Special rates: Hotels start at $60 per night. An affordable trip by car.
Best times to go: Fall and winter, excluding holidays.
Pebbly beaches and harbor views make the rural town of Little Compton a popular destination for East Coast road-trippers during the summer. But when there's a chill in the air, Little Compton can be a quiet respite for couples seeking a no-frills romantic getaway at a bed and breakfast, says Clampet.
"If you just want to get cozy, have a nice meal and sit in front of the fire, it's a great place to do that," he says.
By forgoing flashy attractions for luxury lodgings, couples can afford a night or two at Little Compton's historic Stone House resort, a four-story Victorian manor with sleek modern suites and spa-like amenities. During the cooler months, rates drop by as much as 75 percent, with a $700 room with a fireplace going for about $220, Clampet says.
If you do get the urge for a more populated setting, the Rhode Island cities of Newport and Providence are each a 40-minute drive away.