Here are five ways to make Valentine’s feel more considered and not crowded. Photo / Getty Images
Here are five ways to make Valentine’s feel more considered and not crowded. Photo / Getty Images
Love on the Ha Long Bay
Planning Valentine’s Day early opens the door to experiences that feel considered rather than crowded. Sailing through Ha Long Bay with Bhaya Cruises gives couples a chance to celebrate with intention, surrounded by limestone karsts and calm winter seas.
February offers cooler temperatures ofaround 15-20C and fewer visitors, creating a quieter, more intimate atmosphere. Bhaya’s Valentine cruises run in February 2026 and come in two main options: a refined two-day, one-night journey or a slower three-day, two-night itinerary that explores quieter corners of the bay. Prices typically start from around $278 per person, depending on vessel and inclusions. Private cabins, seamless dining, and optional Special Celebration packages add personalised touches such as romantic decor, wine, and intimate dining setups. Couples can explore itineraries and book directly at bhayacruises.com/halong-bay-cruises, with early booking recommended for Valentine travel dates.
Wellness for two
Shared stillness can be its own kind of celebration, and Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa embraces that idea with its Valentine’s Wellness Escape. Available from February 9 to 15, 2026, this experience invites guests to reconnect through ritual, touch, and calm.
Priced at $350 for two, the 120-minute escape begins with a 30-minute Hammam ritual that prepares the body for deep relaxation. A 60-minute bespoke massage follows, intuitively tailored and performed with L’Occitane en Provence products to restore balance and serenity. The experience closes with a 30-minute Jacuzzi soak and a glass of bubbles, creating a gentle, unhurried finale. Book at sofitel-queenstown.com/offers/valentines-spa-escape-for-two.
Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa. Photo / Supplied
Valentine’s Day by train
Valentine’s Day can be a reminder to choose yourself, and solo rail travel across Europe offers a powerful way to do exactly that. New booking insights from Rail Europe show that nearly nine in ten travellers now plan journeys that go beyond a simple return trip, even during the traditionally couple-focused Valentine’s period. Travellers increasingly favour multi-city routes that allow freedom, flexibility, and personal pace.
For solo explorers, routes like London to York and Edinburgh feel effortless and welcoming, with frequent trains and walkable city centres that make independent travel feel natural. Others embrace movement as a form of healing, travelling from Paris to Lyon and Avignon, where changing scenery brings perspective and calm. For Kiwis travelling solo, Valentine’s by train becomes an act of self-love, guided by curiosity, independence, and the joy of moving forward on your own terms.
Hop on a journey to self-love and adventure with these rail destinations. Photo / 123rf
Candlelit dining in Greytown
Some experiences centre on sharing time, flavour, and attention. The White Swan in Greytown offers exactly that on Saturday, February 14, 2026, with its Valentine’s Day Romantic Dining Experience in the Captain’s Dining Room. The space transforms into a candlelit setting designed for relaxed conversation and unhurried dining. Guests enjoy a four-course set menu priced at $99 per person, beginning with venison carpaccio and moving through butter-poached market fish and herb-crusted Lumina lamb. Dessert brings honey-roasted nectarine with rose sabayon and thyme meringue.
The Captain’s Dining Room continues to earn national recognition, securing a place in the Cuisine Good Food Guide for the third year running. Its seasonal approach and intimate design make it ideal for couples who value quality over spectacle. Visit thewhiteswanhotel.co.nz/table-booking and select “Valentine’s Day Set Menu Dinner” to book a spot.
