We have come up with 5 ideas on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a way that will surprise your other half. Read it, it might come in handy.
Take a hot air balloon ride over the castles of the Loire
The Loire River Valley is a colorful region of France and a great place for a romantic getaway (map). Pleasant to the eye landscapes are complemented by small cozy towns, wineries where you can taste drinks and buy your favorite varieties, and, of course, ancient castles. There are 76 beautiful chateaus preserved in the valley. A great way to see them is to book a hot air balloon ride.
There are several companies that take guests on rides all year round. One of them is Loire-et-Montgolfiere. She has been working since 1999. Takeoff sites are located in different places. It all depends on the route, weather and wind direction. If you wish, you can look at the castles of Amboise, Chenonceau, Chinon, Montbazon and Villandry. Each of them is associated with the history of France and famous personalities: Joan of Arc, Leonardo da Vinci, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and many others.
Time in the air – 1 hour. Taking into account all the preparations and transfer, it will take 3-4 hours. After landing, the organizers offer the flight participants a glass of champagne and take them back to the beginning of the route.
Cost of a hot air balloon flight: €179 per person.
How to get there:
1. By plane to Paris;
2. From the Gare d’Austerlitz, a train leaves every 30 minutes for Orleans. The further route depends on the take-off location. You may have to drive to Blois or Tours.
Visit the Venice Carnival
If you ask Yandex which cities lovers should go to, you will receive 20-30 detailed answers. Two leaders will remain unchanged: Paris and Venice. The capital of France is best visited in late spring or summer, but on Valentine’s Day you can head to the city on 180 islands. The fact is that from February 11 to February 28, the famous carnival takes place in Venice.
During the Venice Carnival the city is transformed. Bizarre masks, which usually look at tourists through shop windows, acquire owners and fill the streets of a small town. Lovers will definitely not be bored during the holiday. You can ride a gondola along the canals in smart costumes or listen to street musicians perform in St. Mark’s Square. Folk festivities do not stop for two and a half weeks. Look at the carnival program and choose the events that you like best.
If you are planning to vacation in Venice until February 25, then check out the Doge’s Ball – the main costume show of the festival. Its organizer is Venetian and fashion designer Antonia Sautter. The ball takes place at the Palazzo Pisani Moretta on the Grand Canal (on the map). This luxurious palace was built in the second half of the 15th century. Over the years, Russian Emperor Paul I, Napoleon’s wife Josephine Beauharnais and Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II stayed here.
The first guests arrive at the ball at half past eight in the evening. The dress code is strict: a beautiful carnival costume and mask. Renting one set for an evening costs from €200 to €1200.
The price of an entrance ticket to the Doge’s Ball starts from €1000. The price includes a buffet and show program: performances by artists, a chamber orchestra, as well as a night party.
How to get there: by direct flight to Marco Polo Airport.
Swim in the pool overlooking the peaks of the Alps
If you and your loved one want peace and quiet, we recommend going to the Swiss Alps and staying in a hotel with an outdoor pool. The five-star Villa Honegg (on the map) is perfect for just such a case. The building is located on the Bürgenstock mountain. The height reaches 914 meters above sea level. The outdoor hot water pool offers beautiful views of Lake Lucerne and the steep snow-covered slopes.
The hotel has only 23 rooms. They are made in the same style and differ only in size and the presence of a terrace or balcony. In addition to the outdoor swimming pool, guests can relax in the wellness centre. There you can go to the sauna, try various types of beauty treatments and massages.
During the day, visitors can borrow a mountain bike for free and explore the surrounding area, and in the evenings there is a private cinema for all hotel guests. Room rates at the Villa Honegg Hotel for Valentine’s Day start from RUB 40,495. There are still free places.
How to get there:
1. Fly to Zurich airport;
2. Rent a car, take a train or take a taxi. In 50 minutes you are there.
Surf and catch a wave in Sri Lanka
Summer is closer than you think. You can also spend Valentine’s Day in the tropics, surfing. For example, in Sri Lanka. At this time it is warm, dry and sunny. The water temperature is comfortable and stays around 27 °C.
For beginner surfers, we recommend going to the towns of Hikkaduwa or Weligama. They are located on the southwest coast (on the map). There are several surfing schools with Russian-speaking instructors, as well as equipment rental points. Wave heights range from 2 to 4 meters.
The average price for one lesson is €50. If you order several lessons at once, there will be a discount. The price includes the surf itself, instructor services, special clothing and sunscreen. Additionally, you can order photography. The first hour of the lesson is theory, followed by two hours of practice on the water.
How to get there:
1. By plane to Bandaranaike International Airport;
2. From the airport bus stop, take bus number 187 to Colombo. You can get from the capital to Hikkaduwa or Weligama by bus or train. If you don’t want to waste time, then take a taxi. The price will be from 4 to 7 thousand rubles. Depends on the driver’s mood and your bargaining ability.
Take a jeep ride on the ice of Lake Baikal
The deepest lake on the planet freezes very beautifully (on the map). A network of cracks covers transparent ice, hummocks are layered on top of each other, and white frost envelops coastal trees. A great time and place to relax with your loved one away from the bustle of the city.
Most routes along Lake Baikal start from Irkutsk. Local residents came up with several entertainments at once. They all boil down to the fact that you rent some kind of vehicle: snowmobiles, jeeps or even a dog sled – and hit the road on the ice of a frozen lake. Then there are several ways to spend your time:
1. Organize a race. A huge flat surface on which you can drive without fear of pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
2. Find frozen caves and ice grottoes. In the light of the sun they look very beautiful.
3. Swim in hot springs. The most accessible: Dzelinda and Goudzhekit. The thermal resort of Khakusy can only be reached by ice, so there are usually fewer guests there.
4. Go ice skating across the frozen desert.
5. Play ice golf. To do this you need to make a small hole. Whoever gets the ball into the pocket first wins.
5. Go ice fishing. In February, perch and pike are most often caught here.
How to get there: by plane to Irkutsk.
