It’s never too early to start making travel plans for February. Flights and accommodation are often at their cheapest during the traditional travel off-season between January and March, making it a great time to beat the winter blues and book a quick getaway, weekend break or even tropical holiday. Some airlines, hotels and tour operators offer special couples packages which can save money in popular Valentine's destinations, while travel eSIMs make it easy and affordable to get online in other countries.
From romantic weekend destinations to longer journeys, find inspiration for your travels in this list of fifteen great vacations for couples.
The 15 Best Getaways for Couples This Valentine's Day
1. Paris
No list of couples' destinations would be complete without the city of Love. Paris is the most popular proposal location in the world (according to Remitly) and one of the most-visited international destinations for honeymooners, making it a natural choice for a Valentine's Day getaway. Despite the occasion, February is still one of the quietest times of year to visit Paris.
While it may not enjoy the same sunshine as the peak summer tourist season, so much of what makes the city great – the world-famous museums, the spectacular dining and the atmospheric cafes – are indoors anyway. Enjoy seeing the city without the crowds this February, and download a France travel eSIM to make using your smartphone in France affordable and easy.
Related: The Best Places to Visit in France
2. Lisbon
While February may be one of the best-value times to visit, Paris is still one of Europe’s most expensive cities (for both residents and tourists). At a time of year when many are still feeling the post-Christmas squeeze, it can be wise to consider other options. True romance doesn’t need lavish expenses or unaffordable trips - but for those couples determined to vacation in February, Lisbon is one the most romantic and best-value European city break options.
In 2024, Portugal’s capital topped the UK Post Office's ranking of the best-value city breaks on the continent. Just like Paris, February is tourist off-season in the coastal city, meaning any savings are likely to go even further.
Travelling with a Portugal eSIM will further compound these savings. Download one before you go, and get online anytime in Portugal without paying international roaming fees
3. Kerry, Ireland
While the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare or Antrim’s Giant’s Causeway draw the bulk of the visitors to Ireland’s coastline, the beaches of Kerry remain a relatively overlooked wonder - at least by international tourists. The southern county has long been a popular holiday spot for the Irish.
Coumeenoole and Fionntrá are some of the best beaches in Europe, while the wider Kerry coastline is popular with surfers, birdwatchers and dolphin-spotters. While the Kerry coast in February may not be the best time for swimming, it still offers the opportunity to explore the cliffside paths and villages of the Dingle peninsula.
4. Venice
A Venetian Valentine’s Day is a bucket list item for many couples. Even the climbing prices and tourist throngs can’t completely dull the floating city’s romantic allure. This year, expect even larger crowds than usual – not only is February 14 Valentine’s Day, it also marks the start of Venice Carnival.
Dating back to pre-Renaissance Italy, the Venetian carnival remains a deeply traditional event despite centuries of international attention, marked by parades, open-air celebrations and Venice's famous masked balls.
5. Rome
Further south, Rome is an essential destination for couples - it's where the word romance originates, after all.
Channel your inner Gregory Peck or Audrey Hepburn this Valentine’s Day by riding around the eternal city on a Vespa scooter. In the Colosseum and St Peter's Basilica, Rome contains two of the most-visited historical sites in the world - yet the city's vast size offers plenty of spaces to escape the crowds and wander the ancient streets in relative peace. The cobbled streets of the Trastevere neighbourhood are lined with some of the country's finest small restaurants, while the Villa Borghese gardens provide the perfect backdrop for a romantic sunset stroll.
6. Norway
Round off winter by heading north on Valentine’s Day and spending the nights under the Northern Lights. While temperatures might be glacial and daylight nearly non-existent, February is one of the best times to visit Northern Norway, romantic break or not.
A holiday inside the Arctic Circle isn’t as inaccessible as it sounds - the polar cities of Tromsø (home to the world's most northerly university) and Bodø both have international airports. Between these two towns lies one of Norway's most iconic visitor attractions, the Lofoten Islands.
Famous for the Northern Lights, the Lofoten Islands enjoy a healthy tourist trade. Visiting couples can stay in anywhere from budget-friendly hostels and secluded cottages to five-star resorts. And while it may seem remote, a Norway eSIM from BetterRoaming provides uninterrupted mobile internet anywhere in the country, with no roaming fees.
7. Argentina
One of the world’s most romantic dances, Tango, was created along the Argentina-Uruguay border. Visit on Valentine's Day and learn from the best in one of Buenos Aires' all-night dance halls, including a growing number of queer tango venues.
Even in February, the city enjoys warm temperatures, plentiful sunshine and swimmable waters. The most affordable flights to Argentina are usually found between January and February, while an Argentina eSIM will provide low-cost data roaming throughout the country – take advantage of these offers to spend Valentine's Day in the sun this year.
Related: 20 Amazing Facts about Argentina
8. Trinidad & Tobago
Easter carnivals are a common tradition throughout much of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil’s Rio Carnival is the largest and most famous, though accommodation in the city during carnival season fills up weeks in advance.
For our money, Trinidad and Tobago’s carnivals are some of the best in the world. The islands' homegrown genres of Calypso and Soca music form the backdrop to the week-long party, and streets are filled with parades, live music and dance shows. This year, the celebrations start just after Valentine’s Day – a perfect excuse to visit these fascinating islands.
9. Bahia, Brazil
One of the largest states in Brazil, Bahia is a sparsely-populated agricultural region known for its sweeping coastline. While the southern city-states of Rio and São Paulo attract the majority of Brazil's tourists, visitor numbers to Bahia have been growing in recent years as word gets out about the state's untouched beaches.
Surfing hotspots and boutique resorts like the UNESCO-listed village of Trancoso (a favourite of Beyonce) line the coast and cater to the growing tourist trade. Bahia's relative seclusion and stunning scenery make it one of the best places for a romantic getaway in the sun.
Travel eSIM Packages
10. The Moselle Valley
Famed for its fairytale castles, the Germano-French Moselle Valley is one of Europe's most esteemed winemaking regions, equally known for the quality of the scenery and the Riesling wines it produces. A winetasting tour through the Moselle is an ideal way to spend Valentine's Day, and many of the region's vineyards and castles even offer accommodation. Using a BetterRoaming eSIM for Europe will provide seamless mobile internet across France and Germany, while saving on roaming fees.
11. Thailand
After the stresses of Christmas and the long January nights, it’s no surprise that so many people are crying out for some sea and sunshine by Valentine’s Day. February is the driest, sunniest time of year in Thailand, making it an ideal destination for spending Valentine’s Day on the beach.
Thailand consistently ranked as one of the friendliest countries for LGBTQ+ couples to visit, and the nation's geographic and cultural diversity means it offers countless holiday options, from city breaks in Chiang Mai to hiking trips or beach escapes in Phi Phi.
12. The Maldives
Lying directly on the equator, February in the Maldives is marked by long, dry days and continuous sunshine. Not only is this perfect beach weather, it also provides ideal conditions for diving.
Even inexperienced swimmers can explore the turquoise shallows that surround most of the 1,000 coral islands that make up the Maldives archipelago. Keen divers, meanwhile, can enjoy the unmatched visibility and warm waters of the February diving season to get up close with sharks, manta rays and more.
13. The Orient Express
A holiday on the Orient Express is a rare travel case where the journey is as much of an experience as the destination. Spanning from Paris to Istanbul, following the trail of the Orient Express is one of the best ways to discover Europe. While the original line ceased operations in 2009, the train’s legacy is kept alive by tour companies like Belmond, which run luxury trains along the old route of the Orient Express. Velvet-clad porters escort luggage from the train to a selection of 5-star hotels and canapes and cocktails are served in brocaded dining cars.
Alternatively, piece together your own journey from the range of very reasonably-priced trans-European sleeper trains that follow the route of the old Orient Express – some legs, like the overnight Bucharest-Istanbul service, offer private cabins from just €30.
Whichever option appeals, a European travel eSIM will provide reliable and fast mobile internet throughout the entire continent, without the roaming fees.
14. Karlovy Vary, Czechia
Swimming in winter doesn’t necessarily mean a trip to the tropics – spa towns like Czechia’s historic Karlovy Vary are built over a network of geothermal hot springs, allowing visitors to bathe in naturally-heated waters all year round. The spa town of Karlovy Vary first became famous for its supposed health and luck-granting waters in the Middle Ages and developed into a popular destination for European royalty in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The flood of wealth this brought to the town is reflected in the baroque city centre.
The surrounding countryside is home to several secluded spa villages and guesthouses for those looking for a more secluded space to celebrate Valentine's Day.
15. Busan, South Korea
Valentine's Day has long escaped its medieval Catholic origins to become a worldwide commercial exercise. In South Korea, February 14th (though not an official holiday) is marked by couples gifting each other chocolate. It’s also one of the best-value times to visit the country - a mid-February trip avoids the worst of the winter cold, without entering the peak tourism season of April to July. Flights are generally at their lowest prices during this period, and last-minute deals can sometimes be found during the January airline sales events.
The scenic coastal city of Busan offers some of the best of Korea in one region: from mountains and cliffside hikes to ancient waterfront temples, outstanding seafood, Busan's famous pastel-coloured houses, and Jeonpo Cafe Street. Keep an eye on flight comparison sites, and download a Korea eSIM to help keep prices down and make a Valentine's Day trip to Korea a reality this year.
Travel eSIM Packages
Using a Travel eSIM to Stay Connected Abroad
Whichever destination you choose, one of the first things you’ll need while travelling is a reliable mobile internet connection. Using a domestic phone contract abroad can lead to spiraling international roaming fees, while relying on a local SIM card can mean losing access to messages, contacts and two-factor authentication services.
The easiest way to get online during an international trip is with a travel eSIM. These combine the best of both worlds - they allow access to high-speed mobile data for a prepaid local rate and let you your phone as you normally would. No swapping out SIM cards, and no international roaming fees.
