Valentine’s Day trips — when travel meets romance. Watching the snowfall in a cosy hotel room, having a candle-lit dinner, or taking a private cooking class all feel immensely romantic. For this special day, travelling couples will want to choose somewhere equally special as their love. So why not steer them toward a more off-the-beaten-track destination?

This year, we picked six of the best destinations for Valentine’s Day that are not your typical tourist cities. From world-class wellness centres to natural wonders, read on to discover destinations that will make your clients’ hearts skip a beat.

Don’t forget that you can also book stunning hotels and experiences to make your clients’ trip extra special using our Booking Engine! With access to over 200,000 hotels in trending destinations worldwide, as well as 16,000+ experiences to enhance their trip, we’ve got the perfect travel products to make your clients’ Valentine’s Day unforgettable.

For more insights into key dates and events around the world that will continue to shape travel this year, why not check out our 2024 key events calendar for inspiration and insight into global tourism events.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Explore the Vietnamese countryside by day, take in the beauty of the lantern-lit streets by night. Hoi An offers adventure, delicious food, romantic boat rides, and warm weather at the same time. 

With the half-day Hoi An Vespa tour, your clients will get their adrenaline levels up, as the warm Southeast Asian breeze caresses their faces. While in Hoi An’s UNESCO-preserved Ancient Town, the hanging lanterns will instantly mesmerise travellers and in the evening, Thu Bon River shimmers with thousands of lantern-lit boats, setting the scene for a magical boat ride. Let your clients know of the monthly Hoi An Lantern Festival so that they can be a part of the experience. During the festival, both locals and travellers release lanterns on the river, a symbolic act believed to bring happiness and health. 

Hoi An is also a foodie hotspot, home to great restaurants and delicious bánh mì Anthony Bourdain once described as a ‘symphony in a sandwich’. Consider booking a cooking class or guided street food tour to offer your clients an authentic experience of Vietnamese cuisine!

Santa Fe, USA

With treatments inspired by Native American practices, New Mexico’s beloved Sante Fe provides a wellness retreat like no other place, making it a perfect place to relax, connect with nature, and spend quality time with their partners. 

Imagine: after watching the sunrise over Santa Fe’s rugged landscape, a couple heads to the spa for a day of pampering. They start with a quick dip in the hot tub, and then dry off to prepare for the highlight of the day — a couples’ massage. With a head-to-toe massage, our couple unwinds side-by-side, as the herbal essential oils soften the room’s aroma. Afterwards, refreshed and relaxed, they get a glass of wine, clink their glasses, and say ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ with a broad smile.  For the ultimate romantic getaway, consider a couples’ package at OjoSpa Resorts, Nidah Spa, or Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado - all of which are bookable in our Booking Engine.

February in Santa Fe also appeals to skiers, art lovers, and foodies. Art + Sol Winter Festival brings musicians, artists, and comedians to the city. On the restaurant side, there is Santa Fe Restaurant Week, where locals and visitors meet high-quality dining options from top chefs. To end the night, simply look at the stars. Winter’s early sunsets make room for dark skies, which makes stargazing a wonderful experience.

Rovaniemi, Finland 

Finland rewards visitors who brave the cold with the most beautiful sky imaginable. The Northern Lights rise into the night sky like the sun, bringing vibrant shades of green, pink, and purple.

February is als0 one of the best months to see the Northern Lights, so a Valentine’s Day trip to Finland is more than appropriate to check off this once-in-a-lifetime experience! We recommend staying in Rovaniemi, the capital of the Lapland region. Here, you will find glass igloo accommodations providing a 360-degree view of the outdoors. As they snuggle under thick blankets, couples can enjoy hunting for the Northern Lights from the comfort of their cosy igloo.

While it’s tempting to stay in, the igloos only offer a sneak peek into the world of the dancing lights. Book a tour with the Arctic Circle – Northern Lights Hunting by Minibus or an Aurora Borealis, Snowmobile Safari, and BBQ experience, for example – to add a pinch of adventure to their Arctic trip!

Picture-perfect views heat the soul but not the body. For the latter, suggest a visit to a traditional Finnish sauna, featuring different types of saunas, hot tubs, ice baths, and panoramic views. 

Dolomites, Italy

Skip the crowds in Venice and Rome, and head to northern Italy. That’s where you’ll find the Dolomites, a region with Italian romance minus the tourist crowds.

Amidst the vast landscapes and snow-capped mountains, your clients will feel like they’re in a scene straight out of the 1965 film The Sound of Music. Recommend they start with the city of Bolzano to join the Bolzano Private Walking Tour. After exploring the town, book a ride in the funicular to Soprabolzano so that they can enjoy the mountain views. 

For Valentine’s Day evening, consider a candle-lit dinner — there are nearly 50 Michelin guide-recommended restaurants less than an hour away from Bolzano, specialising in Italian, Austrian, and international cuisines. For the next few days, organise trips further north — Neustift Abbey to visit a historic winery and taste the local wines, Chiusa for architecture and charm, and Brunico for skiing.

Okinawa, Japan

A Valentine’s Day trip in Okinawa will be adorned with pink trees, as here, the nation’s iconic cherry blossoms typically begin to bloom in early February.

Winter is considered an off-peak season for Okinawa but the archipelago is not short of activities. Arguably the most popular winter activity would be whale watching on a boat. A short boat ride will bring your clients to the Kerama Islands, where they will be greeted by the majestic whales jumping high up and blowing out water. A spectacle to remember, this will mark the beginning of an adventure that will continue upon return from Kerama. Cherry blossom-framed sunsets and walks near the crystal-clear beaches will be waiting for your clients until the end of their stay.

Okinawa’s traditional food is different from mainland Japan since the islands were a trade hub between Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Consider booking a cooking class or a table at a traditional restaurant for your clients to experience this lesser-known side of Japanese cuisine! 

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

What better place to see the raw beauty of wildlife than Serengeti National Park? Spot the Big 5, zebras, birds, and wildebeest in their natural environment in the heart of Africa, while sharing the experience with a loved one.

Serengeti is beautiful all year round but in February, visitors have the chance to see the Great Migration and calving, making safari even more unique. Enhance this unforgettable experience by booking a luxury safari lodge for your clients to wake up to the magnificent view of the park. From the room, they might even see animals roaming around outside, including the Big 5 and zebras! Alternatively, consider a campsite or a tent, where couples will sleep under the stars and enjoy the warm nights of Tanzania.

The Valentine’s Day trip doesn’t have to end after the safari — Zanzibar is a short flight away from Kilimanjaro International Airport. 

So will it be lantern-lit boat rides, cosy igloos, or wine tasting on mountains? No matter where, our Booking Engine has a wide range of stunning hotels, enriching experiences, and global car transfers in must-visit destinations like these, and many more!