Valentines Day Getaways

Paris... Okay. Original it’s not. But nothing says ‘I love you’ like a trip to Paris. There’s no doubt about it, this city is synonymous with l’amour. Millions of people come here every year and you can bet your last baguette a fair few will be making their partner an Eiffel Tower-offer they can’t refuse. For the ultimate in romance go up there at night – that’s when the tower glitters like the diamond burning a hole in your pocket and the views are at their most heavenly. If you want a bit more privacy though, you might want to stay at ground level. Share a special moment in front of Venus in the Louvre. Take a boat ride bathed in the soft light of the Seine. Or pick one of the city’s trendy restaurants and enjoy a candlelit meal for two. They don’t call this the city of romance for nothing. Visit www.thomson.co.uk/hotels for availablity and prices to Paris. Hotel-only prices from £78 prpn (based on 1 night stay at the 3T Timhotel Elysees).

Venice... If you’re more of a Casanova at heart, Venice should get your vote. Dreamers, lovers, painters, poets – they’ve all had a love affair with this city. Think shimmering canals, dinky little bridges and grand old palazzos, all set to the sweet sound of singing gondoliers. It’s the place to cuddle up in a gondola with your sweetheart. Share wicked Italian ice-cream in St Mark’s Square. And step out in the evening, when fog wraps this moonlit city up in magic. Time it right and you’ll be there in time for the legendary Venice Carnival. It hits the streets at the end of January and carries on through the first week in February. And when you’ve had your fill of wandering, toast your trip with a bellini or three at Harry’s Bar. The famous cocktail was created here by head barman, Giuseppe Cipriani back in 1948. Bellissimo. Visit www.thomson.co.uk or www.thomson.co.uk/hotels for availablity and prices to Venice. Hotel-only prices from £82 prpn (based on 1 night stay at the 3T Ai Due Fanali).

Rome... There’s no better place to celebrate Valentine’s Day than the city where it all began. Martyred priest Valentine was locked up for performing marriage ceremonies after it was banned in ancient Rome - and legend has it he sent the jailor’s daughter a letter signed ‘from your Valentine’. So you see, Rome’s romantic reputation is second to none. And ever since Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck drove into the sunset in Oscar-winning Roman Holiday, this city has had a special place in our hearts - because nobody does romance like the Italians. They’re expressive, emotional and enthusiastic about falling in love. Plus their passion is infectious which makes more people return here to get married than any other city in the world. And whether you pop the question at the Pantheon, whisper ‘ti amo’ by the Trevi Fountain or steal a kiss on the Spanish steps - you haven’t lived ‘til you’ve loved in Rome. Visit www.thomson.co.uk or www.thomson.co.uk/hotels for availablity and prices to Rome. Hotel-only prices from £66 prpn (based on 1 night stay at the 4T Eur Suite Hotel).

Verona... The land of star-crossed lovers, Verona was the setting for Shakespeare’s most famous romance. It’s also where the classical poet, Catullus, was born. He’s the one who penned the immortal words ‘Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then a thousand more’. So as you can see, it’s a town steeped in romance. Everything about it whispers amore. Sweethearts stroll hand in hand through cobblestone alleyways. Young Romeos scribble love notes in sun-dappled piazzas. And lovers cosy up in cafés as church bells chime each passing hour. If you’re planning to go down on one knee while you’re here, you’ll need something to wow even the most die-hard romantic. Visit Via Cappello to propose on Juliet’s balcony – it’s said that if you rub the right breast of Juliet’s bronze statue, you’ll be lucky in love. Slip that rock on her finger during the opera at Arena di Verona. Or drop an engagement ring into her wine glass over dinner at Romeo’s house. In this fair city a new love story starts each day. Visit www.thomson.co.uk/hotels for availablity and prices to Verona. Hotel-only prices from £84 prpn (based on 1 night stay at the 3T Europa Hotel).

Cyprus... Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, certainly knew her onions when she chose Cyprus as her home. It’s one of the most beautiful islands in the Med. So perhaps that’s why Julius Caesar gave it as a love token to Cleopatra. And you can do the same. Okay, maybe you can’t give the whole island away but a holiday makes a pretty good alternative – and it easily beats last year’s box of chocolates. This Valentine’s Day you could be canoodling on ski-lifts in the mountains. Writing ‘will you marry me?’ in rose petals on the bed. Or maybe tying the knot on the beach. Plus the word on the mythological block is that if you swim - naked and under a full moon - round Aphrodite’s Rock three times, your love will last forever. Brave enough to bare all? Visit www.thomson.co.uk or www.thomson.co.uk/hotels for availablity and prices to Cyprus. Hotel-only prices from £13 prpn (based on 1 night stay at the 4T Atlantica Hotel).

Marrakech... Everything’s magic in Marrakech. This place is exotic. Exciting. And, surprisingly, romantic. Like a fragrant love potion, mint tea and spices scent the air – hypnotising anyone who passes through the medina. Then there are the snake charmers’ flutes, braying donkeys and the call to prayer. They’re mesmerising to say the least. Not to mention the sky-scraping minarets and old palaces. If ever there was a place made for casting love spells, this is it. It’s all about cuddling up in a kasbah. Baby-talk in a banquette-lined bar. And romantic, horse-drawn carriage rides through the city. But the thing that makes Marrakech all the more magical are the sexy riads. They’re traditional Moroccan homes that have been turned into exquisite hotels - all built round dinky, fountain-filled courtyards. You won’t find a more enchanting place to give her a rock the size of the Atlas Mountains. Visit www.thomson.co.uk or www.thomson.co.uk/hotels for availablity and prices to Marrakech. Hotel-only prices from £36 prpn (based on 1 night stay at the 2T+ Oudaya Hotel).

The Maldives... For the ultimate Valentine’s holiday, paradise is what you need. And paradise is what you get in the Maldives. With its secluded islands and super-swish hotels, it’s easy to see why it was voted the world’s most romantic destination at the 2007 World Travel Awards. This place is geared to giving love-struck couples room for romance. Think sensational spas. Over-water villas. And bathtubs made for two. It’s made for romantic moments away from prying eyes. So whether you’re strolling along peachy-smooth sand, dancing in the moonlight or snorkeling in bath-warm water, loved-up moments come thick and fast here. Plus if you’re after an attention-grabbing proposal, you can’t beat popping the question underwater. Even the coral reefs are ring-shaped so you couldn’t have a better setting for a scuba-diving date with destiny. Visit www.thomson.co.uk or www.thomson.co.uk/hotels for availablity and prices to the Maldives. Flight and hotel prices from £902 pp (based on 7 nights FB stay at the 3T Ranveli Village).

Neapolitan Riviera... If it all sounds a bit too last minute for you, fear not. Whipping out a pair of tickets, even if it’s for a trip later in the year, still tops the woo-o-meter. Plus it has the added bonus of longevity. Not only do you get to see the look on their face when they open it, but you get to enjoy months of your other half thinking you’re the best thing since sliced bread. And where better to take them than the Neapolitan Riviera? Without doubt, it’s one of the most magical spots in all of Italy. Cue fairytale towns the colour of ice-cream. Rugged cliffs that could have been plucked from a Bronte novel. And a sea that sparkles like perfectly polished diamonds. A word of warning though – decisions don’t come easy in these parts. Will it be the clifftop town of Sorrento? The pastel-washed village of Positano, perhaps? Or maybe the jet-set isle of Capri? If you’re planning on proposing while you’re here, it’s got to be Ravello. Gazing out to sea, the garden at Villa Rufolo is THE place to pop the question. You’ll feel as if you’ve fallen into the pages of a fairytale… Visit www.thomson.co.uk or www.thomson.co.uk/hotels for availablity and prices to the Neapolitan Riviera. Hotel-only prices from £100 prpn (based on 1 night stay at the 4T Grand Hotel Aminta).