Ideas for Valentine’s Day breaks

One of the most exciting ways to spend Valentine’s Day is somewhere foreign and romantic, so consider whisking your loved one away for a weekend. Whether you look online, in newspapers or in travel agents, you’ll find a whole host of special Valentine’s travel deals right now. Most combine romantic destinations with luxury accommodation, a gourmet meal, Valentine flowers and perhaps some other activities.

At the cheaper end of the scale, for example, Eurostar is offering a two night valentine’s break to Paris including Eurostar travel, a 3 star central hotel, and breakfast – from £189 each. Usually you can get good value from regional low cost arlines to fly to France but for a special Valentine treat consider booking scheduled flights to Paris and trying to upgrade your seats.

If you’re out to impress, you could celebrate Valentine’s Day in Champagne over a glass or two of the vintage stuff. Grape Escapes is offering a Valentine’s gift package in Reims where you’ll enjoy a bottle of Champagne on arrival, and a candlelit four-course gourmet dinner at a local restaurant. The package doesn’t come cheap, costing from £365 each, but this also includes return Dover-Calais ferry crossing for a car and two people, (scheduled flights to France and pre-booked car hire in France can be arranged but will cost more) two nights’ accommodation in Reims, a full day coach tour of Champagne houses with tastings, and a four-course lunch at a top local restaurant with Champagnes and wines.

If you’d rather stay in the UK, Macdonald Hotels Compleat Angler Hotel are offering a package beside the Thames at Marlow in Buckinghamshire, including two nights dinner, B&B, champagne, flowers, chocolates and strawberries. Prices start from £449 for the two of you. The hotel’s gorgeous river views, candlelit dining and four-poster beds promise a weekend of romance.