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Three Romantic Escapes

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, most people will want to think about a special gift to get their loved one. Interflora offer plenty of Valentines flowers and Valentines gifts at this time of year, so it’s a good website to get your search started. However, you may be thinking of something a little more elaborate, and taking a trip away is often held in high esteem by couples wanting to inject a little something into their relationship. But what should you choose - City break? Beach holiday? Country escape? To help you separate the "last minute" from the "last resort" we've compiled a trio of travel options to suit a range of wallet sizes.

Highland Retreat

In the heart of the Cairngorms, the Fairwinds Hotel is perfect for tasting luxury without breaking the bank. Situated near Aviemore, with good road and train links, this stunning location provides a thrilling sensation of isolation from the real world, without the need to jet halfway across the globe. With nearby golfing, fishing and shooting, the surrounding area is ideal for activity-seeking couples, as well as those wanting a more relaxed break. If whisky's your thing, this is the place to be. Half of Scotland's distilleries can be found in the Grampians, and the 70-mile Speyside Malt Whisky Trail - the only malt whisky tour in the world -  takes you through eight of the most famous. With the customary "wee dram" on offer at each one, the only thing to taint your romantic retreat will be the who-drives argument. The hotel itself boasts an award-winning restaurant as well as a breakfast-in-bed service. And with a no under-12's policy, you can be certain of avoiding any rude reminders of everything you want to escape from.

City of Love

For the traditionalist, Paris is still the number one romantic city, and who are we to argue? Charming cobbled streets, secluded cafes, art galleries, fine dining - Paris has it all. A two-hour Eurostar trip from London puts Paris on your doorstep. Stroll along the Seine, cycle a deux along the boulevards - you can't fail to impress that special someone in a city like this. But with so much romance on offer, it's difficult to know where to start. Struggling to find the words? Pay a visit to Montmartre's Wall of I Love You's where you can read some 1000 declarations of love in over 300 languages. Alternatively, the town hall offers the chance for lovers to wear their hearts on one of the 170 luminous noticeboards around the city. Whether you and your partner are gourmets, culture vultures or just old-fashioned lovers, Paris remains the perennial favourite for good reason.

Winter Heat

There’s no hiding from the fact that it’s miserable and cold in Old Blighty, so pack your bags and head to Southern Spain. This is one of the favourite destinations for Brits over the winter period, and with the hot weather and delightful culture, it’s not hard to see why. Long sandy beaches baking in the continued warmth are a regularity in the Costa del Sol, while the cities of Malaga, Seville and Cordoba are all in the region, each boasting some of the finest traditional Spanish scenery. There’s the stunning 16th century cathedral standing in Malaga’s plaza de la cathedral, while the large city is also home to the Picasso Museum, featuring an excellent selection of some of this 20th century master’s works. Take a look at James Villas for a selection of easy to book Spain villas and Spain holidays.