Weekend Trip for Two from LA Under $500: Couples Getaways That Don't Break the Bank

Under $500 for two people. That's $250 per person for flights and two nights of hotel. It's tight, but it's absolutely doable from LA if you know which routes to target and when to book. Here are the weekend trips that consistently come in under that number for couples.

How the math works for two

You're splitting the hotel but paying for two flights. So the ideal setup is a cheap flight route with moderate hotel prices. A $80 per person flight and a $120 per night hotel room comes to $400 total for two people for the weekend. That leaves room for the $500 budget even with fees.

Las Vegas: $300-400 for two

The easiest option by far. Two round trip flights at $60-80 each ($120-160 total) plus a hotel at $60-100 per night ($120-200 for two nights). Grand total: $240 to $360 for two. That leaves $140-260 for food, drinks, and a show. Vegas is designed for couples weekends. The pool scene, the restaurants, the shows. It works.

Pro tip: book a hotel slightly off the main strip (like The LINQ or Flamingo) for much lower rates than the big-name properties at the center. You're still walking distance to everything.

Scottsdale: $350-450 for two

Two flights at $80-120 each ($160-240 total) plus a hotel with a good pool at $80-120 per night ($160-240 for two nights). Grand total: $320 to $480 for two. Scottsdale is romantic without trying too hard. Old Town dinners, desert sunsets, pool days. No itinerary required.

San Diego: $300-420 for two

Two flights at $70-100 each ($140-200 total) plus a hotel near the Gaslamp or in La Jolla at $80-120 per night ($160-240 for two nights). Grand total: $300 to $440. Walk the beach at Coronado, dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter, drinks at a rooftop bar overlooking the harbor. It's a proper couples weekend.

Portland: $350-480 for two

Two flights at $100-140 each ($200-280 total) plus a hotel downtown or in the Pearl District at $90-120 per night ($180-240 for two nights). Grand total: $380 to $520. Tight on the $500 budget but doable if you book flights early. Portland is a food lovers' weekend: food carts, wine bars, bakeries, and restaurants that cost half what they would in LA.

Denver: $360-480 for two

Two flights at $100-140 each ($200-280 total) plus a hotel in LoDo or RiNo at $90-110 per night ($180-220 for two nights). Grand total: $380 to $500. Right at the edge of the budget. Denver's brewery scene and restaurant scene are great for couples. Larimer Square on a Saturday night is the definition of a date destination.

Tips for keeping it under $500 for two

Book flights together on Southwest (bags free, no change fees, companion pass works if you have one). Choose hotels with free cancellation so you can rebook if a cheaper option appears. Avoid resort fees by checking the total at checkout, not just the nightly rate. And check our weekend packages sorted by price. We show the total cost per person, so multiply by two for your couples budget.