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The dreaded V Day: crowded, overpriced restaurants or dull hotel/spa breaks – gimme a break. Sacrifice a valuable weekend for that rubbish? Here at AT magazine a loving present usually means a set of bike lights. But if you want a trip that’s romantic and adventurous, or if you have an other half who wants pampering and none of this outdoorsy nonsense thank you very much, we have some ideas that will please everyone.
Here’s our list of bearable Valentine’s Day getaways:
1. Alpine camping
Grab your loved one before he or she runs off in disgust. These are called Whitepods – ‘tents’ that have carpets, comfy beds, wood stoves and good insulation – it’s camping, darling, but not as we know it. The Whitepod camp is above the Swiss village of Les Cerniers. There are two private ski lifts, and the company can also organise dog sledding, paragliding and hiking/skiing with mountain guides. See www.whitepod.com for more.
2. Chav it up
Benidorm – home of Brits abroad, tattoos and too much lager? Well, yes. But it’s also been named 2010’s top Valentine’s Day destination by website TravelRepublic.co.uk, and as well as beaches and nightlife is organising a V-Day carnival on 13 Feb, with street dancing, floats and music.
So that’s the bit you sell to a reluctant other half. Don’t mention until you get there that Benidorm is just down the road from awesome sport climbing on the Costa Blanca, and at this time of year it shouldn’t be too hot. Rockfax has the guidebook: http://www.rockfax.com/publications/books/item.php?id=86.
3. Get primate
If you have to stay in the UK, discover your inner monkey at Go Ape’s all-swinging, tree-top obstacle courses around the country. It’s adrenaline-stuffed fun, with zip wires, scary bridges…you know the drill. And why for Valentine’s Day? Well, if you’re discovering your animal instincts in the daytime, who knows what’s going to happen after dark? [Good grief – Ed]. www.goape.co.uk.
4. The big trip
Want to do something altogether more life changing for V-Day? Organise a last-minute sabbatical for yourself and your loved one, and book on to Kumuka’s one-off exploratory overland trip through Brazil and Venezuela. Starting from Rio and finishing in Caracas, Venezuela, the seven-week trip includes a five-day boat trip up the Amazon, a three-day expedition by plane, dugout and on foot to Angel Falls, and plenty of trekking. The trip leaves on 17 Feb – tell your other half about it on the 14th and they’ll have plenty of time to pack. www.kumuka.com
5. And for the singles…
Did you think we’d forget you? If you’re fed-up of all this luvvy wuvvy wubbish, check out Vida Loca Travel launching on 4 Feb (www.vidalocatravel.co.uk). This is a site where you can meet like-minded travellers, get to know them, and then decide on which of the site’s hand-picked trips you want to go on: so organised holidays, but you’ll have chosen the group you go with. It will, of course, have a whole section dedicated to adventure trips, like surfing in Spain.
Here’s to being young, free ‘n’ single…
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