal for two
- Prevalence of affordable 4.5+ star restaurants
- Prevalence of affordable 4.5+ star Valentine gift opportunities
- Average movie ticket price
- Average beverage price
- Beauty salon costs
- Massage costs
- Taxi fare costs
- Lowest price for three-star hotel room
- Restaurants per capita
- Diversity of restaurants
- Cafes per capita
- Number of attractions, e.g. museums, zoos and cultural performances
- Nightlife options per capita
- Walkability
- Amusement and entertainment
- Share of romantic hotels
- Jewelry stores per capita
- Florists per capita
- Chocolate shops per capita
- Greeting card stores and gift shops per capita
- Wellness and spa centers per capitas
- Google Search Index for ‘Valentine’s Day gift ideas’
- Difference between forecast and normal temperatures on Valentine’s Day
- Forecast precipitation on Valentine’s Day
