Tassie women want a road trip to romance for Valentine’s Day

Want to get lucky this Valentine’s weekend? This data revealing Tasmania’s romantic hot spots — plus frank advice on what women really want — could be just what you need.

• A short Tassie love story: ‘I lost my man to my best friend’

Fellas, listen up. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but Tasmanian women say the best gifts to woo them with this Valentine’s weekend are a road trip and your undivided attention.

An overnight away in another part of Tassie came out top in a survey of romantic destinations and activities — with Bicheno, Ulverstone and Deloraine all favourites.

The finding comes as relationship experts urge couples to ditch cliched gestures and distractions, especially phones and social media, to focus on making their other half No1 — next week and beyond.

Fellas ... just don’t be lame.

Matt Garrett of Relationships Australia said while overnight or day trips are a great way to reconnect, it doesn’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.”

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The trend towards time over things is backed by experience and gifts company Red Balloon, who told News Corp Australia there has been a large shift towards customers buying activities — from outings to high-adrenaline sports — to share rather than traditional physical presents.

Women are the key purchasers of experiences for Valentine’s Day, said the head of consumer marketing Matt Gudge, driving 65 per cent of transactions from February 1-14 last year.

Get away together ... and spend time.

Activities including horse-riding, glamping, ballooning and wine-tasting feature among the top loving activities in research by romance publishing house Mills & Boon of almost 1,000 female fans.

When it comes to getaways, the survey showed that after local locations, the Outback, Gold Coast and Whitsundays are our mainland dream destinations; while online travel company Booking.com said Deloraine, Bicheno, Ulvertsone, Devonport and Burnie, plus Hobart and Launceston, where the top specific spots for Valentine’s weekend over the past two years.

Mr Garrett encouraged couples to get into Valentine’s Day but said they need to “press repeat” throughout the year, warning that couples often intend to spend time together and talk the talk “but it falls out of their mind — then the other feels neglected”.

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

Wear your heart on your sleeve ... or somewhere else visible.

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 the Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel and Novotel Sydney Darling Square.

Enter at www.romance.com.au/contest/valentines2020 Terms and conditions apply