Romantic Ideas for Couples In Hobart
August 3, 2020
Things to do in & around Hobart for a romantic getaway.
Read More
So how did we get from martyrdoms to the modern traditions of romance and love?
Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine, including Saint Valentine of Rome whose first romantic inklings come from a 3rd-century written account of his imprisonment for performing forbidden weddings for soldiers. The Roman Emperor Claudius II forbade them to marry, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers.
It wasn't until the 18th-century in England that Valentine's Day became an occasion for lovers to express their affection for each other with flowers, sweets and greeting cards. Clearly, not much has changed in a few hundred years. As for trying to stop marriages in Italy, Emperor Claudius II must have had rocks in his head. After all, is there a more romantic place on the planet?
We asked ATAS-accredited travel experts for their thoughts.
The first place Debbie Collins thinks of is Paris. It might be a bit of a cliché, but for good reason. As Debbie, Personal Travel Specialist and Accredited Cruise Masters Consultant at Spencer Travel (Sydney, NSW travel agency) puts it:
"Paris is the living city of love, the language is beautiful, the food is divine, and walking beside the Seine on a warm Summer's evening is just about the most romantic travel experience I can imagine."
Paris, the city of love. But romance isn't the exclusive territory of Paris. Debbie's tip for ramping up the romance wherever you are, is to arrange a couple's massage followed by a private dinner for two under the stars—weather-permitting, of course. "That works just about anywhere", quips Debbie.
For Carissa Johnson, Manager of ATAS-accredited travel agency Shire Travel (Sydney, NSW), the romantic pull of the Indian Ocean is irresistible. "The Maldives offer the ultimate beach settings with white, powdery sand, turquoise water and friendly, local service", says Carissa. Like Debbie, she also suggests that experiences can heighten the romance.
"Splurge on once-in-a-lifetime activities such as snorkelling with Manta Rays, diving with Whale sharks or underwater dining. Sunset drinks and a private destination dinner are the perfect romantic ending to the day. And if you're travelling as a family, pre-book a babysitter to give the grown-ups much needed reconnection time without distraction", suggests Carissa insightfully.
With so many gorgeous resorts in the Maldives, Carissa recommends working with the right travel agent to find the perfect resort for you. "It's surprisingly easy to get it wrong if you don't know the destination. And beyond that, your ATAS accredited travel agent will have access to exclusive specials and perks like, for example, a complimentary romantic welcome gift in your room on arrival", says Carissa.
The ultimate splurge on your Valentine on a luxury destination"Sometimes less really is more. I always recommend not booking too rushed an itinerary so you can spend quality time together. Having said that, you really should book your essentials—like private transfers and any special romantic touches—before you travel so you don’t waste precious holiday time organising these things on the run. Your ATAS accredited travel agent can sort all of this out for you in a snap", adds Karen.
We also asked Karen if she thought any mode of travel was particularly romantic. "A number of airlines have some astonishing premium cabins and classes now, but cruising is definitely where the romance is. Many newer boutique ships offer a much more intimate style of cruising than the larger ships that carry thousands of passengers.
Wendy Macfarlane, travel advisor at Travel Associates Erina (Central Coast, NSW travel agency), can't go past Santorini, Greece, as the world's most romantic spot. "I had my honeymoon there, and the scenery and Mediterranean ocean breezes are still etched in my mind! Santorini is stunningly beautiful in many ways, and has the most gorgeous sunsets and views anywhere", says Wendy.
Having travelled to more than 25 countries, Bondi Beach based Jacqui Cameron from ATAS accredited Travel Counsellors (Sydney, NSW) agrees with her. "Santorini sunsets over the brilliant blue Aegean Sea are complete show-stoppers", says Jacqui.
The perfect recipe for maximising holiday romance? "Put your devices down, enjoy cocktails, let sunsets wash over you, and head out for nice dinners", advises Jacqui. As for romantic modes of transport, Jacqui is fairly agnostic.
"To be honest, I think travel by any means of transport is romantic. Especially if you are with the right person", she says.
Who are we to argue with that?
Your ATAS travel agent can help ensure you are set prior to heading off on your romantic getaway but here are a few travel warnings and useful tips to keep in mind. ATAS travel agents recommend that Australia passport holders register for travel alerts before they travel.
Looking for more insights from ATAS-accredited travel agents? Read about the benefits of taking the slow train in our high speed world, cruising with kids, and new ways to see some of your favourite cities.
Shop F06, Carindale Shopping Centre
1151 Creek Road
CARINDALE , QLD
Shop 45, The Strand
Marine Parade
COOLANGATTA , QLD
Shop 1123 Westfield Carindale
1151 Creek Road
CARINDALE , QLD
Suite 1 (Rear Entrance)
10-12 Chapel Street
BLACKBURN , VIC
T05a, 222 Fischer Street
TORQUAY , VIC
230 Como Parade West
PARKDALE , VIC
Bayside Village Shopping Centre
Cnr Jetty and Brighton Road
GLENELG , SA
Shop T350, Errina Fair S/C
620-658 Terrigal Drive
ERINA , NSW
Level 1, 64 Victor Crescent
Narre Warren , VIC
Shop 25, Alice Springs Shopping Centre
45 Railway Tce
Alice Springs , NT
Suite 201
7 Jeffcott Street
WEST MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop 8, 4 Guava Way
HALLS HEAD , WA
Level 14 275 Alfred Street
NORTH SYDNEY , NSW
70 Glen Osmond Rd
PARKSIDE , SA
1 Garrawantara Street
BLACKSMITHS , NSW
Suite 3
186 Byrnes Street
Mareeba , QLD
Level 2, Bayside Shopping Village
Cnrs Jetty and Brighton Roads
GLENELG , SA
18 Fingal Ave
GLENHAVEN , NSW
Shop 4, Ocean Village Shopping Centre
Kilpa Court
CITY BEACH , WA
Level 1, Lingate House,
409-411 New South Head Road
DOUBLE BAY , NSW
Level 24, 3 International Towers
300 Barangaroo Avenue
SYDNEY , NSW
Level 2
Bayside Village Shopping Village
Cnr Brighton & Jetty Rds
GLENELG , SA
Shop B323, Chadstone S.C.
1341 Dandenong Road
CHADSTONE , VIC
Campus Centre
Shop G24, Campus Centre (Building 10)
Monash University
CLAYTON , VIC
58 Ferguson Street
WILLIAMSTOWN , VIC
Shop 1021 Stockland Green Hills
Molly Morgan Drive
EAST MAITLAND , NSW
9/1 Ridgeview Drive
PEREGIAN SPRINGS , QLD
Suite 31a
12 Tryon Road
LINDFIELD , NSW
Shop 1 / 6-10
Old Princess Hwy
BEACONSFIELD , VIC
Level 7, 117 York Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop T207, Garden City S/C
125 Riseley Street
BOORAGOON , WA
Ground Floor, 3 Raglan St
SOUTH MELBOURNE , VIC
Cnr Bolsover & Denham Street
ROCKHAMPTON , QLD
67 Astor Terrace
SPRING HILL , QLD
Shop L01/066 Penrith Westfield
Henry Street
PENRITH , NSW
Building 17, IT Resource Centre
Wollongong Uni, Northfields Dve
WOLLONGONG , NSW
22 Kenthurst Rd
ROUND CORNER , NSW
Shop G17A, Broadway Shopping Centre
1 Bay Street
BROADWAY , NSW
Level 6, 277 Elizabeth Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Suite 13, Tedder Terraces,
Cnr Hughes & Tedder Ave
MAIN BEACH , QLD
Level 1
259-263 Collins Street
MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop 5, 324 Queen Street
BRISBANE , QLD
6-7 /3368 Pacific Highway
SPRINGWOOD , QLD
Ground Floor, Union Building
University of Queensland
ST LUCIA , QLD
20 Wynnum Road
NORMAN PARK , QLD
Suite 3, Level 27 Governor Macquarie Tower
SYDNEY , NSW
4 / 13A Montgomery Street
KOGARAH , NSW
107/232 Robina Town Centre Drive
ROBINA , QLD
Level 8, 309 Pitt Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop 1
Wellington Centre
60 Liverpool St
HOBART , TAS
Shop 2067A, Westfield Knox S/C
425 Burwood Highway
WANTIRNA SOUTH , VIC
Riverside Centre
Shop 2, 4 Maple Street
MALENY , QLD
Shop 9
240 Pakington St
GEELONG WEST , VIC
Suite 18, Plaza Chambers
3-15 Dennis Road
SPRINGWOOD , QLD
Shop 86, St Ives Shopping Village
166 Mona Vale Rd
ST IVES , NSW
Shop 2004, Westfield
297 Diagonal Rd
OAKLANDS PARK , SA
6 / 81 Old South Head Road
BONDI JUNCTION , NSW
Shop T7a City Arcade, 385 Flinders Street
TOWNSVILLE , QLD
Suite 7A, 117 Old Pittwater Road
BROOKVALE , NSW
154-14 Student Centre 154, University Avenue
Australian National University
ACTON , ACT
Shop 1428, Warringah Mall
Condamine St & Old Pittwater Rd
BROOKVALE , NSW
Shop 20a, Booval Fair Shopping Centre
Brisbane Road
BOOVAL , QLD
37 Seymour Ave
ARMADALE , VIC
Suite 23,799 Springvale Rd
Mulgrave
MULGRAVE , VIC
Shop 5, 316 The Boulevard
CITY BEACH , WA
The Gap Village
Shop 12/1000 Waterworks Road
THE GAP , QLD
Shop 4a Two Rocks Shopping Centre
10 Enterprise Avenue
TWO ROCKS , WA
Level 16
333 Ann Street
BRISBANE , QLD
Shop TD.01B
Hope Island Market Place
99-103 Broadwater Ave
HOPE ISLAND , QLD
Level 1
25/43-45 Burns Bay Road
LANE COVE , NSW
Shop 1111a, Level 1 Highpoint S.C.
Rosamond Road
MARIBYRNONG , VIC
Silverton Place - Ground Floor - Suite 109
Brisbane
BRISBANE , QLD
9/144-148 NICHOLSON STREET
FOOTSCRAY , VIC
803/83 Mount Street
NORTH SYDNEY , NSW
Shop 218
Carlingford Court Shopping Centre
CARLINGFORD , NSW
Thrift Park Shopping Centre
171 Nepean Highway
MENTONE , VIC
10-12 / 46-52 Ocean Street
VICTOR HARBOR , SA
Ground Floor
215 Newcastle Road
EAST MAITLAND , NSW
118 Edinburgh Road
CASTLECRAG , NSW
Shop 18, Yamba Shopping Fair
Treelands Drive
YAMBA , NSW
Shop 2 Northwood Plaza
221 Main North Road
SEFTON PARK , SA
6 Middlemiss Street
LAVENDER BAY , NSW
Unit 1, 111 Wicks Road
NORTH RYDE , NSW
Suite 2
Level 16
309 Kent Street
SYDNEY , NSW
6 Pioneer Place
KATOOMBA , NSW
Shop 7 453 Fullarton Road
HIGHGATE , SA
Unit 1C Level 2
5-9 Ricketty Street
MASCOT , NSW
Shop 1037 Australia Fair Shopping Centre
42 Marine Parade
SOUTHPORT , QLD
Shop 3 Naturaliste Forum
DUNSBOROUGH , WA
Level 1, Unit 2, 17 Carter Road
BROOKVALE , NSW
Level 5
309 Kent Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop T104a
35 Kings Road
HYDE PARK , QLD
1st Floor
4-6 Howitt Street
SOUTH YARRA , VIC
1/321 Sheridan Street
CAIRNS NORTH , QLD
Global Travel Specialists- Mobile
GILEAD CAMPBELLTOWN , NSW
137 Crown Street
WOLLONGONG , NSW
158 Duckworth Street
GARBUTT , QLD
Shop 9ABC
1020 North East Road
MODBURY , SA
180 Bellair Street
KENSINGTON , VIC
Shop 9B Thirroul Plaza
282-298 Lawrence Hargrave Drive
THIRROUL , NSW
Shop 2, Garrison Building
26 Clarence Street
PORT MACQUARIE , NSW
Shop 33 Newcomb Central
71 Bellarine Highway
Newcomb
GEELONG , VIC
131 Byrnes Street
MAREEBA , QLD
Shop 2, 25 John St
WARNERS BAY , NSW
Level 14, 22 Market Street
SYDNEY , NSW
Shop 91A The Pines S/C
DONCASTER EAST , VIC
1st Floor, 333 Clarendon Street
SOUTH MELBOURNE , VIC
Shop 9 Salamander Shopping Centre
SALAMANDER BAY , NSW
Suite 6
53 Coppin Street
RICHMOND , VIC
22/17 Eramosa Road West
SOMERVILLE , VIC
Suite 701/22 Market Street
Sydney , NSW
Maroondah Village
401 Maroondah Highway
NORTH CROYDON , VIC
Suite 2, 4th Floor
828 Pacific Hwy
GORDON , NSW
Suite 1203
Level 12
22 Market Street
SYDNEY , NSW
T301, Level 3
506 Miller Street
CAMMERAY , NSW
Shop 57, Waverley Gardens S/C
WAVERLEY GARDENS , VIC
By Appointment Only
219 Sunnydene Road
CHANDLER , QLD
12 Pirie Street
ADELAIDE , SA
Level 1, 35 Grafton Street
BONDI JUNCTION , NSW
19 Brolga Avenue
SOUTHPORT , QLD
Rouse Hill Village Centre
Shop 2c, 18-24 Adelphi Street
ROUSE HILL , NSW
Shop 24
Lake Haven Centre
43 Lake Have Drive
LAKE HAVEN , NSW
2615/101 Bathurst Street
Sydney , NSW
22 Pentlowe Ave
LOWER TEMPLESTOWE , VIC
Shop 31, Westfield Shopping Centre
WEST LAKES , SA
Level 10, 68 Alfred St
MILSONS POINT , NSW
4/115 Grand Boulevard
JOONDALUP , WA
Eastland Shopping Centre
171-175 Maroondah Highway
RINGWOOD , VIC
Shop 26 - Coorparoo Square
300 Old Cleveland Road
Corner Cavendish Road & Holdsworth Street
COORPAROO , QLD
Suite 8, 311 Glen Osmond Road
GLENUNGA , SA
Unit G16/ 27 Lonsdale Street
BRADDON , ACT
Unit 12 Level 3
647-649 George Street
Sydney , NSW
Shop 1, 101-107 Murray Street
GAWLER , SA
Click on the map to search by state
Looking for tips and advice on what to do before you depart on your holiday?
Read MoreRegister your travel plans with Smartraveller before you depart Australia
READ MOREJoin our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips from our ATAS travel experts.