Valentine’s Day is around the corner once again, and if you want to make it one to remember then you’re probably dusting off those holiday brochures for a romantic weekend away.

Hold your horses, though. We know what you’re thinking – Paris, Rome, Venice, New York – sure they’re romantic, but they hardly scream originality, do they? Before you book take a glance through our guide to the Top 5 Unusual Valentine’s Day Trips, and see if you can’t find something more unique.

Who knows – the extra effort you’ve made could even wrack up some of those all important brownie points with your nearest and dearest. Not that you’re in need of any, we’re sure.

Dubai

If your spouse has a penchant for lavishness and luxury, nothing says ‘I love you’ more than jetting them off to the Dubai. The ‘City of Gold’ is literally teeming with shopping promenades and restaurants, and thanks to its large expat community you’ll never be far from a helpful British accent. What’s more, you won’t need a sheikh’s bank balance to enjoy your trip. There are bargains aplenty in Dubai’s sprawling bazaars, and following the recent financial crash shop-owners will be keener than ever to win your custom.

Philadelphia

You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Day in the historic city of Philadelphia. There are plenty of free activities on offer to keep you and your partner busy, and what better place to start than Love Park – directly opposite City Hall – where you can take a stroll among some of the city’s most beautiful attractions, particularly Robert Indiana’s 20-foot “Love” sculpture. Philadelphia is also chock-full of museums and churches, providing a gorgeous antiquated backdrop for the special day.

Antigua

Get away from it all by whisking your partner off for a private yachting holiday in the sparkling waters of the Caribbean. It won’t come cheap – with prices starting at £2,000 for a seven-day trip – but remember that your accommodation and meal costs will be zero. Also included in the price is a professional skipper, leaving you nothing to do but glide effortlessly through the turquoise-blue waters around Antigua. With only the dolphins for company, your sun-drenched deck could even be an ideal place to pop the question.

Vienna

Though not traditionally considered one of Cupid’s regular haunts, Austria’s capital is in many ways an ideal destination for Valentine’s Day travellers. Vienna hosts more than 300 romantic balls between November and Februrary, and with a couple of exceptions tickets are relatively easy to obtain. The Johann Strauss Ball, held on 13 February, offers high-brow elegance and romance for £111 per person, including a three-course dinner. Naturally a strict dress code applies, meaning black tie for men and floor-length dresses for women.

Reykjavik

With just 120,000 inhabitants Iceland’s capital is a far cry from a metropolis, but what it lacks in modernity it more than makes up for with natural splendour. Reykjavik is awash with the kind of awe-inspiring scenery that other cities only dream about, so a Valentine’s Day here will be an experience neither you nor your loved one will forget. Another bonus is Reykjavik’s well-deserved reputation for first-class wining and dining, which means you can enjoy the best nature has to offer without sacrificing any of those other little niceties.

© Cheapflights Ltd

This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 6:18 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.