Kenya
Fly to Nairobi to spend a night under twinkling stars in the Loisaba Lodge’s unique Star Bed, a raised wooden platform with a four-poster bed, with views of Mount Kenya and big game roaming freely below. The bed is on wheels so you can sleep alfresco or position it under the thatched roof in case it rains. Available as part of an eight-night safari with Somak Holidays (somak.com, quote High Life).
Calgary
Drift over the Canadian Rockies with a private, dawn ‘sweetheart flight’ on a hot-air balloon (rainbowballoons.ca). Back on terra firma, head to Canada’s answer to Harvey Nichols, Holt Renfrew (holtrenfrew.com) to stock up on Canadian luxury goods from Canada Goose (canada-goose.com) before overnighting at the Hotel Le Germain (germaincalgary.com), a chic new property.
Sydney
Get some privacy on a luxury heli-safari with Blue Mountains Private Safari (bluemountainsprivatesafaris.com). Start with a helicopter flight from western Sydney to meet your guide at a bush camp on the edge of the Blue Mountains National Park. Then spend the night at a Wild Bush Luxury Camp with fresh-cooked bush tucker and a drop of something local and fruity before bedding down to await the dawn chorus from the kookaburras.
Mumbai
Catch a ride on luxury new train service, the Maharajas’ Express (rirtl.com) with a special Valentine’s journey from Delhi to Mumbai. Travelling in serious style through Agra, Jodhpur and Udaipur, the stops en route include the Lake Palace in Udaipur, the Maharaja of Bikaner’s private hunting lodge and shopping in Jaipur. Check into one of the 20 de luxe suites, sip cocktails in the observation carriage and try out the fine-dining restaurants.
Amsterdam
Start by booking into the elegantly furnished Hotel de l’Europe (leurope.nl), which rumour has it was bought by former owner Freddy Heineken as a gift for his beloved. Then take a free tour of the Gassan diamond factory (gassandiamonds.nl) for a crash course in diamond rating before, finally, toasting your love with Champagne and cocktails at Twenty Third on the 23rd floor of the Okura hotel (okura.nl).
Verona
The South Tyrol (suedtirol.info), a 90-minute transfer from Verona, offers a ski-active romantic break. The five Dolomite villages of the Alta Badia valley (altabadia.org) form part of the scenic and unique Sella Ronda circular ski area. Think fresh powder snow and heartbeat-skipping mountain vistas, and enough exciting runs for thrill-seekers. For après ski, the valley is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants, including Norbert Niederkofler’s St Hubertus restaurant (rosalpina.it) in San Cassiano – perfect for a meal à deux. For even more wow factor, check in overnight at the new Piz Seteur (pizseteur.com), which offers panoramic views of the Dolomites.
Philadelphia
Fly to Philadelphia to savour The Kiss at the Rodin Museum (rodinmuseum.org), the largest Auguste Rodin collection outside of Paris. Then head over to JFK Park, better known as Love Park, to smooch by the public artwork, Love Statue, before calling in on the Naked Chocolate Café (nakedchocolatecafe.com) for fabulous artisan chocolates. Overnight at the Radisson Valley Forge Hotel (radissonvalleyforge.com), where the 20 fantasy suites on the top floor include a voyage on the Titanic – only without the icebergs.
Barbados
Finally, bowl over your loved one and splash out with a sunset cruise on a luxury catamaran in the West Indies. The cruise from Cool Runnings includes stop offs for swimming with sea turtles and snorkelling over a shipwreck, where you can feed schools of fish, plus a romantic evening meal under the stars (coolrunningsbarbados.com). Then check into the ocean view suite at the refurbished Atlantis Hotel (atlantishotelbarbados.com) on the wilder and more romantic east coast of Barbados for some serious privacy.
