Love is in the air: Valentine’s Day holiday ideas

Thursday, 19 January 2012 3:49 PM

Valentine’s Day is approaching and if you feel the need to escape for a few days with your loved one then we have a selection of hand-picked holiday ideas and offers for you, from cosy cottages to chic city breaks and exotic five-star escapes:

Back to nature romance in the Dordogne:
Looking for the perfect romantic bolthole? If so then, One Off Places’ Fisherman’s cabin, set amid the peaceful surroundings of the Dordogne, is just the ticket. Situated on a private lakeshore, you can take a little boat for a paddle around the island, or just drift and relax on the raft listening to the frog's chorus. Surrounded by nature, the cabin also uses alternative energies to provide all the mod-cons.

The offer: Three nights is priced at €280 (£235). It includes a box of Valentine's goodies including heart shaped chocolates, a bottle of fizz, and even marshmallows for toasting on the wood burner! Available February 11th-16th.

Feel the love in Lisbon:
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner why not plan a romantic break to the fabulous city of Lisbon? Couples can relax and unwind at the beautiful Tivoli Lisboa Hotel, indulging in a package which includes accommodation in a deluxe room, breakfast in bed, a relaxation massage for two people, a selection of romantic films and a Valentine’s gift. Spend your evenings sipping cocktails in the rooftop Sky Bar whilst watching the sunset or see the sights by horse and carriage (picture to the left).

The offer: Valentine’s package in Lisbon is £199 per package per room.  

Valentine’s Day retreat in the Lake District:
Stay in the three-star Macdonald Swan Hotel in Grasmere – one of the oldest hotels in the Lake District. Built in 1650 as a coaching inn, this cosy hotel is a great choice for a romantic couple of days.

The offer: a two-night stay costs from £109 per person including breakfast and a free dinner on the first night. Valid for arrivals on February 10th, 11th and 12th; based on two sharing.

Clifftop romance in a Valentine’s cottage:
Spend your Valentine’s break in the wonderful surroundings of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The clifftop Celtic Haven resort will offer an indulgent service with dinner brought to the door on an evening of choice, a bottle of fizz waiting in the fridge and a ‘romance pack’ with chocolates, massage oil and rose petals left in the cottage. For an extra treat 15 per cent will be knocked off massages at Celtic Haven’s Elemis Premier Spa. 

The offer: Rural cottage resort, Celtic Haven, is offering three or four night breaks for £159 per person including accommodation, a candlelit dinner and ‘romance pack’ and discounts on his and hers massages at the resort’s spa. The Valentine’s breaks are available for arrivals at any point between February 10-17th.

Get shipwrecked with your Valentine at The Sarojin, Thailand:
If Valentine’s Day conjures up images of crowded restaurants and noisy couples, why not treat your other half to something truly special this February? Pristine beaches, easily explored coral reefs, sumptuous cuisine and your very own private sand island to enjoy are all part of The Sarojin’s ultimate Valentine’s Day experience.

The offer: Prices start from THB 112,320 (£ 2,300) for two people, including six nights’ accommodation in a luxurious Garden Residence, a Thai Cooking Class and lunch by a jungle waterfall, Shipwrecked With Your Valentine – private cruise aboard the luxury boat Lady Sarojin and exclusive “shipwrecked” dining experience, daily all day à la carte breakfast with sparkling wine served and private airport transfers to and from Phuket Airport with refreshments and cold towels for two persons.

Naughty and Nice in The Hotel @ Times Square, NY:
For those wanting to swap hearts and flowers for something a little sexier this Valentine’s Day, The Hotel @ Times Square in New York is offering a Naughty & Nice package throughout February...

The offer: The Valentine’s Day package costs £62 per person, per night and includes one night’s accommodation, a box of not-too-sweet chilli chocolates and free entry into the famously risqué Museum Of Sex (worth $35). The first of its kind in the world, and despite its subject matter, the museum is revered by critics, holding a large archive of art, photography, clothing and historical objects.

‘Love escape’ at Le Gray, Beirut:
Aptly called the ‘Love Escape’, Le Gray’s Valentine’s Day package is perfect for couples seeking luxury, culture and a city break with a difference.

Le Gray is CampbellGray’s first hotel in the Middle East, located in the heart of Beirut in Martyrs’ Square. It showcases 87 stylish rooms and suites artistically designed in collaboration with Fox Linton Associates. Indigo on the Roof is the hotel’s roof top restaurant (pictured left) with spectacular views of Mount Lebanon and the Mediterranean. Funky roof top Bar ThreeSixty, housed in a glass atrium, also takes in this sweeping view, a meeting point for guests and chic Beirutis alike. A stylish Cigar Lounge and outdoor heated roof top pool with a purple mosaic floor complete Le Gray’s exciting offering.

The offer: Love Escape at Le Gray package costs from £318 for two people and includes breakfast (flights not included). Guests will check into a specially decorated Executive Suite and will be indulged at the PureGray Health Club and Spa with a massage for two. Valid from February 1st to 29th.

Paris, je t’aime:
Staying at the Hipotel Paris Belgrand lovers can hang out in the city’s 20th district near the Gambetta Place and bohemian flea markets. The metro will take you to the heart of Paris with ease. Steal a kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower, splurge on a chocolate massage at the Four Seasons, High Tea at The Ritz and for the ultimate in Winter Romance take a flask of vin chaud and a cosy blanket down to The Seine to enjoy views from the quays of the Île St-Louis at sunset.

The offer: two nights staying at the Hipotel Paris Belgrand with Directline Holidays costs from £170 per person on a room only basis. Flights depart Luton on the February 13th; hold luggage and transfers an optional extra. 

Tree house romance in Sweden:
Enjoy a unique Valentine’s Day at a fabulous tree house outside Falköping, two hours’ drive from Gothenburg. Hotel Andrum’s ‘Seventh Heaven’ is built into a large oak tree, showcasing towers and pinnacles like a fairytale castle. Stargaze on its balcony and take in the sounds of the forest. There’s a bowl of fruit and other goodies on arrival, with breakfast hoisted up in a large basket every morning! The tree house is also a great base for exploring nearby Lake Hornborga.

The offer: a one night stay costs £160 per person (two sharing). Flights with Ryanair (London Stansted to Gothenburg) cost from £32 per person.

Sun, sea and champagne in Hamilton Island, Australia:

If the idea of sipping champagne in a five-star resort, surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, sounds up your street, then this offer is for you!

The offer: Pay for six nights and stay seven at the distinctive and five-star Qualia resort surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, including breakfast and all non-alcoholic drinks. The Austravel package includes a bottle of French Champagne, a romantic sunset cruise, a poolside dinner for two, VIP return Island transfers, two-seater electric golf buggy to get around, VIP chauffeur service around the island, non-motorised watersports; as well as beach drop-offs to selected beaches on surrounding islands for those private moments. Depart February 9th, travelling with Emirates and Virgin Blue, from London Gatwick, via Brisbane. Price: £2799 per person.  

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