Cheaper Valentine’s break? Head off the beaten track

Each year smitten couples spend thousands to achieve the perfect valentines break, but with some simple swaps people can whisk their partner away without splashing the cash.

The penny-pinching gurus from PromotionalCodes.org.uk have compared accommodation at some of Europe’s romantic cities to charming alternatives with a much smaller price tag.

They compared costs in advance of four and five star hotels across the weekend of 10 – 12 February to come up with a definitive list of the best romantic money saving swaps.

Couples could save a whopping £726 by swapping Paris for the quaint French city of Nantes, and £456.72 by visiting German gem Dresden over Venice.

Lovebirds could also make a saving of £307 by opting for some Italian magic in Turin instead of jetting off to Vienna.

And while most lovers look to London for a city break around valentines, they could make a saving of £258 by opting for the pretty city of York instead.

All of Europe’s hidden jewels have been revealed in this list of cost effective location swaps, each offering its own romantic appeal to loved up couples.

The alternative locations provide a unique getaway without the same levels of crowds and the extortionate prices expected in locations such as Paris, Venice and Prague.

Darren Williams from PromotionalCodes.org.uk said: “Couples face a lot of pressure around Valentines to create the perfect weekend getaway for their other half.

“There’s no wonder that people end up paying shed loads to spend their special weekend somewhere romantic.

“But with some research we found that couples could be saving huge amounts of money without compromising on a special break.

“By swapping popular cities of love for equally as gorgeous alternatives people can achieve a more authentic experience without paying an absolute fortune for the privilege.”

Here is the PromotionalCodes.org.uk list of Valentines city break swaps:

1.     Swap Paris for Nantes

Paris is a magnet for lovebirds across the world, but staying in a five star hotel can easily set you back well over £1,000, making the quaint city of Nantes a better option at around £485.

2.     Swap Venice for Dresden

Navigating the waterways of Venice while gazing into your partner’s eyes might sound great, but five star accommodation alone will cost over £550. The cultured city of Dresden has its own pretty waterway, and it could be less than £150 to stay five star.

3.     Swap Vienna for Turin

You may not know it, but the Italian city of Turin shares some striking similarities to the Austrian hotspot for lovers, Vienna. A big difference is that Turin’s accommodation is much more affordable at around £250, compared to an average cost of £590 to stay in Vienna.

4.     Swap Prague for Vilnius

The wonderful architecture of Prague pulls people all year round to its lively streets, but a five star hotel will cost around £640. Lithuania’s Vilnius is just as breathtaking and a lavish hotel is £188.84.

5.     Swap London for York

For couples not wanting to face flight expenses on top of accommodation, a UK location could be a solution. But a luxury stay in London will cost almost £700, while an equivalent stay in the pretty city of York will be about £260.