Victorian women want a road trip to romance for Valentine’s Day
Want to get lucky this Valentine’s weekend? This data revealing Victoria’s romantic hot spots — plus frank advice on what women really want — could be just what you need.
National
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Fellas, listen up. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but women say the best gifts to woo them with this Valentine’s Day are water, nature — and your undivided attention.
A weekend away in the Daylesford area or the Great Ocean Road came out top of all Victorian romantic destinations and activities in a survey, with Melbourne and the Yarra Valley also scoring high.
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 No.1 — both next week and beyond.
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 to impress your lady.
“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.
“The challenge is to 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 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.
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 interstate getaways, the survey showed Victorian women view Queensland — specifically the Great Barrier Reef and the Outback — as their dream destinations; while online travel company Booking.com said Sydney is also a favourite for Valentine’s weekend bookings.
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
ROAD TO ROMANCE
Read an exclusive Mills & Boon short story set along the Great Ocean Road.
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
Originally published as Victorian women want a road trip to romance for Valentine’s Day
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