How to plan a date in under 5 minutes
You have been asking for months and finally the object of your affection says “yes” to a date with you tonight. You feel great, you are excited, and you cannot wait to woo that special someone. But wait, tonight? You have no plans, no reservations, no idea what you are going to do. So, where do you start? Here are a few apps to help you plan an awesome date in less than five minutes:
OpenTable
Pop open your OpenTable app and get started on a dinner reservation before the restaurant is all booked up. This app will show you restaurants nearby using the location services on your phone or allow you to enter the location yourself. At the top, enter the number of people in your party, the date, and the time. The screen will then refresh with those restaurants with tables available for what you have chosen. Pick your restaurant and you will see tags for special features such as “Outdoor Seating,” “Great Service,” or “Upscale.” You will also see restaurant details such as address, hours, dress code, description, price range, and any other applicable details. If you know what you are looking for, but not sure which restaurant to choose, OpenTable offers a helpful filter feature. You can sort by rating, distance, price, and even narrow it down to cuisine type, neighborhood, category, or special offers.
Once you have chosen your restaurant, click on your desired reservation time, and you will be prompted to sign in with OpenTable, Facebook, or make your reservation as a guest. Once your reservation is made you have the option to add it directly to your calendar and even invite others. OpenTable is a great way to see which restaurants have availability and also reserve that table at the last minute.
Fandango or Flixster
Purchase your movie tickets ahead of time to avoid the lines when you arrive at the theater. Both Fandango and Flixster provide a ticketing service along with movie and theater details. You can search for a specific movie or see what is currently playing in theaters. You can also see the reviews for the movie, cast, and other information along with movie trailers. Checking out the movie rating, how long the movie will last, and a brief description can help you find just the right flick for your date. Each app will let you know if your local theater of choice offers tickets with their service. When you have chosen the perfect movie, purchase the tickets right within the app, and you are set.
Bonus – Map App
For an added bonus: plan to leave a bit early for your date and pick up some flowers. Open your map app, type in “flowers,” and check out the closest florist to your location. You can see each store’s address, hours, phone number, and then get directions if necessary. Is bringing flowers to your date old fashioned? The answer is no, whether your date is a flower fanatic or not they will love the thought and seeing you with a big bouquet when they greet you at the door.
Show your date you have it together. There will be no waiting over an hour for a table at the restaurant or waiting in line to buy movie tickets on your special night with these convenient apps.
OpenTable, Fandango, and Flixster are all universal apps and available for free in the App Store.
