Love comes with a lower price. Top Valentine�s Day travel specials

Considered by many as an important holiday that got its hooks into the local tradition, every year the Valentine’s Day gains more and more popularity among Romanians who make plans way beforehand for a romantic escape on the February 14. Travel agencies and hotels race for the best Valentine’s Day getaways.

Budget-friendly Valentine�s Day � 15% cheaper packages

All Romanians have felt the pinch of the economic crisis to a certain extent, so travel agencies’ travel specials for the most romantic day of the year are 15% cheaper than a year earlier. “In 2010, for the Valentine’s Day travel deals, agencies offer a discount of up to 15% of 2008 price. In these conditions, we expect a 7% increase in Valentine’s Day travel package sales”, Traian Badulescu (photo), spokesman for National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT) told Wall-Street.

“Both accommodation costs and airfares are lower, and now that Romanians are gaining more confidence in low-cost airlines these deals are even more advantageous”, said Ruxandra Ionita, business development manager of Go Travel agency.

ANAT said that around 5,000 – 10,000 persons will buy internal or external Valentine’s Day travel packages. “Around 80% of the Romanians who prefer go on a vacation on Feb 14, choose a domestic destination, while 20% choose to go abroad, usually Europe”. Traian Badulescu added that most of the persons who buy Valentine’s Day packages are young unmarried couples.

Valentine�s Day on the domestic realms

The most popular Valentine’s Day destinations are Prahova Valley, Olt Valley and the Black Sea resorts.

The starting price of a travel package in Romania is 120lei/person and can reach few hundred euro for the 4-5 star hotels and resorts. “The most affordable Valentine’s Day travel special is 120lei/person and includes 2 nights’ accommodation and a romantic dinner at the three-star inn Sambata de Sus”, said the representative of Go Travel agency.

One of the country’s largest travel agencies, Eximtur has done its homework for the Valentine’s Day as well. “For national destinations, certain hotels have created special packages for overnight stay, a long weekend, or more time on and around Valentine’s Day, such as Calimanesti, Busteni, Durau, Baile Herculane, Litoral, Predeal, Piana Brasov, Sinaia. The cheapest package includes 2 nights’ accommodation and a romantic dinner at the three-star inn Emma from Sambata de Sus, and costs 240 lei/person", said Lucia Morariu (photo), owner of Eximtur.

The most expensive packages offer accommodation and romantic dinner plus amenities at four-star hotels. Hilton hotel in Sibiu has included in its Valentine’s Day offer the “Romeo and Juliet” package hat costs 699 lei/couple. Hilton’s offer includes 2 nights’ accommodation, breakfast and romantic dinner at Versailles restaurant.

TravelBiz agency has prepared 100 travel specials for the Valentine’s Day both for national and international destinations. “Last year, we sold 70 packages, and this year, we have 100 offers that can be supplemented should the demand be higher”, Simona Veteleanu, managing director of TravelBiz told Wall-Street.

Valentine’s Day travel specials for national destinations:

Sambata de Sus, Emma inn, 3 stars – from 120 lei/person, Eximtur and Go Travel
Brasov, Grand hotel, 4 stars – from 250 lei/person, TravelBiz
Mangalia, Oituz inn, 3 stars – from 210 lei, Go Travel
Eforie Nord, Europe hotel, 4 stars – from 250lei, TravelBiz
Mamaia, Malibu hotel, 4 stars – from 199 lei, Go Travel
Poiana Brasov, Alexandra villa, 3 stars – from 260 lei, TravelBiz
Sinaia, Palace hotel, 4 stars – from 505 lei, TravelBiz

Paris and Venice, the old cities of love. Bulgaria begins to feel the taste of romance

The most popular destinations for Valentine’s Day are Paris, Venice, Rome, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Vienna, Prague, Larnaca but also Bulgaria. “Surprisingly, Bulgaria has been the most popular Valentine’s Day destination last year, so in 2010, our Bulgaria travel package suite has been extended. We have very good travel deals for Bulgaria, €100/2-night accommodation at five-star hotel”, said Simona Veteleanu (photo).

“For European destinations, Valentine’s Day travel specials (Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Vienna, and Prague) include three nights accommodation at three or four-star hotels, airfares and breakfast. These romantic mini-breaks start from €199/person”, said the representative of Go Travel.

With Valentine’s Day falling on Venice Carnival, romantic couples are also finding more reasons to choose Italy for the Feb 13-14 weekend.

“So far, we know for sure that over 40 couples of our customers will spend Valentine’s Day in Venice”, said Ionita.

The most expensive Valentine’s Day package sold so far by GoTravel agency is a mini-break to Milan. The vacation comes with a price tag of €15,000 and includes 3-night accommodation at the well-known Seven Stars Galleria Hotel, plane tickets, two-day shopping session with a professional stylist, spa, and tickets for the Don Giovanni show at the Milan opera house, Scala di Milano.

“For the time being, we’ve sold only a small portion of our Valentine’s Day travel package suite. The peak season is January 20 – February 10”, said the representatives of travel agencies.

Austria remains Europe’s top skiing destination in February. “In February last year, 22,212 Romanians visited Austria, most of them preferring Vienna and Salzburg. Some of the most romantic destinations in Vienna are Himmelsstube im Hotel am Parkring restaurant, or Candlelight Dinner Riesenrad. In Salzburg, couples prefer Romantikhotel Gmachl, Hoteldorf Grüner Baum or Kaiserhof”, Austria travel officials told Wall-Street.

Valentine’s Day travel specials for international destinations

Bulgaria, Albena, Flamingo Grand Hotel, 5 stars – from €96/person, Aerotravel
Budapest, Danubius hotel, 4 stars – from €100, TravelBiz
Paris, Opera hotel, 3 stars – from €279, Go Travel
Rome, Waldorf hotel, 3 stars – from €239, Go Travel
Barcelona, Maritim hotel, 4 stars – from €249, Go Travel
Venice, Russot hotel, 4 stars – from €319, Eximtur

Special airfare deals for the European �capitals of love�

For those who don’t want to go to a travel agency, airline carriers came up with discount airfares deals on international travels for the Valentine’s Day.

The low-cost carrier Blue Air offers a 50% discount for airline tickets on Valentine’s Day.

Promotional airline tickets can be bought in January 11-17, for February 10-18 flights.

The 50% discount applies also for the 50 international flights operated by Blue Air.

On Valentine’s Day, the low-cost airline has put up for sale tickets starting from €2.99 on international travels: Cluj-Napoca – Rome and Cluj-Napoca – Paris, available during January 11 – January 27.

“With this offer, we want to give our passengers the opportunity to visit Europe’s “love” capitals”, said Adrian Ionascu (photo), managing director of the company.