SA women want an escape to romance for Valentine’s Day
Want to get lucky this Valentine’s weekend? This data revealing South Australians’ romantic hot spots — plus frank advice on what women really want — could be just what you need.
Relationships
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FELLAS, listen up. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but South Australian women say the best gifts to woo them this Valentine’s weekend and beyond are an escape away – and your undivided attention.
A weekend to the beautiful Barossa Valley or Kangaroo Island came out top in a survey of the most romantic local destinations and activities.
The finding comes as relationship experts urge couples to ditch clichéd gestures and distractions, especially phones and social media, to focus on making their other half No 1 – this week and beyond.
Matt Garrett, of Relationships Australia, said while overnight or day trips were a great way to reconnect, it didn’t have to be about splashing buckets of cash.
“In some ways, the whole going out to dinner, the red roses, the box of chocolates has become a bit passe and really commercialised,” he said.
“Do something a bit different. Our women say to us ‘I don’t want chocolates, I don’t want flowers, I don’t want fancy jewellery, I just want to spend more time together’. It doesn’t have to be bells and whistles, it has to be authentic and come from the heart.”
The trend for spending time together is backed by experience gift firm Red Balloon.
Its head of consumer marketing, Matt Gudge, said there had been a large shift towards customers buying activities – from outings to high-adrenaline sports – to share, rather than traditional presents.
He said women were the key buyers of Valentine’s Day experiences, driving almost two thirds of transactions from February 1-14 last year.
Activities including horseriding, glamping, ballooning and wine-tasting also feature among the top loving activities in research of nearly 1000 female readers by romance publisher Mills & Boon.
When it comes to getaways closer to home, the survey showed the Barossa Valley, Kangaroo Island and the River Murray rate as dream destinations, while Whyalla and Victor Harbor are the favourite SA spots for Valentine’s weekend with online travel company Booking.com. Some women also loved being whisked away to Victoria, Sydney or the Outback.
Mr Garrett encouraged couples to “get into Valentine’s Day” but said they needed to “press repeat” throughout the year.
He said that they often intended to spend time together and talk “but it falls out of their mind and then the other feels neglected”. Charlotte Warner, of Tanunda, will be enjoying delicious food and great music at the Summer Sessions event at Whistler Wines on Valentine’s Day evening. Ms Warner and her partner, Todd Lipschinski, of Kersbrook, enjoy going on wine tours and dining at restaurants around the region.
“Or even just a walk, because there’s so many wineries around,” she said.
TOP TIPS TO RECONNECT
By Matt Garrett, Relationships Australia
– Ditch social media and your devices
– Go somewhere without family, friends or kids
– Look into each other’s eyes, even if you don’t say anything
– Don’t be complacent
– Press repeat through the year
A TOAST TO LOVE
Read an exclusive Mills & Boon short story set in Tasmania.
SPECIAL OFFER
To help readers reignite the flame, Mills & Boon are offering the chance to win romantic escape packages interstate at theFairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel and Novotel Sydney Darling Square.
Enter at www.romance.com.au/contest/valentines2020 Terms and conditions apply
