Romantic holidays

We love romance and a good love story, so in honour of Valentine's Day, we've put together a little blog post for you with inspiration for romantic destinations. Of course, an active holiday can be romantic no matter where you are - such is the case with beautiful landscapes and the deep conversations you can have when walking or cycling side by side. That said, some places are just a little more romantic than others. We've picked out six different places that all have that extra bit of romance you might be looking for on Valentine's Day.

Romance on the Cotswold Way in England

Remember Kate Winslet's house from the romantic film The Holiday?  This charming house is the perfect setting for the love story between Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, and it's inspired by the fine houses of Cotswold, England. Are you dreaming of your own English love adventure or have you already found the one? Perhaps your dream is to walk hand-in-hand through the charming old streets of the small villages along the Cotsworld Way? If so, you should take a look at the tour to the beautiful Cotswold. As an added bonus, the tour ends in historic Bath, which, as well as being one of the most romantic cities in England, is also known for its many delicious spas - and what could be more romantic than a day in an ancient Roman spa after walking all 164km of the Cotswold Way?

Cycling holiday to Champagne in the land of love, France

French food and bubbly champagne - does it get any more romantic than that? Champagne is often chosen as the most romantic drink. Perhaps because the little bubbles are often brought out in connection with weddings and other celebrations of joy and love. Plus, it's French, and everyone knows that no one does romance quite as well as the French.

The starting point for this tour is the champagne capital of Epernay, where the champagne houses line the Avenue de Champagne and there are plenty of opportunities to taste the bubbly drink. From Epernay, you'll cycle out and explore the area. You'll pass the village of Hautvillers, known as the "Cradle of Champagne", where Dom Perignon invented the beautiful drink and exclaimed "Je bois des étoiles" (I drink the stars)!

The tour is also close to Paris, which makes an extra night or two in the city of love a must.

Italian romance on the Amalfi Coast  

Oh Italy, ti amo! If you're looking for romance, look no further than the Amalfi Coast in Italy. The Amalfi Coast has repeatedly been named one of the most romantic places in the world, and it's not hard to see why. In fact, the area is so beautiful that even the Greeks were inspired to name the beautiful nymph that Hercules fell in love with Amalfi. The story goes that Hercules fell in love with the beautiful Amalfi, who fortunately felt the same way about Hercules. Unfortunately, the gods became jealous of the young couple's love and Amalfi died suddenly. Hercules was deeply unhappy. He travelled the world to find the perfect place to bury his true love. After exploring the four corners of the world, Hercules arrived at the rugged coast of Campania, and there he decided to stop. He was dazzled by its beauty and decided it was the perfect place. Hercules buried his beloved Amalfi in the beautiful land and built a city on top of her burial site. He named the city Amalfi, and thus one of the most beautiful cities in Italy was born.

A tragic story, perhaps, but also quite romantic.

Go from Romeo and Juliet's Verona to the stunning Lake Garda

And while we're on the subject of tragic love stories, it's also worth turning our attention to another Italian city and the story of Romeo and Juliet. We'll be travelling to beautiful Verona, where the journey starts before ending at Lake Garda itself - which is certainly not short on romance either. Most people know the story of the young couple who fall in love as only young people can. Unfortunately, their families are fierce rivals and their love is forbidden. It all ends tragically with the death of both Romeo and Juliet - but not before their romantic story takes wings against the beautiful backdrop of Verona.

"Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun" - Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare  

Does it get any more romantic than the place where one of the greatest love stories in history is set?

Discover Santorini - the most romantic place in Greece

We leave Italy and the tragic love stories behind to head to beautiful Santorini in Greece. A stunning island that, as far as we know, has no tragic love story attached to it. Instead, the island is filled with beauty and romance. In fact, Santorini is so romantic that it's often called the most romantic place in Greece and is one of the most popular locations for weddings and honeymoons. The scenery is beautiful, the sunsets are wonderful, the food is delicious and the people are hospitable - all a recipe for a romantic holiday.

If you're looking for the perfect place for a proposal, we recommend the romantic village of Oia or 'Red Beach' with the famous Akrotiri lighthouse in the background - both of which you'll visit on our Santorini trip.

Love and romance between mountains and lakes in the wonderful Salzkammergut

"Well, you can't marry someone when you're in love with someone else... can you?" Baron Von Trapp, The Sound of Music

The stunning, mountainous landscapes of the Salzkammergut in Austria have something special to offer - so much so, in fact, that the film The Sound of Music was filmed in this very area. And if Baron Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) and Maria (Julie Andrews) can fall in love with the beautiful surroundings, then you certainly can too - and if you're already in love, there's nothing like a boat trip across beautiful Lake Wolfgangsee with your loved one's hand in yours. The journey also takes you past Hallstatt, considered one of the most romantic towns in Austria - and with its old buildings and views of Lake Hallstatt, it's not hard to see why.