Valentine's Day: Holidays you can get for the Same Price (or Cheaper) than Traditional Gifts

14 February 2013

Forget the flowers and hop on a plane for a romantic holiday

Valentine’s Day is widely celebrated by couples across the globe, with loved ones often splashing out on extravagant gifts for each other.

However, as the price tags on popular Valentine’s presents’ rocket, research conducted by On the Beach, reveals just how much a lovely beach holiday will cost ripped-off romantics – the same price as a bunch of roses.

Online travel agent, On the Beach, researched five popular gifts given on Valentine’s Day and compared the cost to holidays departing within the same week.

As many Brits work longer days and more hours than most of our European neighbours, it’s no surprise a couple’s spa day is a popular gift. However, to be pampered on Valentine’s comes at a high price; this year a luxurious spa day for two costs more than a 3* seven-night holiday in the Spanish Costas.

A one night stay in a 5* London hotel is another popular gift for loved ones and for the same cost a couple could jet off to a 4* hotel on the warmer shores of Portugal; spending seven romantic nights away instead of just one.

Alistair Daly, Chief Marketing Officer at On the Beach, said: “Many retailers and florists take advantage of consumers on Valentine’s Day, massively hiking up prices and in many cases gifts such as roses double in price.

“Rather than paying over the odds for loved ones, couples could treat themselves to more than just a matter of hours together and take some time out to relax in the sun.”

Furthermore, a survey carried out by the online travel agent, reveals an overwhelming 97 per cent said they would have preferred a week away in the sun to 100 red roses, with the latter costing around £30 more.

Gift	Cost (per couple)	Cost (per couple)	Seven night Holiday
Couples Spa day	£300	£286	3* Costa Dorada
One night London stay	£438	£413	4* Algarve
100 hand tied red roses	£499	£466	Turkey
Diamond and gold earrings	£499	£443	Malta
3 nights in Paris	£572	£579	Cyprus