Love is taking flight this February: new research by travel deals platform HolidayPirates revealed that over 1 in 4 Brits (28%) will head off on a Valentine’s Day getaway with their partners this year. The poll of 1,191 UK consumers also found that couples are opting for unforgettable romantic holidays over presents; 92% say they prefer a trip away over a material gift. On average, we will spend £262 each on a Valentine’s Day getaway.
Gen Z appears to lead the charge in pursuit of romantic trips, with over half (56%) planning to take their partner away for Valentine’s Day compared to 24% of Millennials, 24% of Gen X and 23% of Baby Boomers.
In even more heartwarming news, almost 1 in 5 (18%) of those planning a Valentine’s Day escape are gearing up for an extra special moment – a proposal! This year, more couples are choosing to mark their commitment with a backdrop of stunning destinations. The five most desirable proposal locations, according to those polled, are the Blue Domes of Santorini (30%), the Grand Canyon (20%), Rome’s Trevi Fountain (13%), the Eiffel Tower (12%), and the Taj Mahal (10%).
The trips may not all be smooth sailing, however. Relationships could be on the rocks if their partner commits some of the biggest travel turn-offs, including clapping when the plane lands (26%), being disorganised (22%), drinking too much (18%), snoring (11%), or over planning (10%).
When it comes to romantic escapes, city breaks reign supreme as the preferred choice for over half (56%) of us. 1 in 4 (25%) opt for the serenity of beach holidays, 11% for wellness retreats, 6% for active or adventure holidays, and just 3% for cruises.
Brits aren’t likely to be too impressed by cliché date ideas, though. According to those polled, the most overrated romantic activities include a trip on the London Eye (45%), a picnic by the Eiffel Tower (42%), and a gondola ride in Venice (25%).
| Top 5 most overrated romantic activities, according to Brits |
| 1. A trip on the London Eye (45%) |
| 2. A picnic by the Eiffel Tower (42%) |
| 3. A gondola ride in Venice (25%) |
| 4. Climbing the Empire State Building (21%) |
| 5. Walking in Central Park (13%) |
To help couples avoid the dreaded clichés this year, HolidayPirates’ travel experts have gathered some of the best deals for alternative romantic destinations this February:
- Sick of Paris? Try bucketlist Bordeaux
Return flights and two nights at the 4-star Mercure Bordeaux Centre, with prices starting at £182 for travel on 26th February. There are 2- and 3-star hotels in the city charging more than this on these dates! Place de la Bourse, the Bordeaux waterfront, the Bordeaux Cathedral, and the Grosse Cloche, a medieval gate with a bell tower, are all within 10 minutes by taxi from the hotel.
- Avoiding Amsterdam? Go for uber-cool Copenhagen
Return flights and 2 nights at the seriously cool 4-star CitizenM Copenhagen Radhuspladsen from 27th February from £137. This deal is cheaper than many 3-star hotels on these dates! For an extra £48, you swap your departure dates to the week before (20-22 February) and experience the Danish capital’s enchanting Light Festival.
- Venice will be packed – try Juliet’s Verona
Return flights and three nights (23rd-26th Feb) at the 4-star Hotel Leon d’Oro with breakfast for £188. By travelling a couple of weeks after Valentine’s Day, you’ll pay significantly less, but still get all the kudos.
Whether it’s the balcony where Romeo professes his love to Juliet, the Renaissance gardens at Giardino Giusti, the scenic funicular ride to Castel San Pietro, the Roman amphitheatre, the delightful Veronese cuisine, or a romantic walk along the River Adige, Verona is a city made for lovers.